DON'T STOP FLYING

[Flooi]

Accidents should make us wary and not fearful.

a) Do it by the book! Stick to the numbers
b) Be obsessional (and paranoid) about maintenance)
c)Don't chance the weather: You will lose.

All these accidents are certain to give the powers higher up an excuse to complicate the hobby

With the economical slump, you will get far less than it is worth, if you sell
you aircraft - and you will NEVER be able to replace it.

Go fly and enjoy: You live only once.

[John Young]

Hi,

Firstly, the huge loss of life this month is tragic to say the least and I pass my sincere condolences to all concerned.

I submit that if aircraft were grouped into 3 broad categories based on MAUW, being;

• < 450 Kg
• 450 to 2500 Kg, and
• > 2500 Kg

it would appear that the middle band are having by far the worst luck and / or the most incidents (both pro-rata and by total count).

In the <450 Kg class, are pilots just more timid by respecting their comparatively tiny envelopes and allying themselves with the Jim Davis “I’d rather be a life-long member of the chicken club” approach? Yes, this class has had numerous prangs.

In the >2500 Kg, often there is a co-pilot, massive amounts of training and discipline, greater aircraft capabilities etc. Yes, they do prang too.

Why is it that the 450 to 2500 Kg class seems to be having the most prangs?

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Regards
John

[Wart]

My golden rules are:-

1. Know the limitations of your aircraft
2. Know your own limitations
3. Never exceed either 1 or 2
4. Never think that you can exceed 1 or 2

[Z-MRP]

I was just thinking the same thing about these GA accidents, but you summed it up perfectly with weight catorgries. Is it because these planes, weight catorgy, are working for renumaration and in tough times and are pushing all the envelopes to the max and hence the problems. We were speculating at Komani on wednesday nite re saratoga going down and wondered if being fully fuelled and max pax, were there weights checked, and density altitude, could it be that if all systems were functioning correctly that all these factors came together and the plane was never going to meet the performance required to fly?????????????
So as a policy stick to the book, preflight ,weather check,plan ahead and fly safe.
There are not many old bold pilots flying! Dont try join this exclusive group!!

[Tumbleweed]

For one who always seems like a second away from road rage, I find flying gives the total opposite effect.

Personally, I think its the discipline and the consequences of that keep us responsible and I don't go long with the 'A type personalities, typical 'South African egos', who seemingly flaunt any authority and would knowingly challenge weather, capabilities e.t.c.

Our ground school instructor who flew jets in the air force would regularly interrupt the lesson with a 'last post' bugle rendition and 'slow march' initually humorous but a lasting effect.

So I share the observation with John, in that the 4 - 6 seaters are getting most of the attention.

There's no worthwhile stats, but maybe a few differences between us and them could be;

We mostly own our own aeries, so by only paying the R 150.00 odd petrol per hour to fly, staying current is not a problem, as apposed to the R2 000.00 per hour pressure of Hire and fly and then being held up by weather, congested circuit control i.e. 'no 4 at the holding point' watching others go through the checks e.t.c.

We'll happily flip around the patch, or join a breakfast fly in as apposed to a more meaningfull purposeful weekend getaway.

Maybe, we are more accepting of our 'micro' status and gladly fly the earlier times as apposed to " I'm certified to fly big twins, IFR, Nights, mid day with pax e.t.c.

Can't believe the mag's advertising 40 -50 year old 4- 6 seaters for over a million bucks. Maybe the timex components should not just be hourly managed but by years also. Those things should devalue.

Maybe there needs to be a refresher/ upgrade course involving the newer GPS (one inbuilt and a second personal one) as opposed to vor stations that never work e.t.c.

Maybe getting a reference number from the weather dept after obtaining your compulsary brief for your 200 mile e.t.c x country flip. (Says me who has been bullshitted many times)

Again, exposing my ignorance but I'd reconsider an offer to take my family for a flip down to the coast with a litle twin, but would'nt think twice to flip in my trike, thats just me.

[johnsa]

Does anybody knows the ratio in those accidents between com pilots and private pilosts?

[Stephan van Tonder]

No sell guys sell - and cheaply too - I need one.

[johnsa]

I thought you were buying a new Cheetah but I agree, when you have cash, cash is king and you can snap up the bargains, but than again you can buy stocks of companies who have more value in assets than their value at the exchange?

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Flying has risks. Manage them as best you can....

Whether you stop flying or not will not effect the accident rate at all.... As P1 you are in full control of your destiny (Can't say same for your pax, but they not the ones thinking about quitting....)

Me I will continue flying, although every time there is a prang I face a family tribunal. The last week has been tough and I have flown plenty in that time. No disrespect to the recent prangs, victems and families, but initial indications seem to indicate none (other than possibly the Technam) appear to be mechanical.... While I am by no means saying they are pilot error, the pilot was in control of his own destiny..... (When you loose engine or structural failure you are a passenger and thus not in control of your own destiny)...

My 2c...
Respect your own limits and abilities. Be sensible about these.
Do not skimp on maintenance....
Learn from others mistakes - life too short to make them all yourself.
Analyse why you fly. If it for FUN and you not having fun DON't FLY...

[RV4ker (RIP)]

We'll happily flip around the patch, or join a breakfast fly in as apposed to a more meaningfull purposeful weekend getaway.

So are most blik types. Most of these were on X country flights and thus there were other factors to which microlight or patch flyers are not exposed to. Business pressure it has long been said is a very bad reason to fly yourself around... (Doctor killer is another expression that comes to mind. Gethomealitis etc..)

Maybe, we are more accepting of our 'micro' status and gladly fly the earlier times as apposed to " I'm certified to fly big twins, IFR, Nights, mid day with pax e.t.c. -

BLiks are made to concour the WX, but there is still no substitute for some solid fear or respect for the WX... WX affects far more on longer flights than short hops... The attraction of air travel is fully experienced over longer distances, but as distance increases so does WX. On thursday night I was 14nm from home on 200nm flight and had to turn around due to WX. I was alone, but with Pax there would be HUGE pressure to push on. I turned around, but then got advice from big iron that alternative route may be available. I had taken extra fuel expecting dodge WX and I diverted 40nm to get home... That said I was quiet happy to go back the 150nm and try again in the morning.... This is a huge problem and you can have all the skill in the world and it will not help.... Peer pressure affects us all. Sometimes from employees, bosses, wives, kids, mothers, fathers.... BEWARE of it... I can recall 3 maybe 4 accidents where the pilot had 15000+ hrs experience and "should have known better", but did not - WHY?

Can't believe the mag's advertising 40 -50 year old 4- 6 seaters for over a million bucks. Maybe the timex components should not just be hourly managed but by years also. Those things should devalue. -

They are almost completely rebuilt every 5 years. Most have hourly and yearly limits. Have a look what a new planes costs. Just as eg... A 40 year ord baron will cost maybe R1'000'000 while a new one will cost over $1'000'000. It all relative. Compare a Second hand Windlass at R30K to a new Windlass...

Maybe there needs to be a refresher/ upgrade course involving the newer GPS (one inbuilt and a second personal one) as opposed to vor stations that never work e.t.c.

GPS is not the problem. VOR not working will not kill you. It usually a chain of events which leads to the prang. The key is to be able to identify that you are in the starring role before the curtain comes down on your final performance. I have done a couple take 2's when it felt like I was watching myself... K@K feeling, but I think we need to get over the "failure" associated with aborting a flight, landing, take off or pressing on.

Maybe getting a reference number from the weather dept after obtaining your compulsary brief for your 200 mile e.t.c x country flip. (Says me who has been bullshitted many times) .

Getting ref number just proves you foned, it does not prove you listened and also then opens a can of worms regarding liability if they said you can go and the WX bites you...

Again, exposing my ignorance but I'd reconsider an offer to take my family for a flip down to the coast with a litle twin, but would'nt think twice to flip in my trike, thats just me.

I think only reason is that the trike is your own. If it was your twin I suggest you would not feel as strongly. Most of these prangs the owner was in the plane or actually the pilot...

Just my 2c.....

[Trikenut]

I DON'T PLAN TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We just have to relise as Rv4ker said: Flying has risks, manage them as best you can.
Back to me: I think that we just have to continue with this wonderful sport and LEARN from these accidents! The people that lived through the accidents have LEARNED what they did wrong and will in future, not do that!
What is the point in flying if you are just going to run when someone or you, have an accident and NOT LEARN!! I'm sorry, but those sorts of people just get on my nerves!
So, LIVE AND LEARN, but whatever you do DON'T STOP FLYING!!!!!!!!!!
Just my 2c
Ross

[slysi]

I have to admit that the recent spate of accidents has indeed made me think twice about persuing my dream. In fact my better half has certainly picked up on these accidents and I will need some extra power of pursuasion to convince her that I will be a reponsible pilot.

At the end of the day however there are risks in everything that we do and our attitude on how we manage those risks will to some degree determine our destinies.

Fly safe guys, we are living in scary times.

[Flying Shark]

All these accidents are tragic and it makes one think and wonder if doing what we love is worth it, but while we are driving down the hi-way pondering on weather we should carry on flying or not, we will drive past the multi-car pile up take a look at the death and carnage and not think twice about giving up driving???

How strange we can be. Flying is still safer than driving especially on our roads!!

[Big-D]

Take it from me

I got scared after seeing all the accidents and knowing some of the guys involved. I then stopped flying, and sold everything I had that had to do with microlights (Except my helmet) - 6 months later I had a change of heart

I had to replace everything - Sold GPS for next to nothing, new ones cost a little more You get the idea

There are definately risks to flying - BUT it is my passion and my weekends sucked without flying and I was driving my wife nuts and she pleaded with me to start flying again as she could see how much I missed it - Also, it can be made safer by sticking to the rules including the ones you set for yourself

Thatchman wrote something a while ago that I will remember - Fly safe and have fun, or don't and be a boring old &@£%&@!!

D

[Gyronaut]

Thatchman wrote something a while ago that I will remember - Fly safe and have fun, or don't and be a boring old &@£%&@!!

D

Life is about living, not pondering the end of it!

I feel the need to convey this little story. I was invited to a old boys reunion recently and three of us flew in to the heart of the karoo with our Gyro's. The next morning a total stranger (female) approaches me and says she mentioned to her husband the night before that there were three people out of the 50-odd there that seemed different, that had a sparkle in their eyes and seemed to be adventurous and full of life.

She said she was not one little bit surprised when she discovered the next day that we were the three Gyro pilots! (fact that we're naughty shits anyway doesn't matter for the purpose of this story)

My point is this, life is what happens while we plan for our pension. To hell with it. Fly safe, have fun and don't be a boring old &@£%&@!!

Hear Hear!