Tragic ending to a well meaning flight to help a fellow human. My only criticism of AF (I am not a volunteer for them but may in retirement) is that in the advert shown on TV it shows a $1m + aircraft (malibu on memory) assumed fully IFR with weather radar etc when in reality it will be a $60k single engine VFR aircraft that will turn up on the day. Why do people use this service? because it's free. What passengers have to realize is that flying in these aircraft is not the same or have the same safety as RPT. That is not saying don't go but just be aware and if the weather/pilot/aircraft is a concern to you don't get onboard. RPT is like train travel. Defined tracks, safety systems and monitoring to avoid collisions along the way etc along with the physical size of the thing that allows backup systems and dual drivers. Private aircraft are like private cars and pretty much do there own thing enroute with just 1 driver of variable experiance.
Would you jump into any car for a long trip with no questions asked?
AF probably need to look at their minimum experiance levels and teach online to both there pilots and clients the safe limits in flying VFR so passengers can ask the right question before they commit to travel, and the risks for pilots being pressured by passengers to meet appointments to takeoff if not VMC. Not saying this was the case here but we don't know.
Last edited by mostlytossas; 18th Nov 2017 at 05:02.