but can anyone explain what this, from the latest issue, means:
It means that trying to get onto a reciprocal heading to land back on the runway with an engine problem that you have no time to analyse is probabaly going to result in a fatal accident. Apparently you stand a much better chance if you simply land wherever you can within about 30deg of your current track. The theory is that so long as you don't stall, you'll probably live and visa-versa. The majority of those who have tried to turn back died.
At least a couple of ppruners have had such an experience, Cbilton (he got a safety award too) and Monocock. Would be interesting to get their view on the reality of EFATOs.
I think it was Brian Leocomber in an article who said that turning back after an EFATO is possible so long as you are prepared to immediately put the aircraft in a steep dive to get the airspeed needed to avoid an accelerated stall due to the steep bank angle and high rate of turn required to turn in time. Might be alright for an ex-Rothamans team bloke, but not me
