Originally Posted by YAKflyer

There are two types of FW pilots, those who are rated in helicopters and those who are not. If you are not rated the only thing you can do is offer supposition as to how a dual rated pilot might perform in FW. That is exactly what drives the decisions of those who determine the qualifications required at most airlines.

As a dual rated pilot who is on the SKW seniority list allow me to tell you I would have no problem with a dual rated pilot who is mostly experienced in helicopters operating in the challenging environments SKW operates in. In fact, as you point out the stick and rudder skills are different and from what I have observed those with helicopter experience fly airplanes better than those who have spent most of their careers in front of a yaw damper.

I recently checked out in a DC-3 and received a DC-3 type. There were a half dozen pilots all checking out in the same relative time. All of us had extensive airline experience coupled with military experience. All six had over 20K hours. For four of the pilots it was the first time they flew a prop airplane. Two of us were former Army pilots who flew helicopters. At no point in the training did the two helicopter pilots require the instructor to cover the controls or augment what the students did. OTOH the pure jet pilots all required different degrees of "help" on the controls. The part they were most deficient on was yaw control on both take off and landing. I would point out all they had to do was fly as the instructor handled all of the engine duties. Do not doubt the ability of a dual rated pilot being able to handle "funny winds" or any other winds. Frankly I am appalled by the cross wind technique I see with too many pilots I fly with on line.

For the record when I earned my multi-engine ATP I only had 300 hours of fixed wing time. I now hold ratings in 7 types. I haven't flown many of those for many years, but I think I could step in and go on any of them. It has also been many years since I flew a helicopter, but I wouldn't think of flying one without an instructor.