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.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

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, and as representatives of the flying community. 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.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being better pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 06.05.06

Yesterday we reviewed seat belt requirements for passengers in aircraft (except free balloons and older airships). In a nutshell, the pilot-in-command is responsible to brief passengers on the operation of seatbelts; tell passengers seat belts and, if installed, shoulder harnesses must be worn for taxi, takeoff and landing; and ensure all passengers are actually wearing seat belts and (again, if installed) shoulder harnesses before setting the airplane into motion.

This inevitably brings up a discussion of seat belts and shoulder harness rules for pilots. The rules are just a little different for the pilot and any required flight crewmembers. FAR 91.105 tells us that each required flight crewmember must:

• Be at his or her crewmember station unless necessary to perform duties in connection with aircraft operation (and physiological breaks as needed).
• While at crewmember stations, to keep seat belts fastened at all times.
• If shoulder harnesses are installed at the crewmember's seat, he or she must wear shoulder harnesses during takeoff and landing unless doing so renders the crewmember unable to perform required crew functions.

I'll repeat something from yesterday's Aero-Tips, because it bears repeating: Aircraft accident investigators have told me repeatedly that seat belts and especially shoulder harnesses save lives if an airplane makes a hard or off-airport landing…and conversely, that lack of shoulder harness use (especially by front-seat occupants) very often turns a "minor injury" mishap into a fatal wreck.

Aero-tip of the day: Understand crewmembers' required use of seat belts and shoulder harnesses—and follow the "best practice" of wearing them during all phases of flight.

FMI: Aero-Tips