Pilot's tip of the week

Pilot Emergency Procedures

Featuring Bob Martens

Subscriber question:

 "How do I best handle in-flight fire emergency, electrical and/or fuel related emergencies? " - Frank R.

Not subscribed yet? Sign up here to receive tips like this every week.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Bob Martens:

Emergency procedures“These are all very serious issues.

The common response to all of these emergencies is to get the aircraft on the ground as soon as possible. Any delay could prove very costly.

Remember the big three:

1. Maintain aircraft control
2. Analyze the situation
3. Take positive action.

Run your emergency checklist just as soon as possible. Notify ATC and declare an emergency.

In-flight fire is obviously the most severe and requires immediate action. Land now!

Electrical issues might be mitigated by shutting off equipment and isolating the problem. But just because you stopped the immediate problem does not mean you are out of the woods. Land now! Who knows what damage exists?

Low fuel state can not tolerate additional delays. Land while the aircraft is still powered.”

(NEW) VFR Mastery scenario #98 “Gauging Your Remaining Fuel” is now available. You’re in cruise above a marine layer when ATC relays that your FBO found a fuel cap on the ramp—and it may be one of yours. The gauges show half on one side, a bit less on the other. Do you continue to VFR? Turn around? Or declare an emergency and descend through the clouds without an Instrument Rating? Watch the Intro video.

Get the Pilot’s Tip of the Week

Sign up here to receive tips like this every week along with videos, quizzes and more.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.