safety Archives - Gleim Aviation

Gleim Preflight Risk Assessment Matrix

According to the 30th Joseph T. Nall Report, pilot-related accidents accounted for 65.5% of all general aviation accidents in 2018, of which 89 accidents were fatal. The FAA Risk Management handbook recognizes that flight training can be too heavily focused on just passing the written and practical tests, while ignoring safety principles and risk management. By actively incorporating risk manageme...

On 8 Dec 2014, a corporate jet carrying one pilot and two passengers crashed into a house in Montgomery County, Maryland, tragically killing all three occupants and a mother and two children on the ground. The NTSB reported that the aircraft encountered clouds and was exposed to structural icing conditions while descending to their destination. They noted that there were numerous reports of ice fr...

Filing a VFR flight plan and using Flight Following are excellent ways to provide an added margin of safety on all flights. Although these services are not mandatory for VFR flights, they are highly recommended. Many pilots are confused about the two services, what they provide, and are unsure of how to use them. VFR Flight Plans VFR flight plans are used to inform ATC about your planned fli...

Runway lines and markings help pilots identify the correct runway and how to align their aircraft with that runway during takeoff and landing. Although student pilots learn these markings early in their flight training, even experienced pilots occasionally use the wrong runway. Learning and reviewing these markings could help prevent a runway incursion, or worse, an excursion, a scenario in which ...

On cross-country flights, pilots may be required to independently refuel at an airport before flying the next leg of the journey. Learn how to refuel your aircraft at a self service station, and the safety equipment available to you in this quick tutorial. (more…)

Hazards Associated with Hydroplaning Wet weather season is upon us, and it is wise to review how to safely navigate inclement weather conditions. Wet weather can make air travel precarious both in the air and on the ground—during takeoffs and landings. In this article, we will address the types of hydroplanes, their causes, and how to avoid them. The three basic types of hydroplaning are: Dynami...

Stress management is a topic that is often talked about in aviation theory but hardly ever utilized in practice. Students are often unaware of the reason why their training performance is declining or plateauing, even after flying for a significant amount of time. Although there could be several reasons for the slump, stress is a major contributor, and it is often overlooked by flight instructors ...

How well do you know your aircraft? Whether you’ve been flying the same aircraft for several years, or are transitioning into a new make and model, knowing your plane is crucial to understanding its systems and limitations. Prior to a first solo flight, a student pilot will complete a presolo knowledge exam. This exam will, in part, ask about the aircraft intended for use on the flight to help ens...

Summer is here, and although there will be plenty of perfect flying days, pilots should be prepared for volatile weather, such as thunderstorms, which can pop up quickly and unexpectedly. While there are many hazards associated with thunderstorms, this article specifically addresses microbursts. Formation When a thunderstorm develops, the updraft can be so strong that it suspends large a...

Of all the skills student pilots must develop, ground reference maneuvers (including rectangular course, turns around a point, and s-turns),are among the least understood. This article explains why these maneuvers are important and how to execute and conquer them. Why are ground reference maneuvers important? Ground reference maneuvers help students understand the relationship between flight...

Inadvertent stalls are are an example and loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) and are a leading cause of fatal general aviation accidents. Many accidents involving stalls are caused by simple distractions. These accidents wouldn’t have occurred if the distractions had been avoided. The number of accidents could be further reduced by using proper technique to recover from a stall when one occurs. Ina...

Q. When is a convenient time to deal with distractions on the flight deck? A. There isn’t one—that’s why they’re called “distractions.” From passengers talking loudly to trying to figure out how to use your favorite electronic flight bag app, pilots constantly encounter distractions. Recognizing that they can be dealt with in a methodical way and prioritizing safety are paramount to ensuring...

safety

Gleim Preflight Risk Assessment Matrix

Tips for Cold Weather Operations

How to Use VFR Flight Plans and Flight Following

Let’s Review Runway Lines and Markings

How To Refuel Your Aircraft At A Self-Service Station

Hazards Associated with Hydroplaning

Managing Stress in Aviation

Getting to Know Your Airplane

Hazards Associated with Microbursts

The Basics of Ground Reference Maneuvers

The Basics of Stall Recovery

Managing Cockpit Distractions