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Max Trescott Blogs

It's time for the FAA to set an aggressive goal, comparable to the ones they set for airliners, for reducing the general aviation fatal accident rate. Without one, senseless accidents will continue, needless lives will be lost, and potential new pilots will be scared away.

In recent years, general aviation averaged over 300 fatal accidents per year, resulting in around 600 deaths per year. This is very high compared to air carrier aviation fatalities, which numbered 40 in 2005. By comparison, the NTSB reports that annually railroads account for over 700 fatalities, boating accidents claim over 800 lives, and car accidents kill over 40,000 people. Nonetheless, while the public shows little reticence to board a boat or drive a car, they tend to view small planes as unsafe.

Max Trescott on General Aviation: General Aviation Needs an Aggressive Safety Goal

:: First off, as big fan of Max's book on the Garmin G1000 Glass Cockpit, I'm geeked that Max has started a blog.

CAP is the single largest operator of Cessna piston singles, CAP is well on the way to being the biggest G1000 operator. (well... at least until some G1K equipped VLJ air taxi operation builds more... but that's another post!)

I agree with Bob Miller from Over the Airwaves, who also says that GA safety can be drastically improved if we get our butts in gear.

Let's get to it.

2 Officers Lost in CAP Crash

Nevada Wing Commander Col. Dion DeCamp and Col. Ed Lewis of the California Wing, a former Pacific Region commander, died in a CAP aircraft crash on the evening of  Nov. 8.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the DeCamp and Lewis families and the members of these wings. More information will be posted as soon it becomes available.

Website: CAP NHQ

:: The media is reporting that a Las Vegas LEO helo was on scene moments after the CAP plane went down. They also report that a Bonanza had dropped off radar before hand, but I'm not going to try and speculate if the two incidents are related.

It's a sad day.

My thoughts are with their families, friends, and fellow officers.

1*

Hang around special operator types long enough...  and you're bound to eventually come across this symbol. It's a bit of an inside joke amongst the Law Enforcement folks, especially within the special operations community.

It stands for, "One Ass To Risk."

You see...

1 = You

* = Ass to Risk

Get it?

It started with the SWAT guys, and like any good idea (i.e. challenge coins) the concept has crossed over to other services... so there are many versions of the logo...

• Blue = Police
• Red = Firefighters
• Green = Military

It reminds one to be more careful.

We've all been reminded recently that what we do can be a tough, dangerous business, that puts us in harm's way.

I'd venture to say adopting "1*" would be a more effective tool for your local neighborhood Safety Officer than the silly pledge.

I for one, want a green version of the patch for my flight bag.

A Bio Break for Safety

Here's what I thought was a good idea... but I ran out of bandwidth to execute on...

While attending NESA-MAS I copied the boldface emergency checklist for the C-172 Skyhawk into a one page flyer and printed it. My intention was to post it above the urinals and on the backs of the stall doors in the Men's Latrine. Note, I'm not a CFI. I just copied and pasted items from the CAP standardized checklists.

The theory is that during some of the "quality time" in there, the knowledge could be imparted in a, "can't miss it," fashion.

Unfortunately, I got so busy that I never got them posted. The ops-tempo at band camp is pretty brutal... the truth is I just never could find any damn sticky tape!

Download CAP.MAS.MEMORY.172.pdf

I can't take credit for the idea. I first saw it done with emergency checklists for the KC-135 posted above the urinals at Grissom ARB. The next time I saw it done they were CISM checklists at the EOC in Mississippi, while deployed during JTF-Katrina.

I guess it's more productive then stocking the stall with porn.

Take the Safety Quiz

Staying current has never been easier. You can keep up-to-date on pilot safety topics like PIREPs made easy ... runway incursions ... mountain flying ... avoiding TFR nightmares ... or GPS for IFR and VFR operations.

Air Safety Foundation: The Pilot Challenge

:: This email popped into my inbox today, a quick 3 question quiz on Air Safety from the ASF.

I took it, and got 2 out of three. (I missed the one about GPS and how many birds the unit needs to see for  RAIM, I was off by one.) I like the way the quiz results are linked to the appropriate ASF online safety safety courses. (of which there are many)

If you're aircrew, I highly recommend taking a course or two. Each should take you 45 minutes tops.

The ASF is one of the many reasons I don't mind blowing $80 bucks a year on my AOPA Membership.

The More You Sweat. The Less You Bleed.

:: Tip of the hat to NIN for a link to yet another cool tool.

Passenger Briefing Helps Mom Save Toddler

A desperate mother took matters into her own hands as her 5-year-old daughter was trapped in an overturned float plane -- she grabbed a rescuer's goggles and plunged into the water herself to free the child.

Beth Lamberson of North Yarmouth was credited with saving her daughter from drowning after the plane flipped, killing the 69-year-old pilot.

One of the people who arrived on the scene dived into the water and found Lauren strapped in her seat, but he couldn't free her, the report said.

"The mother took the goggles, saying that she knew how to release the seat belt, and proceeded to go down and get her daughter," the report said.

The report credited Soleri's safety briefing for the family's ability to escape. Thanks to the briefing, Lamberson knew how to work the latch to free her daughter, who was taken to the Maine Medical Center for treatment.

"Joe took the time to review emergency evacuation procedures with us prior to takeoff, as every pilot should, and that is what saved the lives of the three of us in the rear seats," the Lamberson family said in a statement.

WCVB Boston: Mother Saved Daughter From Submerged Plane

:: This story just blew me away.

It also highlighted how critical taking the time for a thorough pre-flight passenger brief can be.

I've been flying with a lot more first-time-flyers lately, especially since I've been flying CAP Cadet Orientation  Flights. I make it a point to give a complete brief every time I fly. If it's the first time with a pax, I make them show me how to unbuckle the belt, and open the door. (I figure that little bit of muscle memory could be a life-saver in a crisis.)

CAP regs require us to follow the checklist, and the standardized checklists do include a complete crew briefing. It's time well spent.

I'm sorry for the loss of the pilot, but the story could have had an even sadder ending had Joe not given the briefing. The little girl is about to start kindergarten. Good job Joe. Godspeed.

Over the Airwaves

To me, a day aloft in a small aircraft is one of life's ultimate rewards.  To soar effortlessly between and among thermals, free of the bonds of earth, is the ultimate manifestation of true happiness.  It is a special privilege that precious few people ever experience.

Sadly, however, far too many of us GA pilots manage to screw things up for ourselves.  We skip a step in the pre-flight process.  We launch into questionable weather.  We fail to maintain airspeed.  We mess up a crosswind landing.  We duck below minimums on the approach.  We become too complacent or too bold

Over the Airwaves is not intended to be your typical training, official news, or club-type social journal.  Instead, its intent is to stimulate thought, enhance aviation critical thinking skills, to encourage the strong pilot, and to disturb the weaker pilot.

Link: Over the Airwaves

:: OTA is a bi-weekly email newsletter written for pilots who want to maintain proficiency. It's like The Sentinal for non-CAP pilots.

I came across it this week listening to Bob Miller's interview on the  ANN Podcast.

CAP has a very strong safety culture, our pilots are required to adhear to a couple of Miller's pet peeves for maintaining real proficiency.

• We're required to ready CAP's Safety Newsletter, The Sentinal which is published monthly.
• Every year we subject ourselves to participate in an annual standardization flight with an Check Pilot to confirm our proficiency.  I consider this to be some of the cheapest life insurance  around.

Miller has a few other pet peeves that I tend to agree with:

• He takes issue with flight schools where yesterday's graduates are teaching today's students.  Science long ago proved the deleterious effects of genetic inbreeding of farm animals.
• The FAA sees fit to qualify CFII's (instrument instructors) who have never once flown in actual clouds. (Yikes!)
• Most  General Aviation pilots average less than 50 flight hours a year.  Yet they scoff at meaningful recurrent training.
• It is little wonder why GA flying remains statistically 100 times riskier, hour for hour, than airline flight!

So while all this may be good for CAP's job security in the Search & Rescue business, it's a good idea to sign up and add Over The Airways to your inbox. 

Fit For Duty

Hosts of a new show coming to the Pentagon Channel want to make troops hurt. They want to make them sweat. They want to push servicemembers’ limits. Above all, they want to ensure members of the U.S. military are “Fit for Duty.”

“Fitness is as much a part of the military as the uniform,” said retired Air Force Master Sgt. Jim Langdon, who serves as the Pentagon Channel’s director of operations and programming as well as executive producer of “Fit for Duty.”

“All the services go to great lengths to entice their troops to stay fit,” Langdon said. “We wanted to help too.”

“Fit for Duty” takes viewers through a high-energy 30-minute workout led by servicemembers with expertise in fitness training. The show makes it simple to follow along and complete exercises demonstrated by the instructors. A military sports medicine physician also offers tips for preventing injuries and avoiding career-ending accidents during each episode of the show.

DefenseLink: New Pentagon Channel Show Helps Make Troops ‘Fit for Duty’

:: It would be great if the Pentagon Channel would publish this show as a video podcast. This looks to me like a good motivator to those of us Doughnut Dating S'members Officers that are packing too much flab into our zoom bags.

Those of you lucky enough to have access to the Pentagon Channel, you may want to add this to your own Fit 2 Fly program.

Wings Program 2.0

The long awaited release of the automated WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program is here, and with it come exciting opportunities for you to improve your piloting knowledge and skills!

An obvious incentive to pilots is the added level of safety and professionalism that can be obtained through incorporation of a consistent recurrent training program. Another real plus is that qualifying for the Basic phase of WINGS meets the requirements under 14 CFR, Part 61.56 for a flight review. Maintaining at least the Basic phase means that your flight review will always be current.

The new Internet-based system allows you to have ownership and control of your aviation training and proficiency. You will be able to customize your individual pilot profile so the training you receive is relevant to your flying environment. You will also be able to track your progress on-line through your FAASafety.gov user account.

FAA:    The All New WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program

:: I've participated in the FAA WINGS Program for years. Since a CAP Form 5 checkride typically doesn't count as a BFR, WINGS is a good way to skip it.

But the little paper card that I would always pick up at Oshkosh which we used to document the time and participation seemed kinda arcane to me.

This is better.