Colin, You hit this issue right on. I have read of the destruction of military airplanes and pilots from the "small error" of having the check list walk-around being interrupted by some other activity. When the walk-around was resumed it started further down the list. The steps left out came back to bite the pilots in the a__. Murphy is waiting to get us in missed details. Bob Morrissey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Colin Rainey" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2005 10:20 PM Subject: KR> Check list usage
> I went to the Corvair College on Friday and met with Jack Cooper, Mark Langford, Bill Clapp, his friend (sorry forgot the name), and later saw Bob Lester who is doing much better, though in his words alittle shorter, Glenda McElwee, and the hangar gang. While there I talked to alot of prospective builders about the assembly, and merits of some of the new design features compared to older stuff, and had several discussions about flying and flight skills, specifically concerning the KR. Here are some thoughts, prompted by Mark Jones' post of his flight: > > First off, I have posted a 2 simple checklists, one for "normal" flight, and one for emergency flight, on Dan Heath's web page. If you don't use them, make some of your own, but PLEASE use ONE! It is a proven fact that our mental capacity deteriorates rapidly with the stress of something going wrong. Checklists are so that you can focus on just flying the plane and not have to rely on memory for troubleshooting, or proper response to a given problem. Laminate them, and keep them IN THE PLANE at all times. It is regulatory for certified planes to have their operating manual in the aircraft during each flight. Part of your preflight includes checking for this manual and the airworthiness certificate, and registration. > > Second, once you have the checklists, get in your plane and practice using them, ON THE GROUND. We in teaching call it chair flying. Pretend you are going out to fly and rehearse EVERY procedure, no matter how well you know it. You will check the accuracy of your checklists, and you will begin developing a routine that will save your life. If you find that something has been omitted from your emergency or normal checklist, then don't fly until you correct your checklist. The Private Pilot Practical Test Standard has a section right in the beginning that discusses how the test is to be conducted, and one thing it mentions specifically is checklist usage. Not using a checklist to confirm that the pilot has performed the procedure correctly is grounds for a Notice of Dissatisfaction from the Examiner. Knowing this, I KNOW all the KR drivers out there had instruction in checklist usage, and its importance. DON"T FLY DIFFERENTLY just because you are in your plane, or no one is with you to critique you, or your confidence says you know the plane well. 2 commercial pilots with combined airline experience of over 20,000 hours died from running OUT OF FUEL, because neither checked the wing tanks, and assumed that maintenance had filled them up before returning the plane. Lots of experience does not mean correct procedures are being followed. > > Do this BEFORE flying and you will be able to relax while in the air, because you know that your habits and procedures will guide you through anything you are confronted with.... > > > Colin Rainey > [email protected] > EarthLink Revolves Around You. > _______________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp > to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to [email protected] > please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html
