The Texas Aviation Association Foundation has launched the PLEDGE program, aimed at reducing the GA accident rate.
Board members of the TXAA Foundation noted they have been working hard to develop a program to help reduce the number of accidents that continues to plague the general aviation community. “Although the accident rate for scheduled commercial operations has fallen in the past decade, the rate for GA continues at what TXAA Foundation, Inc. considers unacceptable,” officials said in the organization’s monthy newsletter.
In an attempt to make GA pilots more aware of the problems, TXAA Foundation board members developed THE PLEDGE.
TXAA Foundation staff researched various general aviation accident reports and found the six leading causes of GA accidents. It is an old story that continues to plague pilots. The causes of most accidents are the same ones that haunted GA for decades. They include:
- Running out of gas
- Ignoring weather forecasts
- Continuing to Fly VFR into IMC conditions
- Stalls – especially on takeoffs and landings
- Buzzing – impacting the ground while demonstrating your (lack of) flying skills
- Landing configuration – GUMPS – why land with the wheels up?
The PLEDGE asks pilots to:
- P Peek into each gas tank – verify it has enough fuel to get you there (& back)
- L Look at the weather – do not fly when inclement WX is forecast
- E Elude VFR into IMC – get your instrument rating and stay clear of clouds
- D Do Not Stall – Use the mantra “AIRSPEED & LINEUP – AIRSPEED & LINEUP” G Ground Hurts – Stop Buzzing! Nobody is impressed when you crash.
- E Exclaim GUMPS! Checklist your aircraft for takeoffs and landings
TXAA Foundation will make these placards available to every pilot in Texas and the United States. They will come in a variety of sizes as either plastic gust loc tags, pitot tube covers, bumper stickers and decals for the panel.
For more information: TXAA.org
I believe a lot of the problems here begins in primary training. Our facination with technology today is eroding solid understanding. Does anyone know exactly how a computer works? But yet we blindly accept what it produces as fact. Likewise pilots accept everything produced by their EFB, GPS and flight planning softwear. I would like to see all student pilots using paper charts, E6B’s and all things analog untill they have complete UNDERSTANDING and are able to apply and correlate these skills. Then use electronics as a tool. And stick and rudder skills should be at the heart of any training.
Janice Wood, Editor TXAA
I have been involved in aviation since WW #2. The short field procedure should be reserved as an emergency procedure and a regular procedure inserted. Anytime an airplane flies at speed below the speed for minium power required the outcome is at risk, especiality at low altitudes with a unknown sick engine or at high elevation airports– its because viscous forces are getting stronger relative to the intera forces.
Thus, the fixes to the problem involves the prople that manage general aviation-not the pilot.
One little note, after I do a preflight, I am usually confident of the coming flight except for the engine. I have been experimenting with timing the takeoff run, from zero to a speed. The time is for a 97 % engime relative to the atmosphere variables, airplane configuration, and runway. For example times are predicted that run between 12 and 16 seconds. If the times become 20 to 25 seconds, I know that there is a problem.