The collective pitch control, or collective lever, is normally located on the left side of the pilot's seat with an adjustable friction control to prevent inadvertent movement. The collective changes the pitch angle of all the main rotor blades collectively (i.e., all at the same time) and independent of their position.

Therefore, if a collective input is made, all the blades change equally, and as a result,the helicopter increases or decreases its total lift derived from the rotor. In level flight this would cause a climb or descent, while with the helicopter pitched forward an increase in total lift would produce an acceleration together with a given amount of ascent.

Sea King collective lever buttons:

The floodlights are on the electronics compartment door. A hover light is on the lower leading edge of each stub wing. The floodhover lights are controlled by a switch with marked positions HOVER LT, OFF, and FLOOD LT on the pilot collective pitch lever grip. When the switch is placed to FLOOD LT, the floodlights on the electronics compartment door light an area forward of the helicopter. When the switch is placed to HOVER LT, the hover lights on each wing section and the floodlights light an area below and forward of the helicopter. Placing the switch to the OFF centered position turns off the floodhover lights. The flood-hover lights operate from the monitored dc bus and are protected by circuit breakers.

Controllable Spotlight. Two spotlight control switches on the pilot collective pitch lever grip control a swivel-type controllable spot-light on the bottom right side of the fuselage aft of the electronic compartment door opening. The left switch is marked CONT SPOT LT with marked positions MASTER, OFF, and RETRACT. The right switch is a spring-loaded four-position thumb switch, center position OFF, with marked positions EXTEND-RETRACT-L-R. Placing the left switch to MASTER lights the controllable spotlight and furnishes power to the right switch to control the spotlight. When the right switch is placed to EXTEND, the controllable spotlight is extended and may be stopped by releasing the switch to direct the light beam at any vertical angle between the stowed position to about 30o above the horizon. By placing the switch to RETRACT, the light beam may be directed at a progressively decreasing angle until the spotlight is in the fully stowed position. By placing the switch to L or R, the spotlight will turn to the right or left to any point in a 360 o arc. If the left switch is placed to RETRACT while the controllable spotlight is extended, the spotlight will automatically go out and retract to the stowed position. The switch is then placed OFF. The controllable spotlight operates from the primary

Both the primary and auxiliary flight control servo systems are controlled by the same three-position flight control servo switch on the collective pitch grip lever. The marked switch positions are PRI OFF and AUX OFF. The flight control servo switch is protected by a dc circuit breaker marked SERVO on the center circuit breaker panel. Both servo systems are normally in operation with the switch in the unmarked center (ON) position. To turn off the primary servo, the switch is placed to the forward PRI OFF position; to turn off the auxiliary servos, the switch is placed to the aft AUX OFF position. Stronger cyclic, collective, and rotary rudder pedal forces and the absence of pedal damping will be encountered with auxiliary servos inoperative. The systems are interconnected electrically in such a way that, regardless of the switch position, it is impossible to turn either one off unless there is 1,000 psi in the remaining system for proper operation. The servo shutoff valves operate on dc power.

Barometric Altitude Button. Pressing the BAR ALT button engages the barometric altitude controller and the button will light. Engaging the altitude controller provides altitude hold. Once the BAR ALT button is engaged, the pilots can momentarily release the altitude hold with the BAR REL button on both collectives. For proper operation, it is important that BAR ALT be engaged at a zero vertical velocity and at the selected forward speed.

Barometric Altitude Off Button. Pressing the BAR OFF button on the collective stick disengages the collective channel and the barometric altitude controller if the coupler is not engaged.

Rescue Hoist up down Switch. the rescue hoist can be operated by the pilot, using the switch on the pilot collective pitch lever grip. A switch marked HOIST-UPDN on the bottom of the pilot collective pitch lever grip controls the rescue hoist. The switch is depressed in the direction indicated by the arrows and UP or DN to raise or lower the hoist. When released, the switch is turned off and the hoist winch stops and locks.