Training: Surviving a Real Helicopter Autorotation
Completing a safe landing after a power failure or autorotation requires regular training.
Completing a safe landing after a power failure or autorotation requires regular training.

Completing a safe landing after a power failure or autorotation requires regular training, the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) reminds helicopter students and flight instructors. A successful autorotation also demands a clear understanding of the differences between a practice forced landing, in which the engine is assumed to have quit completely and results in a power-off touchdown, and a practice autorotation, in which the pilot explores the helicopter’s flight envelope in autorotation progressively closer to the ground before recovering with power and not touching down. Autorotations are required maneuvers on all helicopter pilot checkrides.