CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 7

Chief's corner

Never too late!

By JJ GREENWAy
look both ways, and if the frequency congestion warranted it, maybe make a call on unicom that I was crossing a particular runway, and roll right through the intersection. That’s the way I’d always done it! I got to thinking though, not only as a good example to students but in the interest of improving my

The lONGeR I flY, the more I get set in my ways about certain things. This can be both good and bad. If a particular technique has worked for many decades and thousands of hours, why change it? Being close to general aviation safety here at the Air Safety Institute, we have a front row seat to “what went wrong” in just about every GA accident in the United States. Often, we have the opportunity to talk to pilots who survived accidents and hear their account first hand. As professional CFIs, we owe it to ourselves, our students and the aviation community to continually strive to improve. Not just improve our teaching technique but improve our safety record, and improve our promotion of general aviation. In the past year, I’ve taken a long, hard look at some of the things I do as a pilot and flight instructor, and, I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve changed the way I do a few things that I’ve been doing the same way for many years! Let me enumerate just a few and perhaps it will spark a review of your own inventory. After reading a recent accident report about a pilot/passenger walking into a spinning propeller, I took a look at my own risk of this happening. Occasionally, I would get out of an airplane while the engine was running. Usually it occurred when I was soloing a student but sometimes, I would make a “hot drop” and let a passenger out without shutting down. In the most recent, fatal occurrence, a highly experienced CFI was momentarily distracted and walked right into the propeller from the rear. If he could have done that, I certainly could do the same thing. I made a change to my own personal procedures. I will no longer enplane/deplane passengers or myself without first shutting down the engine(s). That way, I am assured that I will not join that small number of people who are injured or killed by a propeller! Yes, I’ve conducted myself safely around moving propellers for many years, but now, I’ve just widened my safety margin. Meanwhile, it’s been an excellent opportunity to discuss propeller safety with my students and encourage them to take a proactive approach toward improving their safety margin. Another area in which I decided to take “personal inventory” was runway safety. This is a hot topic at the FAA right now and for a good reason. Commercial aviation has gotten safer by leaps and bounds in the past few decades thanks to stellar improvement in technology. However, the human factor that will always be with us in airport operations and communications is a weak link in the chain. The recent string of near disasters on the ground, some involving hundreds of lives, bears this point up. I fly (and teach) mainly out of a non-towered airport. The ground signage and pavement markings are in tip-top shape and the relaxed pace of a small town airport is an excellent learning environment for primary students. Up until recently, when I approached a runway hold short line, I would simply

OCCASIOnAlly, I wOuld get Out OF An AIrplAne whIle the engIne wAS runnIng.
own safety margin, maybe it would be a good idea to get in the habit of stopping at every runway hold short marking at a nontowered airport, just to cement the idea into my head that it was a point in the taxi route that demanded my full attention! It didn’t have to be a lengthy pause, just stop short of the line and look both ways. I began doing this with students and was pleased to note that it drew their attention to the importance of being aware of runway incursions and how to avoid them. There are dozens of other things to put in the “but I’ve always done it that way” category for which there may be a better, safer way to do them. I encourage all CFIs to take a look at the way you do things and see if you can find anything that can be done better!

JJ Greenway, a CFI since 1980, has given dual instruction in aircraft ranging from the Luscombe 8A to the Boeing 767-300ER.

CfI Resources

how to boost your business
Do you need to review recommended logbook endorsements? Have a question about the pre-solo written test? Need a copy of FAA Form 8710, Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application? Or do you simply want tips on marketing your flight instructor services? If your answer is “yes” then you’ll want to check out Flight Training’s online CFI resources page. You’ll find answers to questions ranging from CFI certificate renewal to attracting and retaining students, download lessons plans, and include your free listing in the AOPA Online Flight Instructor Directory. And, from time to time, you will find special offers such as the “CFI Toolkit” with handy flight planning tools, as a “thank you” for enrolling prospective or current students in a free six-month AOPA student membership. Visit http://flighttraining.aopa.org/ cfis to boost your business.

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CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 2, Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 2, Issue 3