Is the aircraft safe to fly ? Is really SAFETY the most important thing when flying an aircraft ?
Today I came to a different conclusion !!!
Operations gave me an aircraft (for two solo missions) which I had never flown before. Inside the aircraft there was a A4 sheet with the word INOP written on it ... Upon starting the checklist, I immediately realized that the Landing Light was not working. Then I could not turn on the Radio. Went back to Operations to report that. One of the captains told me that this aircraft was a bit different. There is a switch (On/Off Avionics) behind the yoke that had to be on. OK ... after turning it on I had Communications. I asked the ATC for Startup clearance. Then I tried to startup the engine. Turning the key I got no reaction at all. BATTERY completely off or is there another hidden button ? Then I realized that I was not comfortable handing the aircraft ... too many hidden buttons. Too many different things. I did not feel familiarized with it. Immediately I took the decision ! If I am not familiar with the aircraft, if I do not feel comfortable handling it ... I might take wrong decisions up there which could compromise my safety. Thus I decided not to fly it and abort my 2 solo flights.
Today I came to a different conclusion !!!
Operations gave me an aircraft (for two solo missions) which I had never flown before. Inside the aircraft there was a A4 sheet with the word INOP written on it ... Upon starting the checklist, I immediately realized that the Landing Light was not working. Then I could not turn on the Radio. Went back to Operations to report that. One of the captains told me that this aircraft was a bit different. There is a switch (On/Off Avionics) behind the yoke that had to be on. OK ... after turning it on I had Communications. I asked the ATC for Startup clearance. Then I tried to startup the engine. Turning the key I got no reaction at all. BATTERY completely off or is there another hidden button ? Then I realized that I was not comfortable handing the aircraft ... too many hidden buttons. Too many different things. I did not feel familiarized with it. Immediately I took the decision ! If I am not familiar with the aircraft, if I do not feel comfortable handling it ... I might take wrong decisions up there which could compromise my safety. Thus I decided not to fly it and abort my 2 solo flights.
CONCLUSION: More important than "Is the aircraft safe to fly" is ... "Do you feel safe/comfortable handling the aircraft" ?
So, the first item of any checklist of an aircraft should not be: Are all documents in order ? But ... Are you in good condition to fly the aircraft ?
More important than the safety of the aircraft is how safe the pilot feels handling it !
Joaquim Bernardino
PPL-A Student Pilot (16 hours of flight)
Joaquim Bernardino
PPL-A Student Pilot (16 hours of flight)
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