Aviation Safety - January 2002

January 2002

Ice: Gutting It Out
Canceling trips at the mere hint of ice in the forecast is an option. But think it through and you might fly more often than not.

From Big to Little
When slumming down from a heavier airplane to a lighter one, watch the V-speeds and don’t count on the automation; there isn’t any.

Gimme Gyros
Partial panel isn’t a death sentence, but backups – from simple manifold suction to complete panel redesign – turn it into a nonevent.

Holey Safety Net
ELTs are there to aid rescuers, but false alarms are compounded by the fact that ELTs usually don’t work when they should.

Tighten That Pattern
In a little airplane, a final longer than a half-mile is a gross waste of national resources. Tighter patterns are better and more fun.

Mad Mixture
Old airplane and twin-engine psychology take Apache pilot down the wrong road toward emergency landing.