Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/118927
N e w s Fr o m H Q NTSB Announces GA Safety Alerts The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) voted unanimously in March to adopt five new safety alerts aimed at reducing the number of general aviation (GA) accidents, which have been on a decadelong plateau. Safety alerts, or brief information sheets pinpointing safety issues and practical remedies to address them, would focus on the main accident causes determined by the NTSB's investigative data, which are: 1. reduced-visual-reference accidents, including controlled flight into terrain and uncontrolled descent to the ground due to spatial disorientation 2. aerodynamic stalls at low altitude in daylight visual weather conditions 3. pilot inattention to indications of mechanical problems 4. risk management for aviation maintenance technicians 5. risk management for pilots. NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said that over the past decade, "the GA accident rate has plateaued, with repeated crashes and needless loss of life. Today we meet to discuss what we, the NTSB, can do to bring the accident rate down." It was stressed that the new alerts are neither a package of safety recommendations nor regulatory changes/rulemaking. Rather, they're a new technique to try to get the latest word on safety directly to GA pilots and mechanics and provide them with information to incorporate into their flight preparations so they might be more able to handle crisis situations should they arise. The NTSB is also creating five short (3- to 5-minute) videos—one for each alert—it plans to roll out in the spring. The videos will feature regional air safety investigators sharing their experiences and observations of the many accident investigations they've conducted, as well as advice on how pilots and mechanics can avoid mistakes that can result in tragic consequences. "GA is essentially an airline or maintenance operation of one, which puts the responsibility for sound decision making on one person's shoulders," Hersman said. "We are promoting and distributing the alerts to reach pilots and mechanics who can benefit from these lifesaving messages." Outreach efforts will include type clubs, GA organizations, major events such as EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and Sun 'n Fun, and other methods. Helicopters Have a New Home at AirVenture The Helicopter Association International (HAI) and EAA have made a joint commitment to give helicopters a new prominence at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. The two organizations inked a threeyear deal to keep HAI's Heli-Center located near the AirVenture flightline, not far from Phillips 66 Plaza. As part of the deal, the area between the HAI Heli-Center and the flightline will be designated a helicopter display and parking area, putting certificated rotary-wing aircraft at show center for the first time ever. 6 Vol.2 No.4 / April 2013 The huge 80-foot-by-120-foot HAI Heli-Center will be the place to learn more about helicopters during AirVenture. HAI staff will be on hand to answer questions about the industry, as will HAI member companies that can talk about learning to fly helicopters. Meet with industry experts, and learn what it's like to work in such a diverse industry. In addition to the Heli-Center, AirVenture is exploring ways to integrate helicopters into its famous daily air shows. Red Bull aerobatic helicopter pilot Chuck Aaron has wowed the Oshkosh crowd with his skills over the past several years. This year, EAA will be looking for additional ways to showcase the incredible array of things helicopters can do. HAI members interested in participating in the HAI Heli-Center or who just want to park or display their aircraft in the dedicated helicopter location front and center on the flightline should contact HAI's Lisa Henderson at lisa.henderson@rotor.com.