When I was a student pilot my instructor had me doing running landings with a ton of forward speed and sliding half way down the runway! So when check ride day came, the examiner asked me to do a running landing across the runway, not down the runway!

I said I could not do that, he laughed and asked me why not?

He knew the way I had been trained and knew that would be my response! He then said give me the controls I want to show you something!

So he took the controls of the Robinson R-22 we were flying and proceeded to show me that you can do a running landing and only slide just a few feet! 

I was amazed after being taught to slide the helicopter like a 1/4 mile down the runway! But I quickly got the point!

It depends on what helicopter you are flying, weight, density altitude, wind etc. It’s like many of the different maneuvers we teach! There are many different ways to perform these different tasks.

Don’t get caught up in pilots arguing over exactly how a maneuver has to be performed. That is a closed mind way of thinking. As long as the way you do it is slow and safe, who cares?

Know The Rotorcraft Flying Handbook, study the flight manual for the particular aircraft you are flying. Fly with different instructors and different aircraft and figure out what works for you!

Join FWHI’s Helicopter Online Ground School