Ramp Check= Aviation killer

[John Boucher]

I have to agree with Goffel.This must be one of the more important ones which needs the care and attention of all! Maybe it is worth a "sticky" till Goffel has furnished all the answers and requirements...

I sincerely hope that this thread does not wind up in free for all punch it up session!

[Morph]

From personal experience of landing an aircraft at a remote uninhabited airfield, having a front wheel come off and ending up inverted, hanging from the seatbelt, fuel pissing out all around you, fortunately no injuries apart from bruising I discovered the following (NOTE: This happened last year January, she is repaired and flying again)

1. A fire extinguisher is an absolute must, while trying disconnect the battery cables to prevent a spark, a short occurred and set the insulation of the throttle cable alight. (my battery is now much more accessible and easier to disconnect). Fortunately once the insulation had finished burning it stopped, but this was under the dash, right next to the 5 liter header tank, full of fuel with fuel pissing out of the 100 liter wing mounted fuel tanks, that had ruptured.

2. Even though I wasn't injured, a simple head wound, cut arm or leg, could have put me in mortal danger. It took 30 minutes for the first help to arrive. Finding a remote airfield that you are used to getting to in the air, by road is quite difficult. It is highly conceivable that I could have had serious injuries, fortunately a strong airframe and 4-point harness saved my bacon

3. I didn't have any water. You have to carry water, Altona, by air is just 10 minutes away from Morning Star, but there is nothing there, no water nothing. With a broken leg, might well have been in the middle of the Karoo. This should be part of the first aid requirement, 2 liters of water.

Since then there is always water in my aircraft, plus a good multitool, for survival. Also, I always carry my phone in my pocket, when the world turns upside down, stuff flies all over the place. Aerial broken off, because it was on the roof, rendered the radio useless. (it is a handheld and I also carry the little rubber antenna with me, just in case.)

Let's stop arguing about this and find a way to comply. I hear what the trike guys say about the extinguisher, with no panniers, but end up at an airfield, blown over by a crosswind, and your beloved aircraft set's alight, or heaven forbid, your pax is trapped in her seat, inverted, fuel everywhere about to explode. There is enough mounting space anywhere on the trike to mount an extinguisher in a suitable, secure bracket. (Brackets similar to the ballistic chute for example) Also a simple first aid kit, with secure straps, secured to the kingpost, or under the trike.

[andrepieterse]

I think that a fire extinguisher can also be used as a bashing tool if you could not get the door open (perhaps due to distortion of the airframe), etc when you need to get out after a hard forced landing. Not just for fire.

Very important, though, to practice getting the extinguisher out of its storage bracket while you are strapped into your seat. Not funny to find out that you cannot reach or unfasten your fire extinguisher in a real emergency.

Regards

[Morph]

Both my Extinguisher and Medical aid kit are within easy reach. In case I am trapped in the plane etc. Gotta think of these things

[Goffel]

From the legal division and their interpretation of the law.

Please bear in mind that when this exemption was written, it was supposedly meant for the,(old), Weight shift microlights, and (presumable), no-one realised when writing the law, that Microlights would evolve to where they have got to.

Vol 2. Aviation Legislation in South Africa.
Operatipon of Non Type Certificated Aircraft. (Part 94)

94.06.7 ....(1). Exemptions
(2). Conditions for flight.

(1). Amature built, Production built aircraft, INCLUDING Microlights aeroplane's, are exempt from carrying a 1st Aid Kit and a Fire extinguisher.

(2). No Microlight aeroplane shall be operated above 500 feet AGL, unless fitted with:

(a). An approved, serviceable compass; and
(b). An altimeter that is accurate to within approximately 100 feet.

................
Having said the above and clearing the uncertainty of whether you must carry a fire exting and 1st aid kit, I would suggest that rather have safety in mind and carry them...not a law, but a safety request.

Flight operations inspectors have been notified and will not give any person the third degree......should you have any hassel, please give me a call.

I will post the rest of the relevent documents, (original or certified), and the interpretation of the radio, (you do need a radio at all airfields), in a day or two.

Thanks for your patience,

Goffel.

[Gyronaut]

Thanks for clarifying that conclusively! Well done.
I for one have a first aid kit and fire extinguisher within reach in my cockpit and will keep it that way.

Nice to have you 'with' us Goffel.

Rgds

Len

[Learjet]

Goffel - thanks for the clarification. I agree with your sentiments. I would think it's common sense to carry a fire extinguisher and first aid kit (and I do) - but it is also sad that some of the CAA inspectors didn't do their homework properly before rushing off to airfields with clipboards in hand to embark upon heavy-handed "it must be Halon" fire extinguisher and first aid kit "where are your splints?" inquisitions. Sadly this is exactly the type of situation that gives rise to the (mis)perceptions of CAA Draconian witchhunts and unfortunately puts into question the well-intentioned motives behind such inspections.

Neither the CAA nor GA will make any significant strides in raising aviation safety standards if the culture of mutual distrust persists. Now imagine if the CAA approach had been the following,

Dear NTCA aircraft owners,

We are aware that your aircraft are currently exempt from carrying fire-extinguishers and first-aid kits. However as the CAA is committed to improving air safety standards, (and you will no doubt appreciate the good sense in doing so), we are encouraging NTCA aircraft to carry suitable fire-extinguishers and first-aid kits on board. Your compliance is this regard will be valued, not only in respect of your own personal safety and that of your passengers, but also as a means to assist the CAA from having to regulate this requirement in the future and thus help keep aviation both safe and unburdened from excessive regulation.

happy and safe flying
With love from Uncle Colin.

[THI]

Thanks Goffel!

If I ever have the pleasure to meet you, the first round will be on me!

[German]

[Tracer]

It is great to get this kind of clarification on subjects, thank you Goffel.

I for one do also carry a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher in my trike.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Based on this then any fire ex and first aid kit is acceptable..
Thanks


PS
Not sure about requiring a radio though? (I have radio's but when we were "fighting" or maybe a better woprd is opposing ATNS transponders for everyone, the law was such that you did not require a radio in certain circumstances. Not saying it right, just that that was the position which was IIRC confirmed by CAA legal?)

[John Boucher]

Clarity..... hmmm let's see what we can dig up!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Thanx Chris.... now we await for the rest!

[Arnulf]

Thank you for clearing this up.

Halon Fire extinguisher in trike is useless ballast. In a closed cockpit aircraft, it is a must.

Regards,
Arnulf

[kloot piloot]

Most enjoyable thread indeed.

The past page sumarizes 2 interesting facts:

1. Goffel confirms that we need no extinguisher and 1st aid kit above 500 ft if trike is equipped with Alti and Compass.

2. Morph highlights common sence from experience.

Now back to page 1. Please do not make a law on ramp inspections to carry 2 ltr water and a multi tool and a Halon and compass swing and ... and ... and .... The list will simply become too long. Just as CAA would not put toilet paper on that list, I already have a roll in my trike for obvious reasons. And, I for one, will not be flying splints around in my trike, because I will use battens for splints. Use wing material for marker strips, etc. Because by the time you are going to need them, you would have already wrecked your aerie anyway.

For the free spirit of triking, CAA could/should publish a "nice to have in case of survival" list.

As for paperwork on the trike, yes, it should be there.

Let's ask Goffel to help us de-regulate and assist pilots to learn to think about 2 ltr water, a leatherman, a basic first aid course and why 1.5kg halon in an enclosed Cubby will save your life, but would be useless weight on an upturned windlass trike undercarriage with 40 litres fuel but no compulsary shut-off valve.

Microlighting conversely has the task to educate CAA that Microlights nowadays consist of weightshift trikes (with no enclosed space), gyros, 3-axis (enclosed). All with their own limitations.

And lastely, someone mentioned stats. What ARE the stats from CAA's long awaited accident reports on fires in trikes, gyros and small three axis respectively ? Because that is what accident reporting is meant to produce. STATS !

It should remain free flying based on knowledge, stats, common sence and supported by basic laws. The USA has proof that "free flying based on laws" and supported by knowledge, stats and common sence does not work.

[Africa]

Very well said Kloot Piloot!!! Amen Brother!! I worked in a trike factory for 5-6 years and saw many many damaged trikes come and go and I cannot remember 1 trike that had caught fire!! NOT one!! I understand the need for equipment in hangars etc but to carry all this crap on a trike should be to the pilots discreation and not a regulation. Microlights trikes have been around since the 80's and i have not heard of where a space blanket or 2 litres of water could have saved a life. 99% of pilots that fly long x country fly with more than one trike. Arent we moving away from what triking is all about?? light weight, enjoyable, minimal regulated sport?

Where would the line be drawn? next you will need a flash light and orange cones incase you have to land on the N-4. then you will need reflector vests to direct traffic after the landing. If you feel that you want to be Mcgiver and carry a bunch of stuff, by all means do it and keep up with what your AC weighs and what your all up weight is, but don't have it forced on everyone. it will make this sport more expensive for the average Joe to afford. This is just an opinion