WingsOfun.com BLOG #46: May 26, 2014
WELCOME PILOTS
I just finished reading several articles and related comments on getting more people into aviation. The anonymity of the internet is a venue for some to bully others around through name calling and accusations, how sad. Back to the story, it’s the old argument of; expendable income, cost benefit and the emotional component of consumerism . One surprising comment challenged the effectiveness of Young Eagle flights as a real route to the cockpit. The commenter said that his Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter actually discussed weather future flights should be held for only financially “capable” kids? While the industry needs to address the expendable income and other issues, it disappoints me to think that we always need a cost/benefit analysis for introducing new people into aviation. How about this for a motive or mission statement? I enjoy flying, I want to give as many people possible the opportunity to see how cool it is. The end.
~TC Freeman
“Keeping the fun in high performance aviation training.”
P.S. - On behalf of Memorial Day I wanted to remind everyone about the NC Aviation Museum,
Asheboro RegionalAirport (Asheboro, NC) Fly in on June 7th that will featuring the
P-51 Mustang “Angels Playmate.”
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NEW PRESENTATION
“PILOT AND AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE"
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Your opportunity to continue the dialog is on Facebook:
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PILOT SAFETY MINUTE VIDEO #46 ~ Memorial Day Salute and
Military Training Routes/Special Use Airspace
Military Training Routes/Special Use Airspace
http://youtu.be/NjUspBf4-Aw
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Need a Speaker for your Next Event? We Can Help. See the Article;
Need a Speaker for your Next Event? We Can Help. See the Article;
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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
By TC FREEMAN
A subscriber sent me a link to a Yahoo News story titled, “Passenger Describes Moment Plane Plunged Hundreds of Feet to Avoid Collision.”* In the story a passenger on a United Boeing 757, returning to from Hawaii to the US mainland, described his experience as the pilot made a radical maneuver to avoid a US Airways aircraft. The aspect of the story that stuck out to me was that the United 757 had been at cruise altitude for several minutes when evasive maneuvers were required. At cruise most pilots tend to feel that the pressure of the high workload phase of flight (take-off and climb) has subsided and can now sit back and more casually monitor the aircraft’s systems. My hat’s off to the quick actions of the pilots (while the investigation is on-going) that ultimately adverted a mid-air collision. Like the United crew, we should always be prepared to expect the unexpected.
An airline pilot friend once told me that he was a little board with flying the same route day after day, year after year. In fact, he was so familiar with the route that if I were to name a time he could tell me his exact aircraft location and what he was doing. Wisely this pilot recognized that this was the perfect set-up for complacency. Therefore he would task himself with productive flight activities such as; checking routing, cross checking instruments and preparing for the next flight segment. However, planning for the unexpected can consist outside the bounds of complacency.
I was on a flight in piston single engine aircraft, playing the part of First Officer to the owner (Captain), when on base to final approach I announced via the checklist, “flaps.” After verifying we were in flap range, the Captain pulled the “emergency brake style” floor mounted flap handle. Much to both of our surprise the handle came out of the metal floor mount, leaving the Captain holding the handle in the air with an expression that said, “what do I do with this?” He ultimately realized that flying the aircraft is rule number one. Stashing the handle back on the floor we discussed the impact of not having flaps. Since we had plenty of runway, 10,000’ to be exact, it was decided that a zero flap landing was safe. While we hadn’t expected anything like this to happen the reaction was to fly the aircraft first followed by a discussion of solutions to the problem.
The examples in this story should remind us all that unexpected things can happen at any time on any phase of flight. First and foremost, fly the aircraft.
About the author:
TC Freeman has been flying since he was a teenager and is now an aviation speaker and author. Being employed as an Aviation Safety Specialist for state government, he has a passion for spreading the thrill of flying just for the fun of it via the website, www.WingsOfun.com.
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“We are excited to donate this segment of the WingsOfun BLOG to this great program that promotes; airport
visitation, education and tourism.”~TC FREEMAN
OPERATION: FLY NC NEWS
Discuss OP: Fly NC with fellow pilots at: http://tinyurl.com/opflync
Stamp NOTAMS (See the previous stamp NOTAMS)
*June 7, 2014 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) NC Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame Fly-in, Asheboro Regional Airport (HBI). Community and
pilot fly-in event featuring “Angels Playmate” P-51 Mustang, vendors, hot rods, youth activities, museum and more.
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IMPORTANT AUDIO PRESENTATION AVAILABLE:
“
OPERATIONS AT NON-TOWERED AIRPORTS”… for pilots flying just for
the fun of it.
(Run time: 34 minutes)
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NEWS FROM THE WEB
Brought to you by:
HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON FLIGHT TRAINING
eBook by WingsOfun Media
*INCLUDES SPECIAL CAREER PILOT SECTION!
FAA promotes new weather initiative.
*WingOfun Call to Action: “Senate Acts On Third-Class Medical Exemption” (AvWeb). A quote from the article from Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, "The FAA has had two years to review this request for an exemption.....Let's get this thing moving."
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Senate-Acts-On-Third-Class-Medical-Exemption221581-1.html
Contact your elected officials in support of the “expansion of the driver’s license medical exemption to more (non-
commercial) pilots. To find your senate representatives go to: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
OUR FAVORITE VIDEOS FROM THE WEB ~ Eagle Kills Drone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdgvlHH3JSA&list=PL0D5E87A4EBBD7080&feature=share&index=99
....and you thought the FAA regulated air traffic!
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