Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network.

Aero-Tips 12.31.06

I have a phrase I've used at the end of presentations and correspondence for several years: "Fly safe, and have fun™." I think this simple phrase pretty much sums up what I want readers and listeners to know about flying.

Fly safe...

Safety should be the primary focus of your approach to flying. Route, altitude and time of flight is optional unless you're on a military combat mission (you have options even then, in most cases). Most times it's the pilot who forgets that he/she has control over these three variables that winds up in the mishap reports. Give yourself the time to be flexible with your choices.

Know your airplane... and its avionics. Get very familiar with both before launching on anything other than a local, day-visual flight. Don't fly with inoperative equipment unless it's not required for your intended flight, and only then after considering the operational impact of doing without. Stay within the limitations of your aircraft.

Know your own limitations. Be strict about medical self-certification before each flight. Don't discount the effects of fatigue, and acknowledge that your physical state and tolerances will likely change as you age. Pursue continuing education. Learning to fly does not consist of passing a checkride. Professional pilots as a whole have a safe flying record because they approach flying professionally-and that includes practicing maneuvers and procedures beyond just what they experience in day-to-day operations. Map out a continuing education program for yourself, and stick to it to be safe.

Follow the rules. Almost all flight regulations exist because there's a strong potential for disaster otherwise. Consider the rules of safe flying to be the legacy of those who have come before. Study mishap reports and use these accident scenarios to hone your own technique.

...and have fun

Most of all, enjoy flying. Very few of us became pilots for purely objective reasons. We could have found other occupations, arranged other ways to get around, or employed someone else to do the flying. Almost all these options would have been less expensive in the long run, especially if you own an airplane. So whatever you do, do it to have fun in your aircraft. Fly to fun places. Learn to do new, fun things. Take time to look around while you're flying-to enjoy the view that got you up there in the first place. Introduce others to the beauty of flight.

Keep it safe, because if it's safe it's usually fun -- and if it's not safe, it usually isn't fun!

Aero-tip of the day: Fly safe, and have fun!

FMI: Aero-Tips