Safety Spotlight

Aircraft Icing

A little bit of ice won’t spoil your flight, right? Think again: A layer of ice no thicker or rougher than a piece of coarse sandpaper can reduce lift by 30 percent and increase drag up to 40 percent. Even aircraft equipped for flight into icing conditions are significantly affected by ice accumulation on unprotected areas such as antennas, flap hinges, wing struts, cowlings, etc.

Not convinced? Delve into this Safety Spotlight and experience a chilling reenactment of an actual airframe icing accident. It will make you a believer fast. Recognize icing’s danger and evaluate your options before your next flight.

Summer Weather

Summer can be great for flying, whether in search of the elusive $100 hamburger, or to just spend some quality time aloft. On the flip side: The sweltering heat that sometimes accompanies summer weather can throw a nasty wrench in the works by creating severe thunderstorms, high density altitudes, and visibility-reducing haze.

Check summer weather safety tips, brush up on your weather knowledge, and test your newly acquired skills with ASF’s award-winning courses. Make it a summer to remember.

VFR Into IMC

In most years, nearly half of all weather-related accidents happen as a result of continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC)…and sadly, the vast majority of those accidents are fatal. Don’t be the next pilot to fall prey to descending ceilings and deteriorating visibility: Check out these free resources.

Thunderstorm Awareness

It’s simple: Airplanes and thunderstorms don’t mix. These convective beasts can produce airframe-shattering turbulence, damaging hail, sudden and dramatic wind shear, blinding downpours, and strong, gusty winds—sometimes as much as 20 miles from the edge of a cell. The good news is that it’s not difficult to avoid these violent storms—if you know how to use the tools at your disposal.

Electrical System Know-How

When was the last time you curled up with the POH to devour intricate schematics of electrical switches and circuit breakers? Seemingly benign electrical malfunctions can blossom into full-blown disasters, and you’d better be familiar with your aircraft’s system when that happens. How would you react to an in-flight electrical failure? What are the first signs of an electrical fire? Would you reset a popped circuit breaker?

 

Don’t rely on what you think you should do—know what to do. What you don’t know may hurt or even kill you, like it did the NASCAR crew on July 10, 2007. Read on to understand how the accident could have been prevented, and tap additional resources to tackle electrical issues.

Spring Preflight

Like people, flying machines need regular exercise to stay in shape. Unfortunately, the cold, ice, snow, and darkness of winter mean that many airplanes sit idle for months at a time, and bad things tend to befall pilots who just "kick the tires and light the fires" on the first warm day of the year. Check out these tips on getting your airplane ready for the spring flying season.

Winter Weather

Ask any pilot which season yields the best chances for a glassy smooth flight, and they'll likely respond, "Winter!" Ask the same pilot which season yields the least flyable weather, and the response will probably be the same—if less enthusiastic. Cold temperatures, low clouds, snow, and ice present unique difficulties and dangers, but don't be discouraged: Winter flying can be tremendously rewarding if you're well prepared.

Airspace

Like it or not, there's no avoiding airspace. Whether you're planning a quick hop to a nearby strip or an epic cross-country voyage, the regulations and common sense both require you to be well versed on any type of airspace that lies in your path.

If you could use an airspace refresher, check out these tips on reviewing the basics (and not-so-basics) and get plenty of practical tips for your next flight.

Pilot Proficiency and the Flight Review

It's a beautiful Saturday morning, the airplane's practically begging to be flown, and you can hardly wait to get off the ground—at least until you remember that your flight review expired two weeks ago.

Oops! It's important to maintain currency, but it's more important to stay proficient. Check out these resources for tips on keeping your skills sharp and making the flight review more than just a biennial exercise in box-checking.

Fuel Management

No one expects or intends to run out of fuel in flight. And yet, in the United States alone, an average of more than three accidents per week result from fuel exhaustion, starvation, or contamination. It can happen to you. Read on to learn more about avoiding these easily preventable accidents.

Operations at Towered Airports

Are you reaping all the benefits of flying? Although it's possible for a pilot to avoid towered airports, doing so impacts the flexibility and utility of flying. With the addition of Air Traffic Control requiring clearances and added communication, knowing and following the recommended procedures is essential. Whether you have radio jitters, confusion concerning clearances, or just want to learn more about operations at towered airports, this information can help.

Critical Airspace

Since September 11, 2001, the nation's airspace has become considerably more complex, and the penalties for careless mistakes are much more severe. Large Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) can pop up anywhere, anytime. East Coast pilots have to contend with the unique challenges of the Washington, D.C., Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). Border-crossing pilots need to be aware of the contiguous ADIZ. And, of course, there are plenty of restricted and prohibited areas out there, just waiting to snag the unwary.
Don't be the next pilot to make the 6 o'clock news! If you could use a refresher on the nuances of post-September 11 airspace, take some time to read this valuable information.

Operations at Nontowered Airports

Winter has finally moved on, leaving us with some beautiful flying weather. More and more pilots are coming out of hibernation and getting back into the air around nontowered airports. Don't let the common term for a nontowered airport (uncontrolled airport) lull you into thinking that anything goes. It's far safer to treat these airports as self-controlled by following the recommended procedures for nontowered airport operations.

Winter Preflight

Wintertime takeoffs with a frosted wing can be a drag. Literally. An almost-imperceptible layer of frost or snow can make your takeoff run just slightly longer than the runway available or your initial climb just a few feet lower than a 50-foot obstacle. In fact, a frost- or ice-contaminated wing can cause perils so severe that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) just issued an alert letter to all pilots.

Does your standard winter preflight include being "in touch" with your wing surface? Find out, with the resources provided by the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.