Pilot's tip of the week

Dangerous Pilot

Featuring

Subscriber question:

"We have a pilot at our airport that regularly buzzes houses just above the treetops and does low-altitude aerobatic maneuvers to show off for his friends. What can we do before someone gets hurt...or worse?" - Rick R.

Bob:

“You can take action. We truly are our brother’s keepers in aviation. Other’s actions do affect everyone.

For better or for worse, the Federal Aviation Regulations are written in blood which means that while we certainly honor our freedoms in this country, common sense does not always prevail and regulations must be put in place. Aerobatic maneuvers are described in the FARs. Who can accomplish them and where they can be performed is very specifically spelled out, for everyone’s safety.

Aviation accidents are huge newsmakers and they come at a tremendous loss of life and grief. Those that intentionally operate outside of the regulations have no right to bring down aviation.

Provide the facts to the Federal Aviation Administration and it will be investigated thoroughly. The individual has protection throughout the investigation process, but if they are endangering others, they must be removed from the system.”

If faced with a situation like the subscriber in the question above, what would you do?

(NEW) VFR Mastery scenario #96 “Hat Trick” is now available. Your mostly grown children go to college or work in three states across the midwest. Visiting one by car is a long drive both ways, but you can plan a loop trip in your Mooney and get all three with ease. It’s your spouse’s birthday soon and you concoct a plan to meet each kid for dinner over a long weekend as a birthday surprise—if the weather cooperates. It’s July and convection plus your lagging IFR proficiency makes VFR a must. Cells will move through over the next three days, but there should be a sequence of destinations and a set of routes that will make this plan work, right? Watch the Intro video.

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