AOPA Online Safety Center Is A Safety Hot Spot
The arrival of spring and, for much of the country,
daylight-saving time means that the real start of the GA flying
season can’t be far behind, so the AOPA Air Safety Foundation
has turned the Safety Hot Spot in the Online Safety Center into a
"rust-remover" for pilots who operate from nontowered airports.
"Operating in a nontowered environment provides a unique set of
challenges that the Safety Hot Spot addresses," said Bruce
Landsberg, executive director of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.
"It's a lot like merging onto a highway. We've got to fit into the
flow of traffic and stay safely separated from others, all without
benefit of official oversight. The good news is it works very
efficiently when everyone plays by the same rules. The Hot Spot is
a way to bone up on those rules."
The very first item in the Safety Hot Spot is a checklist
highlighting flight planning, aircraft preflight inspection, and
aircraft operational items that are especially important when
operating in a nontowered environment. It includes things like
being familiar with the layout and usual procedures at both the
departure and arrival airports, weather information sources, and
communications procedures. There's even a link to a printable
kneeboard-formatted version of the checklist.
The Safety Hot Spot also lists numerous online reference
materials, including the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Safety
Advisors, Operations at Nontowered Airports and Collision
Avoidance, articles from Landsberg's "Safety Pilot" column in AOPA
Pilot magazine, and even some video clips that demonstrate some of
the challenges pilots face in a nontowered environment (broadband
connection recommended).
Once pilots have reviewed the reference materials, they can take
a Sporty's Safety Quiz to make sure they truly understand the
material. And there are links to additional resources, such as FAA
Advisory Circulars on nontowered operations.
"As with everything we do, the bottom line is enhancing safety,"
said Landsberg. "With improving weather, more pilots are going to
take advantage, meaning more aircraft in the traffic pattern and
more need for vigilance, especially at nontowered airports."
Foundation safety outreach efforts are funded through voluntary
donations by AOPA members and tax-deductible contributions from
individual pilots and companies interested in promoting general
aviation safety.