Tactile cueing system and method for aiding a helicopter pilot in making landings

A method for aiding a helicopter pilot in making a soft landing comprising the steps of:

• providing a collective and a tactile warning device operably connected to the collective;
• selecting a threshold height for warning a pilot of a pre-selected distance to the ground during a landing operation;
• sensing the altitude of the helicopter as it descends for a landing;
• and activating the tactile warning device as the helicopter reaches the threshold height to warn the pilot of the distance to the ground.

A method for aiding a helicopter in making a soft landing comprising the steps of:

• providing a collective pitch adjusting mechanism and a moveable collective control arm operatively connected to the collective pitch adjusting mechanism whereby movement of the collective control arm collectively adjusts the pitch of the motor blades;
• providing a storage device and an input device;
• selecting a threshold height for warning a pilot of a preselected distance from the ground and entering the threshold height into the storage device;
• providing an altimeter and monitoring the actual altitude of the helicopter as the helicopter approaches the ground for landing;
• providing a computer for comparing the sensed altitude and the threshold height and comparing the sensed altitude and the threshold height;
• and
• actuating the tactile warning device when the actual height is equal to or less than the threshold height to warn the pilot of the distance to the ground.

A method for protecting a helicopter of the type having a turbine engine during startup and/or aiding a pilot in making a soft landing comprising the steps of:

• providing a pilots control stick and tactile warning device operatively connected to the central stick;
• providing a safe temperature profile for startup of the helicopter turbine engine;
• monitoring an actual turbine output temperature of the engine during startup;
• activating the tactile warning device when the actual turbine output temperature exceeds the safe temperature profile and aborting the startup in response to the tactile warning;
• and
• selecting a threshold height for warning a pilot of a pre-selected distance to the ground during a landing maneuver;
• sensing the altitude of the helicopter as it descends for a landing;
• and
• activating the taotile warning device as the helicopter reaches the threshold height to warn the pilot of the distance to the ground.

A tactile warning system for warning a helicopter pilot of dangerous conditions, said system comprising:

• a collective control arm and pitch adjustment mechanism for control of the helicopter;
• a tactile warning device operably connected to said collective control arm;
• means for actuating said tactile warning device during a startup when the engine temperature exceeds a pre-selected temperature;
• means for actuating said tactile warning device during flight operation to warn a pilot of dangerous conditions;
• and
• means for actuating said tactile warning device during a landing approach.