High Viz Jackets - Mandatory at GA Airfields?
The USA has a rather busier GA environment than the UK but does so without a need for hi-viz jackets. I quite happily wander to & from my aircraft on the GA part of very busy airports such as Atlanta Intl, Miami Intl, Tampa Intl, etc etc ad nauseum as well as numerous smaller fields without have to wear a hi-viz. To follow the logic of those who mandate the wearing of such things the US should have a worse safety rate than the UK. Has anyone *any* information that supports this assumption?
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Tinstafl
The FAA stats I linked to above show 1- Aviation has a very low risk of this type of accident vs other industrial areas, 2 - There are no fatal incidents in the period anywhere other than a few major hub airports, Almost all of those incidents were 'underneath' large transport aircraft, 3- There are almost no incidents of injury in non-hub airports where someone is stuck by a vehicle on the ramp.
Hence the US (litigation capital of the world) airports have not seen any need to introduce this change.
No information is available of the number of people struck by a vehicle in the airport parking lot.
The FAA stats I linked to above show 1- Aviation has a very low risk of this type of accident vs other industrial areas, 2 - There are no fatal incidents in the period anywhere other than a few major hub airports, Almost all of those incidents were 'underneath' large transport aircraft, 3- There are almost no incidents of injury in non-hub airports where someone is stuck by a vehicle on the ramp.
Hence the US (litigation capital of the world) airports have not seen any need to introduce this change.
No information is available of the number of people struck by a vehicle in the airport parking lot.
Having nearly been driven into by a couple of idiot yellowcoats due to the (rare in the UK) sun causing severe reflections in their vehicle windscreen, I agree that these arse-covering road diggers' coats can be a sodding nuisance - and a hazard.
Struggling into the flapping yellow abortions to walk twenty feet from aeroplane to control point is a nonsense, of course. I gather that's what is required at Kemble these days?
Now, if someone such as Pooleys or AFE was to come up with a smart, lightweight flying jacket in 'safety yellow', perhaps people would feel less annoyed at having to wear the stupid things.
Struggling into the flapping yellow abortions to walk twenty feet from aeroplane to control point is a nonsense, of course. I gather that's what is required at Kemble these days?
Now, if someone such as Pooleys or AFE was to come up with a smart, lightweight flying jacket in 'safety yellow', perhaps people would feel less annoyed at having to wear the stupid things.
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BEagle remarks:
Quote - Now, if someone such as Pooleys or AFE was to come up with a smart, lightweight flying jacket in 'safety yellow', perhaps people would feel less annoyed at having to wear the stupid things. - Unquote
A pal of mine found one and actually wore it!
.... We wouldn't talk to him thereafter & made him walk thirteen paces behind us when he did. It's OK now though ... He went off to Calgary in disgrace and bought a Cirrus-thingy.
Quote - Now, if someone such as Pooleys or AFE was to come up with a smart, lightweight flying jacket in 'safety yellow', perhaps people would feel less annoyed at having to wear the stupid things. - Unquote
A pal of mine found one and actually wore it!
.... We wouldn't talk to him thereafter & made him walk thirteen paces behind us when he did. It's OK now though ... He went off to Calgary in disgrace and bought a Cirrus-thingy.
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I didn't read through the entire thread, and there's no mandate for high visibility clothing in the US, but a couple of things leapt to mind. One of my work assignments puts me in a cockpit where I'm required to wear leather boots, long sleeve nomex flight suits, leather gloves, a helmet, etc. Certain pilots don't like it, in fact, many don't, because under the operating conditions, it gets extremely hot and uncomfortable. Some say it's a safety hazard because the extra clothing and gear only makes one hotter.
Personally, I wear it. I became convinced a long time ago, and I understand it's for protection. The life I save will be my own.
Some years ago an aircraft went down close to dark. Normally when one of our aircraft went down, one would assume all dead; survivors out of a crash under those circumstances just didn't ordinally exist. In this case, the aircraft crashed and burned. Later, it was learned that one crewmember did survive, got away from the wreckage, and propped himself up in a sitting position against a cactus. It was later estimated he survived three days before he died, and was found there. He was wearing a green nomex flight suit, and blended in with the terrain and with the cactus. The operator immediately switched to indian orange flight suits for no other reason than to make the crew more visible. Nobody complained.
A few years ago we went from yellow airplanes to white airplanes with red markings. Repainting the entire fleet got expensive. It was time consuming. Many of us felt the yellow colors were easier to see. However, we soon came to discover that the new paint scheme made a very big difference in out overhead support spotting us sooner, others picking us up faster, especially in smoke and low visibility. That white and red paint scheme wasn't a shot in the dark; it really works.
If high visibility jackets are mandated, who cares? In the western US at certain times of the year, every store carries racks of bright orange clothing as deer hunting season approaches. A decent high visibility vest can be had for a few bucks (dollars). I've kept one tucked in my gear for years. It may never be needed, but it may also make me easier to spot at a time, at some point, when it's wanted, and that's good enough.
Who cares what it looks like?? This is aviation. Not a fashion show.
Personally, I wear it. I became convinced a long time ago, and I understand it's for protection. The life I save will be my own.
Some years ago an aircraft went down close to dark. Normally when one of our aircraft went down, one would assume all dead; survivors out of a crash under those circumstances just didn't ordinally exist. In this case, the aircraft crashed and burned. Later, it was learned that one crewmember did survive, got away from the wreckage, and propped himself up in a sitting position against a cactus. It was later estimated he survived three days before he died, and was found there. He was wearing a green nomex flight suit, and blended in with the terrain and with the cactus. The operator immediately switched to indian orange flight suits for no other reason than to make the crew more visible. Nobody complained.
A few years ago we went from yellow airplanes to white airplanes with red markings. Repainting the entire fleet got expensive. It was time consuming. Many of us felt the yellow colors were easier to see. However, we soon came to discover that the new paint scheme made a very big difference in out overhead support spotting us sooner, others picking us up faster, especially in smoke and low visibility. That white and red paint scheme wasn't a shot in the dark; it really works.
If high visibility jackets are mandated, who cares? In the western US at certain times of the year, every store carries racks of bright orange clothing as deer hunting season approaches. A decent high visibility vest can be had for a few bucks (dollars). I've kept one tucked in my gear for years. It may never be needed, but it may also make me easier to spot at a time, at some point, when it's wanted, and that's good enough.
Who cares what it looks like?? This is aviation. Not a fashion show.
But if you can combine 'safety' and 'fashion', you can probably persuade people to wear hi-visibility clothing with less complaints.
Whereas some jumped up "elf 'n safety, innit" tosseur demanding that everyone wears hi-visibility clothing, to protect his own useless backside without any safety assessment having been conducted, deserves nothing but downright derision.
Whereas some jumped up "elf 'n safety, innit" tosseur demanding that everyone wears hi-visibility clothing, to protect his own useless backside without any safety assessment having been conducted, deserves nothing but downright derision.
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hmm...'Saftey and Fashion'
Don't worry gents....summer will soon be with us and just look what you could be wearing.
Look at all that polyester
yum...its from the lemon meringue range. It may clash with your headsets........
Don't worry gents....summer will soon be with us and just look what you could be wearing.
Look at all that polyester
yum...its from the lemon meringue range. It may clash with your headsets........
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As I proposed before every airfield should supply these to get you too and from your "Gentleman's Aerial Carriage" 
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...11#post3201311
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...11#post3201311
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The "Wooly Jumper" in his hi viz waistcoat at Tollerton, was not impressed with my hi viz jump pants. On my visit I was the only aircraft there, so does that make me a hazard to myself.
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Perhaps it gives us permission to strategically position our enemies on the taxi way with ANR headphones, facing the opposite way and no High Viz.. then chop them up/run them over without getting charged for murder/manslaughter because we "couldnt see them". 
I'm actually quite stable and sane
I'm actually quite stable and sane
Last edited by poss; 21st Jan 2008 at 18:50.
As the summer season rushes towards us 
does anybody have a list of airfields that have delusions of grandeur which require pilots to dress like motorway maintenance staff?
does anybody have a list of airfields that have delusions of grandeur which require pilots to dress like motorway maintenance staff?
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As the summer season rushes towards us does anybody have a list of airfields that have delusions of grandeur which require pilots to dress like motorway maintenance staff?