Microlighters

Hi all,

Thought I would put a question to you all in Re to Passenger safety...

Besides the obvious need for the Pax to be well strapped in and wearing a helmet, would it be advisable to brief a PAX on a possible "Brace Position" should a accident occur? Do you think this would even help at all? I am just thinking about past and recent accidents involving very bad injuries to the Pax.

My thinking would be to practice this "Brace position" prior to take off... and would be on the lines of legs up, head tucked in behind the PIC with arms crossed over chest???

The Idea is to get the passenger to be in almost a "balled up" position which will provide them with the best possible protection from harm prior to any impact.

Any suggestions or criticism welcome. Id especially like to hear from some of the survivors of these accidents as I think you would be the most able to let us know what its like in these situations.

Regards,

VITAL that you brief the pax boet.... remove sharp things (like pens etc) from pockets, explian procedures.... personally (the bantam being side by sidethey can see all the gauges) i explain what everything is, what to do or not to do, what will happen in the event of... give the pax a lekker briefing, talk through the take off, like tell them we will have a longer take off roll in hotter conditions, etc./.... If im airborne i talk them through if im going to cut power ets, just to keep em at ease, talk em all the way through downwind and base then tell em to shut up on finals as im busy.... then i offer a meal of either beef or chicken....

No seriousy - always good to explain whats going on....

Thanks Dish,

For sure, I understand that fully and will always keep them informed as to what I'm doing during the various stages of flight.

My question is really about this brace position I was thinking about.

I forgot to mention that this brace position would be for specific use in a trike. (although I suppose it wouldnt do any harm in something like your bantum either)

thanks for the suggestions.

Probably be quite useful in a bantam as its got a fat pipe crossing quite near to the occupants heads... good suggestion

I don’t think its necessary for a brace position in a Bantam...
(Just joking Dish, but you already know that)



OK, on a more serious note. Don’t you think that this procedure will cause more stress on the passenger prior to even flying? Lots of people are already scared of flying, not mentioning microlights.

Just my 2c's
If the pros outweigh the cons I will surely do the whole briefing thing prior to flight. Interesting topic though!

Ha ha - shot grot,

No i dont think so - its about them becoming more at ease with the procedures...??

" i want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather, not screaming wildly like the passengers in his car at the time" - ha ha - just a joke but i believe that forewarned is forearmed... ie know the consequences, %&%^% happens but in the UNLIKELY event of an engine failure, this will be the way i will deal with it and this is what i want you to do ??? tell em....

Very important-

Show him where the mag switches are-
fasten camera strap on his person,
The hand throttle is not a footrest-
Dont waffle if there's a radio call,

Puke away from the carbs!

DarkHelmet wrote:Puke away from the carbs!

And not down back of pilot flight suit

I usually ask more than tell

Do you like flying, have you ever flown in something this size, do you get seasick, are you afraid of heights etc?

Then based on those answers they might make the seat. Had a guy on Saturday morning, flies paragliders, only got about 6 hours, 14 flights and 3 serious incidents so far and was petrified. I asked him straight if I was going to have a problem with him in the air. On take off, he was visibly shaking, I flew very gently with him. Later he flew with one of the other guys, who did a stall and some tight turns, told the guy he was a cowboy,

I normaly explain the operations, what to touch etc. I don't do the whole, "This is an experimental aircraft, and flying in it is at your own risk " I reckon I would have no pax's with that one

I always tell the PAX what i am doing .

My Motto is " Its takes no skill to make your pax scared , But it takes skill to make them feel comfy and want to do it again "

Its funny that DH just mentioned the puking away from the carbs-thing. It hit me straight inbetween the eyes. This was actually one of the things that were tought to me by Fred Blockland at Airborne sports. My first reaction to it was But after the whole explanation (I was still a student OK) it kind of made sense.

On the other hand, it is in the best interest of both parties to know what the correct procedure are in an emergency. Lets face it- trying to illustrate to your pax the bracing position, whilst cranking the engine,looking for a landing spot in an engine out scenario... Not gonna work.

Maybe get a PAX emergency cap...

Nice one RV!

Thanks for the replies so far. Another thing I thought of is, why is the seatbelt for the Pax not a safety harness like they have in race cars? In a bad impact, the Pax is going to head butt the PIC at a moerse spoed without this type of restraint?

Bundy wrote:Nice one RV!

Thanks for the replies so far. Another thing I thought of is, why is the seatbelt for the Pax not a safety harness like they have in race cars? In a bad impact, the Pax is going to head butt the PIC at a moerse spoed without this type of restraint?

Good piont and very easy to modify a trike rear seatbelt to a 4 piont system. attach two straps with adjustment to the mastat about pax shoulder height. run one over each shoulder and then the lap straps go through loops at the bottom of teh two shoulder straps. Be careful where you attach the straps to teh mast. Bes would be a bolt on, but looping them around the mast will also work and requires no modifications.