Flight Safety

Parts of this book are disturbingly familiarfor those who follow the FAA’s internal infighting, politicking and intrigue.Mary Schiavo, as the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation,tried to dig into the inner workings of the FAA, intrude on the good-old-boynetwork and root out mutual hand holding between the inspected and the inspectee.Unfortunately, she achieved only […]

Moving is difficult for a family, but in these days of “upwardcorporate mobility” it’s not unusual for mid-level managersto change domiciles routinely as new opportunities arise. Severalyears ago, a private pilot moved his family and household goodsfrom California to New Jersey, then returned to the West Coastto pick up his Bellanca 260A and bring it […]

Pilots transitioning from one type of aircraft to another havea responsibility to themselves and to their passengers to ensure that theyare comfortable and safe in the new aircraft. Others, from instructors todesignated check airmen to company managers, have the job of overseeing theprocess and ensuring that when a recently upgraded pilot makes his firstflights in […]

Aviation Safety Communique Reported by: USFS, Ochoco NF, P.O. Box 490, Prineville,OR 97754 Event: Date: 02/13/97, Local time: 1545, Injuries: no,Damage: no Location: North Fork Crooked River, Oregon, along Forestboundary T15S R21E Mission: Type: elk census (recon), Procurement: OR Dep’t.of Fish and Wildlife, Persons onboard: 3 Aircraft: Hiller 12E Narrative I was asked to assist […]

Aeroperu 603 (Boeing 757) Alarms Activity From Voice Recorder October 2, 1996 – Lima, Peru 01:57 — Windshear Alarm – Three Times 02:49 — Rudder Ratio Alarm 03:14 — Mach Trim 04:02 — Caution Alarm 04:05 — Alert Alarm 04:54 — Auto Throttle Disconnect, Rudder Ratio & Mach Speed Trim 05:42 — A One Hertz […]

Transcripcion Del Voice Recorder Boeing 757 De Aeroperu Vuelo 603 2 De Octubre 1996/Costa De LimaCaja Negra Annotations appear in italics. The wreckage was subsequently recovered from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, and investigators found that all of the aircraft’s static ports were taped over (see photo at right), rendering the aircraft’s air data […]

Aeroperu 603 (Boeing 757) Transcription From Voice Recorder October 2, 1996 – Lima, Peru English Translation Annotations appear in italics. The wreckage was subsequently recovered from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, and investigators found that all of the aircraft’s static ports were taped over (see photo at right), rendering the aircraft’s air data systems […]

Most of us have been taught to hand rotate the propeller before normalstartup or after shutdown for the following suggested reasons: But few of us have been properly trained about the proper precautionsthat need to be taken before touching that propeller. Few CFIs or pilotexaminers provide guidance about propeller safety, apparently assumingthe aircraft manual provides […]

In 1996, Bill C-20, “An Act respecting the commercialization of civil air navigation services” was passed by the government of Canada. Essentially, this piece of legislation allows a new, “not-for-profit” corporation called “NavCanada” to take over responsibility for all of the air navigation services in the country. In the last decade, successive Canadian governments (regardless […]

The following is the full text of a letter sent by the author to the FAA. This letter is to inform you of an incident that occurred during a routine flight from Austin, Texas (AUS) to Addison Airport, Dallas, Texas (ADS). This incident in no way deals with any violation of current FAR’s or use […]