Page 19 - Twin & Turbine January 2018

“When you read an NTSB accident report, substitute ‘I’ for ‘the pilot’ or ‘the crew’.” – Dan Boedigheimer, Advanced Aircrew Academy, Inc.
“Safety is the result of continually seeking excellence.” – Greg Wooldridge, Captain USN (ret.), three-time US Navy Blue Angels commander
“As new technologies come online, pilots must evolve.” – Etinne Cote, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Inc.
“With experience we learn the edges of acceptable performance. With experience we tend to do things in a non-standard way.” – Scott Shappell, PhD., Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
“You are flying people who expect a professionally flown and maintained aircraft. People want to do things on the cheap. Safety is priority one, as long as it is convenient.” – Robert Sumwalt, Chairman, NTSB
“Are you flying safely, or have you just been lucky?” – Al Gorthy, Captain USN (ret.)
Hold Your Own Standdown
We may have missed the time for New Year’s resolutions, but resolve to hold your own Personal Safety Standdown (PSS) in 2018. Find something that you want to learn, or learn better, or re-learn, and put a firm completion date on your schedule to get it done. Make it what you want, and need, to become an even better pilot.
You don’t have to travel, you don’t have to do it with others, it doesn’t have to cost you anything. There are hours upon hours of flying, instructional and maintenance training programs and videos free to you from the AOPA Air Safety Institute at www.aopa.org. The FAA has many more at www.faasafety.gov. Take some time to actually read your autopilot manual, or that flying techniques book you’ve always meant to read. All it takes is to budget a little time. I’m certain you’ll find something interesting that will reinforce what you already know, and make you even smarter about flying your aircraft.
If you need some ideas, consider one of these tracks for your personal standdown:
• Weather theory and understanding
• Ice formation, forecasts and avoidance strategies
• Engine and fuel management
• Autopilot operation
• Advanced GPS operation (vertical modes, GPSS, etc.)
• Emergency procedures
• Pilot fatigue strategies
• High-performance maneuvers (short-field operations,
mountain flying, etc.)
• Other (you get the idea)
If you want to learn in a group setting, enroll at www.faasafety.gov for notices about free FAA WINGS programs in your area.
You might take your PSS to a higher level yet. Enroll in a recognized, type-specific training course for the airplane you fly. Consider scheduling a simulator-based training program to explore procedures or parts of the flight envelope you can’t
January 2018
safely or accurately replicate in the airplane. Thus, if you encounter a serious problem in flight it’s not the first time you’ve ever seen or practiced the scenario. Take a recognized radar interpretation course, or an engine management seminar, or a couple hours of partial-panel flight instruction. Arrange to spend a couple of hours in an Approach or Center control facility, to better learn how you fit into the National Airspace System and what resources Air Traffic Control makes available to you. There is no limit to what you can do that will improve your knowledge, awareness and capability...if you take the time for a PSS.
Here’s another quote from Blue Angels “Boss” Captain Wooldridge: “You have safety standdowns not because you’ve had a mishap, but so you can avoid one in the future.” Safety isn’t a strategy, it’s the outcome of education and mastery of your airplane, the environment and yourself. If you’re like me there’s a lot left to learn in all three categories. Map out, schedule and commit to your Personal Safety Standdown. T&T
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Thomas P. Turner is an ATP CFII/MEI, holds a master's Degree in Aviation Safety, and was the 2010 National FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year. Subscribe to Tom’s free FLYING LESSONS Weekly e-newsletter at www.mastery-flight-training.com.
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TWIN & TURBINE • 17