HINGED AIRCRAFT SKI FOR IMPROVING EGRESS AND INGRESS FROM AN AIRCRAFT CABIN

摘要

A flotation apparatus, specifically a ski (27), is provided for use on an aircraft (21) for improving the egress and ingress from the aircraft cabin (20). The ski (27) is particularly applicable to helicopters (21) having fixed wheeled landing gear (23) wherein the helicopter (21) engages in rope repelling missions or wherein egress and ingress from the helicopter cabin (20) may be performed during low hover operations. The ski (27) includes a forward portion (55) substantially fixed in a parallel configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the helicopter and an aft portion (57). The aft portion (57) is rotatable from a substantially parallel configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the helicopter to a substantially perpendicular configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the helicopter; the aft portion (57) is rotatably attached to the forward portion (55) using a fastener, specifically a hinge means (35). During use, an operator uses a grapple hook (77) to release at least one latching mechanism (65) wherein the aft portion (57), under the force of gravity and from the downwash of the rotor blades, rotates into the substantially perpendicular relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of the helicopter, in this configuration egress and ingress from the helicopter cabin is not impeded. To reconfigure the aft portion (57) into a flight or landing configuration, the operator grasp the aft portion (57) with the grapple hook (77) thereby pulling upward on the aft portion (57) until the aft portion (57) is securely latched to the forward portion (55).