OKCTalker
10-17-2011, 10:07 AM
An airplane crash on Sunday, October 16 in Guthrie claimed the life of the pilot, and injured his son and grandson. Early news stories are notoriously inaccurate, but the Oklahoman reports that a possible cause is fuel exhaustion: http://newsok.com/boy-injured-in-guthrie-plane-crash-released-from-hospital/article/3614343?custom_click=headlines_widget
Intending only to use this story as the start of a thread about flying with general aviation ("private") pilots (and certainly not casting judgment on the deceased pilot), I offer these suggestions in case a friend or family member invites you to go flying. I am a long-time pilot, and although no passenger has ever asked me these questions, every one of them should have:
1. As a pilot, do you meet all of the FAA requirements to conduct this flight? A pilot is required to possess a pilot certificate, have successfully passed a biennial flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months, must possess a current FAA medical certificate, have successfully passed his medical examination within the preceding 24 calendar months, and have made either three daytime touch & go landings in the previous 90 days or three nighttime full-stop landings in the previous 90 days. Finally, does the pilot meet the criteria known by the acronym “IM SAFE” (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue and Eating)?
2. Is the aircraft airworthy? Four documents are required to be on board every US-registered aircraft: A) Airworthiness certificate; B) Registration for the aircraft; C) Pilot operating handbook; and D) Weight and balance. You should also ask when the aircraft underwent its last annual inspection, and to see a list of all discrepancies (such as a burned-out light bulb) also known as a “squawk sheet.”
3. Have you performed weight & balance calculations for takeoff and landing? It shows the total weight of the aircraft, passengers and fuel, and the center of gravity ("CG") of the airplane. All pilots are required to do so, but few do. It shows many things including planning for adequate fuel for the flight, and that the aircraft is neither overloaded or outside of CG limits (the CG will change during the flight as fuel is burned).
4. Have you checked the weather forecast, TFR’s and NOTAM’s for our route of flight and all airports? Even if it's a local sightseeing flight, pilots have to know the forecast weather conditions (Ex: I'll be flying tonight when a cold front is forecast to pass through central Oklahoma, bringing a wind shift, clouds and the chance of rain). A TFR is a “temporary flight restriction,” one of which is the airspace around large football stadiums during games. A NOTAM is a “notice to airmen,” such as a runway closure.
Asking these questions – “Are you and the airplane legal for flight, have you performed a weight and balance calculation, and have you checked the weather?” – should not offend any responsible and prepared pilot. You may wish to ask simply as an element of curiosity ("What's a pilot's license look like?" "Do you have to pass a medical exam to fly?" "Is there a maximum amount of weight that the plane can carry?"). If they do, simply don’t fly with him.
Intending only to use this story as the start of a thread about flying with general aviation ("private") pilots (and certainly not casting judgment on the deceased pilot), I offer these suggestions in case a friend or family member invites you to go flying. I am a long-time pilot, and although no passenger has ever asked me these questions, every one of them should have:
1. As a pilot, do you meet all of the FAA requirements to conduct this flight? A pilot is required to possess a pilot certificate, have successfully passed a biennial flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months, must possess a current FAA medical certificate, have successfully passed his medical examination within the preceding 24 calendar months, and have made either three daytime touch & go landings in the previous 90 days or three nighttime full-stop landings in the previous 90 days. Finally, does the pilot meet the criteria known by the acronym “IM SAFE” (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue and Eating)?
2. Is the aircraft airworthy? Four documents are required to be on board every US-registered aircraft: A) Airworthiness certificate; B) Registration for the aircraft; C) Pilot operating handbook; and D) Weight and balance. You should also ask when the aircraft underwent its last annual inspection, and to see a list of all discrepancies (such as a burned-out light bulb) also known as a “squawk sheet.”
3. Have you performed weight & balance calculations for takeoff and landing? It shows the total weight of the aircraft, passengers and fuel, and the center of gravity ("CG") of the airplane. All pilots are required to do so, but few do. It shows many things including planning for adequate fuel for the flight, and that the aircraft is neither overloaded or outside of CG limits (the CG will change during the flight as fuel is burned).
4. Have you checked the weather forecast, TFR’s and NOTAM’s for our route of flight and all airports? Even if it's a local sightseeing flight, pilots have to know the forecast weather conditions (Ex: I'll be flying tonight when a cold front is forecast to pass through central Oklahoma, bringing a wind shift, clouds and the chance of rain). A TFR is a “temporary flight restriction,” one of which is the airspace around large football stadiums during games. A NOTAM is a “notice to airmen,” such as a runway closure.
Asking these questions – “Are you and the airplane legal for flight, have you performed a weight and balance calculation, and have you checked the weather?” – should not offend any responsible and prepared pilot. You may wish to ask simply as an element of curiosity ("What's a pilot's license look like?" "Do you have to pass a medical exam to fly?" "Is there a maximum amount of weight that the plane can carry?"). If they do, simply don’t fly with him.