Lighting question (strobe power)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: U.K.
Age: 46
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Bose if you're happy, then fine, but personally I reckon most people should be discouraged from practices like this.
Why? For a few people this is fine, but if the majority start getting it into their heads to try it, then there will be carnage.
Night flying has no special tricks or magic, but there are many ways it can bite you if you aren't prepared or trained correctly. For example Black-hole takeoffs being one of the biggest killers.
PAPI's are usually useless for light a/c anyway, sine they invariably give guidance for an approach path of 3 deg. Far shallower than we need.
Private strips are great, but I can just imagine the call to the insurance company or the AAIB report after an accident, especially if it was due to loss of control or landing short.
Just because something is possible, it certainly doesn't make it sensible. I'm very risk averse, especially in situations like this, would I doubt my ability to make a safe approach? No. Would I have a go, no chance.
In aviation I was always taught and do teach to try and never leave yourself in a situation where one problem could end it all, basically always leave yourself an exit in the event of something unforseen occuring. i.e single engine at night, long over water crossings or aerobatics at naught feet. (Mind you in the past I have done long over water flights at night in a single engine a/c across a great white shark breeding area. Not something I'm wiling to do anymore!)
This isn't to say that we can always be safe, but I try and limit my exposure to "dodgy" situations. At the end of the day however, you are PIC, so it's up to you if you want to do it, but there are some pretty big what if's that I feel are unacceptable to me in this sort of scenario.
Why? For a few people this is fine, but if the majority start getting it into their heads to try it, then there will be carnage.
Night flying has no special tricks or magic, but there are many ways it can bite you if you aren't prepared or trained correctly. For example Black-hole takeoffs being one of the biggest killers.
PAPI's are usually useless for light a/c anyway, sine they invariably give guidance for an approach path of 3 deg. Far shallower than we need.
Private strips are great, but I can just imagine the call to the insurance company or the AAIB report after an accident, especially if it was due to loss of control or landing short.
Just because something is possible, it certainly doesn't make it sensible. I'm very risk averse, especially in situations like this, would I doubt my ability to make a safe approach? No. Would I have a go, no chance.
In aviation I was always taught and do teach to try and never leave yourself in a situation where one problem could end it all, basically always leave yourself an exit in the event of something unforseen occuring. i.e single engine at night, long over water crossings or aerobatics at naught feet. (Mind you in the past I have done long over water flights at night in a single engine a/c across a great white shark breeding area. Not something I'm wiling to do anymore!)
This isn't to say that we can always be safe, but I try and limit my exposure to "dodgy" situations. At the end of the day however, you are PIC, so it's up to you if you want to do it, but there are some pretty big what if's that I feel are unacceptable to me in this sort of scenario.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: UK,Twighlight Zone
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Good on you SAS, stick to your guns.
Life is nothing without an element of risk and I am prepared to take on an amount of well judged risk. My risk level it seems is a bit higher than yours but that is my personal choice.
I guess in your book everything is stacked against me, our take off is a black hole take off, I fly IMC at night and over water in a single (and a twin) but at least I wont be on lying on my death bed wondering "what if", most likely my shattered body will be lying on a foggy hillside in the middle of the night or mid channel freezing to death. But hey what a ride and at least they will have my GPS to recover the data..........
Life is nothing without an element of risk and I am prepared to take on an amount of well judged risk. My risk level it seems is a bit higher than yours but that is my personal choice.
I guess in your book everything is stacked against me, our take off is a black hole take off, I fly IMC at night and over water in a single (and a twin) but at least I wont be on lying on my death bed wondering "what if", most likely my shattered body will be lying on a foggy hillside in the middle of the night or mid channel freezing to death. But hey what a ride and at least they will have my GPS to recover the data..........
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Risk aversion is one of the reasons I won't get into an R22 anymore!!
I've scared myself too many times in a/c, usually due to my own stupidity and I've been to too many funerals of people in aviation to take as many risks as I would have when I was 21.
So where shall I send the flowers or donation for you? You may as well get the use of them now!!!
As long as we are all aware of the potential problems and pitfalls, then we can adjust our actions to suit, thereby reducing our risk. For you in example, you know about black hole T/O problems, so are ready for it. Much better than just "having a go" and there being a big bonfire at the end of a strip somewhere.
As the CFI of a club, I have to be seen to be respectable and hopefully the other members may start to be a bit less likely to do daft things if I'm around. Not sure if it works however!! No inverted beat up at 150kts and 10' above the runway for me anymore!
I've scared myself too many times in a/c, usually due to my own stupidity and I've been to too many funerals of people in aviation to take as many risks as I would have when I was 21.
So where shall I send the flowers or donation for you? You may as well get the use of them now!!!
As long as we are all aware of the potential problems and pitfalls, then we can adjust our actions to suit, thereby reducing our risk. For you in example, you know about black hole T/O problems, so are ready for it. Much better than just "having a go" and there being a big bonfire at the end of a strip somewhere.
As the CFI of a club, I have to be seen to be respectable and hopefully the other members may start to be a bit less likely to do daft things if I'm around. Not sure if it works however!! No inverted beat up at 150kts and 10' above the runway for me anymore!
