In this edition, we explore weather forecasting, discuss the importance of weight and balance checks and learn about what can go wrong for a helicopter crew doing autorotations using night-vision goggles.
To align with the second stage of the pilot safety campaign, Summer flying by Shelley Ross discusses weather forecasting for safe flying in summer, details the resources available from the BOM and numerous weather apps, and canvasses how to deal with thunderstorms, dehydration, sun burn and get-there-it is.
Lives in the balance by Steve Creedy explains the importance of doing a weight and balance check before each flight. He cites the case of a Baron that left Bankstown one night in 1992 for Cooma. The design of the aircraft meant the centre of gravity moved aft as fuel was burnt from the main tank. The aircraft crashed and all on board were killed.
In Meeting of metal, Senior writer Robert Wilson continues his fascinating historical series, this time revisiting the collision of 2 airliners in the United States 57 years ago, a story of superlative airmanship and a solemn reminder of the limits of see-and-avoid as a defence against collision. ATC had not notified either aircraft of the other’s presence but that had been normal practice in 1965.
In Things that go bump in the night, Brendan Reinhardt writes about a training accident where the crew of a Bell 407 was doing night touchdown autorotations using night-vision goggles. The newly surfaced runway was darker than the pilot was used to. The aircraft landed firmly and, with low-rotor RPM, the blades flexed excessively and struck the tail boom, cutting it off. The aircraft was shut down and luckily no one was injured.
In one of the popular close calls, Too close for comfort, the pilot of a low-wing aircraft doesn’t make radio calls and descends on a high-wing aircraft, both pilots oblivious of the other. ‘The first we knew about that aircraft was when its nose appeared in the top of our windscreen, slowly overtaking us and gradually descending,’ the pilot of the lower aircraft says.
This 64-page edition features another ‘crash comic’, tests readers’ knowledge with quizzes and has great safety reading and information valuable to everyone in aviation.
Flight Safety Australia is also available for
annual subscription.
