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Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 09:49:27 -0400
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Subject: RE: Single Pilot IFR
Thread-Topic: Single Pilot IFR
Thread-Index: AcWngYpZBiVGHSJXSk+HNd8prnKymg==
From: "Halle, John" <JJHALLE@stoel.com>

This is going to sound like I am against "training".  I am not.  In =
fact, I am all for it IF it is not relied on to do more than it can do.  =
The sad fact is that lack of training is not what kills most GA pilots.  =
Lack of judgment is.  After five years in the Lancair community, I think =
I can say that, on balance, the airplanes are not a problem (they don't =
let us down any more often than any other single engine piston plane.)  =
Also on balance, training is not a problem (the average Lancair pilot =
is, by quite a wide margin, more skilled and better informed than the =
average GA pilot.)  That leaves judgment and recent history suggests =
that, in that category, Lancair pilots suffer in comparison with their =
peers in the certified world.  As a non-engineer in a community =
disproportionately populated with engineers, let me suggest that part of =
the poor judgment problem may be attributable to a mindset that assumes =
that an understanding of data solves any problem.  If you just know and =
apply the maneuvering speed mantra when you find yourself in a =
thunderstorm, everything will be fine.  If you just have data for =
useable fuel at every conceivable angle of attack, you won't run out of =
gas.  If you just know the exact (to the knot) best glide airspeed, you =
can survive losing the only engine you got.  We are quick to cogratulate =
people who have demonstrated these skills and to condemn those who seem =
lacking.  I have seen literally hundreds of discussions in this forum =
advancing that point of view and I think it by and large misses the =
point.  The point that actually makes a difference is the point that =
gets you to turn around when you are not dead certain that there are no =
CBs in front of you.  It is that you fill up your gas tank any time =
there is the slightest doubt in your mind as to what you fuel state is.  =
It is that you do whatever maintenance is required so that obvious =
warning signs from your engine are not ignored.  If you do those things, =
hopefully, you will not have to demonstrate the mastery of data and =
awesome manual dexterity that we seem so much to admire.

I wish there was a course in judgment but I don't know of one.  In the =
absence of such a course, what I hope for every one of us (and our wives =
and families who depend on us not to screw up) is that we try to work on =
making better judgments.  Turning back if there is a problem.  Topping =
the tanks even if it is not necessary.  Adding ten miles to the flight =
plan rather than fly for 500 miles straight down the cascades/sierras.  =
None of these things require any data or any flying skill.  They are =
just common sense.  The more common it gets, the more of us will show up =
at the fly-in each September.

-----Original Message-----
From: Marvin Kaye [mailto:marv@lancaironline.net]
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 5:52 AM
Subject: Re: Single Pilot IFR


Posted for "Giffen A Marr" <gamarr@charter.net>:

  Totally agree that flying into a thunderstorm is akin to committing =
suicide.
  The facts are that we have had 3 or 4 Lancair IV-P's which have done =
it
  inadvertently and been spit out in pieces. I don't remember anyone
  addressing the benefits of going to maneuvering speed as soon as you
  encounter sever turbulence to try and mitigate the results. Perhaps =
the
  results would have been the same, but at least you have the highest =
margin
  you can get at that speed. If you continue at your cruise speed, we =
know
  what the results are. There are a lot of us that have not experienced =
sever
  turbulence in our aircraft, but training to get to your maneuvering =
speed
  ASAP, in my opinion, should be emphasized. I know that you are along =
for the
  ride, that the primary goal is to maintain a level attitude and accept
  whatever altitude variation you get, and try to not exceed your =
maneuvering
  airspeed or stall the aircraft.
 =20
  Giff Marr
  LIV-P 40%