Flight Safety
PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING
1. Check all relevant Notams here.
2. Check for the Red Arrows displays - free AIS Info line 0500-354-802 or see here and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight displays here
3. Check the weather here
4. You must have the required maps for the portion of the intended route (Chart amendment information here).
5. You should have charts or a description of the airfield or strip at which you are going to land.
6. If PPR is required you should obtain it by phone before departure.
7. If you have not been to the airfield before, talk to the airfield and preferably the owner or a qualified CFI/FI for a local area, airfield brief.
8. Approaching airfield listen out before getting close, to pick up local weather & gauge how busy it is.
9. Know the airfield joining instructions, circuit direction, areas to avoid etc.
10. If it's a non-radio airfield, use Safetycom on 135.475 and make blind transmissions.
This list is not exhaustive but will aid in making life legal and safer for us all. (With acknowledgements to the International Auster Club.)
WINTER FLYING PRECAUTIONS
Click here for a summary of precautions and the CAA's Winter Flying Safety Sense Leaflet.
* THE DEVON STRUT SUPPORTS PROJECT PEGASUS *
Project Pegasus, through the provision of a central phone number at the Devon & Cornwall Police Constabulary , provides a mechanism for the reporting of unusual activity or behaviour within the aviation environment, believed or suspected to be linked to acts of crime or preparatory acts of terrorism.
Project Pegasus provides for the collation and assessment of all information and intelligence relating to such suspicious activity or behaviour in circumstances that could be linked to criminal or terrorist activity or acts of a preparatory nature. It allows for the appropriate deployment of assets and resources from Devon & Cornwall Constabulary and its partner agencies in response to a potential or defined threat.
Project Pegasus’s activities in the Aviation environment include:
• Targeting organised crime in the airstream
• Deterring acts of terrorism
• Maintaining a community policing presence
• Providing the first response to acts of terrorism and emergency incidents
• Collecting and analysing aviation intelligence
• Conducting investigations
So, whenever you see any activity or behaviour that you feel is suspicious, call the central number 08452- 777444
Download the Project Pegasus Document here
FUEL TOPICS
Safety Implications of Bio-fuels in Aviation
Safe Refuelling Articles:
"Safe Handling of Light Ends" by Jim Wills, Popular Flying, May/June 1988
Refuelling from Jerry Cans" by Peter Gronow, Popular Flying, Oct/Nov 1992
Our enjoyment of flying, and the ability to share it with others, carries with it a responsibility to maintain good standards of flying and airmanship. The PCS provides Coaches to assist you not only with specific courses, but with any general training needs, including Biennial Flight Reviews. PCS Coaches are dotted around the country and currently there are very few within the South West Region. The Devon Strut is in discussion with the LAA Chairman to address this deficiency so that you won’t need to travel far to find one.
Discover how to improve your flying with the Pilot Coaching Scheme here.
