While airplanes have had autopilot for over 100 years, you may wonder – can helicopters fly themselves too? The short answer is yes, modern helicopters can hover automatically, but autopilot systems are more limited compared to airplanes. Let me explain further.
How Does Helicopter Autopilot Work?
Today’s helicopters use computerized systems that control specific parts of the flight or even let go of the controls completely.
These autopilots have a “flight director” that takes in information about altitude, speed, and direction. It then calculates commands to guide the helicopter where it needs to go.
Basic autopilots help keep the helicopter steady, but can’t fully fly it alone. For example, they may keep the pitch, roll, and yaw stable during flight.
A “yaw damper” is key to reducing the wiggling and swaying helicopters are known for. This helps smooth out the ride.
Some autopilots have an “altitude hold” that instantly levels off the helicopter if it gets pushed up or down. If a gust of wind comes, the system makes a correction to get back on course.
There are different types of helicopter autopilots. A basic one just stops rolling. A two-axis autopilot also handles pitch. Three-axis controls yaw too. The four-axis autopilot hovers!
What is HOV Mode in a Helicopter?
When you see “HOV” in a helicopter, it means the autopilot can hover. This takes care of the three main controls – the lift from the rotor, the cyclic for directional control, and the pedals for orientation.
With HOV engaged, the helicopter stays locked in one spot automatically. No hands needed!
How Long Can a Helicopter Stay Hovering?
Helicopters can hover until they run out of fuel, get thrown off balance, or have a mechanical issue.
The real challenge is for the pilot to maintain a steady hover themselves the whole time. It takes real skill to stay in one place for more than 10-15 minutes without drifting around.
With autohover, the helicopter can stay frozen in the sky as long as it has fuel – usually 2 to 5 hours depending on conditions.
Are Helicopters Hard to Fly?
Helicopters respond sensitively and have a lot of moving parts, so they’re seen as tougher to master than airplanes. Hovering is one of the first skills pilots learn.
New pilots also have to get the hang of weather and high altitudes. Helicopters get tossed around more by wind and turbulence. It takes experience to handle bad conditions.
But with proper training, helicopter pilots gain the skills to fly safely and open up a whole new dimension of flight!
