Reckless Flying With all the emphasis on GA’s accident record, especially the experimental segment, I wanted to discuss “reckless” flying – I put reckless in quotes because it means different things to different people. Merriam-Webster defines reckless as: marked by a lack of proper caution : careless of consequences. In my opinion, that definition appropriately…

Computer ATC Police: TARP and Pilot Deviations The FAA has a program called Traffic Analysis Review Program (TARP), which relies on an automatic system that monitors pre-established separation parameters and generates alerts when an aircraft approaches the limits of these parameters. Each TARP alert creates an Electronic Occurrence Report (EOR) that is forwarded to an…

Risk vs Reward: GO/NO GO decision-making Every single flight you take is laden with decisions. Most of them are accounted for in regulatory guidance, operating procedures, training, or just common sense. One decision that makes the rest of these decisions go away and stops the error chain is one of the hardest to make –…

Test Flying: Operational Check Flight (OCF) In related articles we talked about test flying your homebuilt aircraft on its first flight. In this post we’ll discuss flight test of certified aircraft, both from a regulatory and a practical standpoint. “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” ― Benjamin Franklin The Regulations 91.407 (b) —…

The Professional Private Pilot Sounds like an oxymoron, but does it have to be? I have flown with dozens of pilots who only fly for their own enjoyment that flew with a high degree of professionalism. I attribute this to good training and more importantly, a good attitude. Conversely I have flown with others, who…

Should I fly into Oshkosh? This is a question that many aviators ask themselves. Airventure Oshkosh is an amazing experience that should be on every pilot’s bucket list and for thousands it is the one event every year they WILL NOT miss. But for some there is a risk versus reward question. Sometimes the answer…

First Flight: Flight Testing your Experimental Aircraft Flight testing your homebuilt aircraft for the first time is statistically proven to be a riskier proposition than normal flight operations. Of course this makes sense; the first time a bundle of parts are assembled into an airplane and take flight there are going to be opportunities for…

Handling an Aircraft Emergency Few of us really know how we’ll react in a true emergency. Thankfully, they are extremely rare in our modern GA airplanes. But will you be prepared when that day comes? The day that something goes terribly wrong and it’s completely up to you to save yourself and your passengers. Having…

Complacency: The Silent Killer Let’s face facts, flying can be risky. In spite of statistics that say flying is safer than driving – which are arguable, there are elements of flying that are swiftly unforgiving. We have done well in recent decades to enhance accident rates in general aviation, but one theme remains; people are…

Editor: Each year the AOPA Air Safety Foundation publishes a free report capturing accident data and statistics. This edition of the report is covering accidents in 2010 (this delay is to allow accident investigations to close). I highly recommend reading this report. There is a good deal we can learn from the numbers. Also, they…