Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 3000; Flight Crew Type 380
Communication Breakdown
Conflict Airborne Conflict
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors
Departing MUE VFR; we were on the right downwind climbing out. There was a BKN-OVC layer about 1;000 above us; just south of our location. I was about to switch to Approach to open my IFR flight plan; when I received a traffic alert on the TAS. The target was showing 100 FT above me and right on top of my location. I stopped the climb; and maneuvered to the right in an attempt to avoid the traffic. I was surprised to see traffic in this location and questioned whether or not the target was possibly a false echo or even our own ship. I never saw anybody; but a few seconds later a helicopter made a broken radio call that said he was two miles south of the airport; which was also our approximate location. I switched to HCF Approach and began receiving advisories until getting my IFR clearance. The tour helicopters seem to fly pretty close to clouds out here and can be very hard to see. Our company has recently started airline service into this airport and the helicopter pilots are probably not used to much traffic in this area. I will be much more vigilant when departing uncontrolled fields in Hawaii. One lesson here is to remember to keep eyes outside and always be aware of the possibilities of other traffic in the area.
A departing fixed-wing pilot encountered an inbound helicopter as he was in the process of picking up his IFR clearance.