Killer Procedures

The data is clear: takeoff, climb, approach, and landing account for a small portion of total flight time, but a disproportionate number of accidents, especially fatal ones. We’ll explore why pilots get themselves into unrecoverable situations close to the ground and at the edge of the aircraft’s performance envelope. We’ll discuss what can be learned from past mistakes and how pilots can manage the risks associated with this critical phase of flight.

When was the last time you were proud of your takeoff? Approach and landing tend to receive most of the focus from pilots, but 300% more fatal accidents occur during the takeoff and climb. Most takeoffs are a non-event, but the aircraft is low and slow and flying near the bottom edge of the envelope. The margin for error is small and the risks are easy to overlook. Complacency creeps in and pretty soon an otherwise safe pilot puts themselves and their passengers on the edge of tragedy. This breakout will explore how takeoff and climb accidents occur and ways to avoid them.

The danger of a base-to-final loss of control is something of which every pilot is aware, yet they keep happening. In this session, we will be reintroduced to base-to-final LOC-I, what it is, how and why it happens, and how to best to avoid them.

Reading accident reports and pursuing the NTSB database is a somewhat morbid pastime of many pilots, but how do we turn the data into actionable information that can help manage the risks of General Aviation? In the breakout, we will discuss what data is available, how it is generated, what it can teach us, and what its limitations are. We will explore how pilots can train themselves to recognize hidden risks before they materialize.

Scenario 1: “Envelope Discovery”
Description: Spend a few minutes getting used to flying the Redbird LD simulator in edge of the envelope situations.
Objective: Familiarization with flying the sim close to stall speed, at high angles of attack, and in takeoff and landing configurations in preparation for the following flight scenario exercises.

Scenario 2: “Just a Quick Trip Around the Patch”
Description: Fly a normal VFR traffic pattern in a busy environment.
Objective: Learn to recognize distractions, external pressures, and environmental conditions to identify potential causes of approach and landing accidents.

Scenario 3: “High, Hot, and Heavy”
Description: In a high density altitude environment while at max gross, perform a safe takeoff and climb…if you can
Objective: Experience the conditions that might lead to a stall/settle event for the purpose of identifying contributing factors and sharpening recognition abilities.

Scenario 4: “Impossible Turn”
Description: Let’s not mince words … you’re going to lose your engine during takeoff and it’s not coming back.
Objective: Learn to anticipate engine failure on each flight and determine how best to maximize safety while still on the ground.