Aero-Tips!
A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard
this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer
statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of
"there are no old, bold pilots.")
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-- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you
may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be
something we might never have considered before, or something that
didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized
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Aero-Tips 12.29.06
The FAA tells us that as much as one-quarter of all fatal
general aviation mishaps result from stalls or spins. And most
stall/spin accidents, according to the Feds, happen when the pilot
is momentarily distracted.
Distraction types
FAA Advisory Circular 61-67C
states: "Stalls resulting from improper airspeed management are
most likely to occur when the pilot is distracted by one or more
other tasks," including:
- Locating a checklist or similar item
- Attempting a restart after engine failure
- Flying in the traffic pattern on a windy day
- Reading a chart
- Making fuel or distance calculations
- Attempting to retrieve dropped items
- Reaching behind the pilots seats or in the glove
compartment
Pilots at all skill levels, according to the AC, "should be
aware of the increased risk of entering into an inadvertent stall
or spin while performing tasks that are secondary to controlling
the aircraft."
Fly the plane
Obviously there may come the time when you drop an item, or have
to reach behind the seat for something, reference a chart or make a
fuel calculation, fly in strong winds or have to deal with a balky
engine. The point is to realize that these distractions put you at
high risk of stalling the aircraft. Delay these sorts of actions,
if possible, when you're near the ground, and certainly when you're
in turning flight at less than high-cruise indicated airspeeds. In
other words, fly the plane first, then deal with the distraction. A
little discipline to wait just a moment until you're wings-level
and at a healthy airspeed will help significantly to prevent an
inadvertent stall or spin.
Aero-tip of the day: Manage distractions to
avoid a fatal stall/spin accident.