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Safe Landings: The Pursuit and Presumption of Balance
Weight and balance has been a critical issue in aircraft operations since the beginning of aviation. Loading errors can go unnoticed and have potential to cause great harm. Clerical mistakes that account for cargo weight and location can be subtle and equally costly.
This month’s CALLBACK examines several reports that highlight weight and balance errors. In the following accounts, all the aircraft unknowingly departed with uncertain centers of gravity and most departed with an inaccurate gross weight that was assumed correct. Many of the mistakes were not discovered until the aircraft was airborne and some, not until the aircraft landed. Other similarities included unknown cargo weights and freight that was loaded in improper locations. These mistakes might have been prevented. The ASRS report excerpts reiterate the need for attentiveness and accuracy in every aspect of weight and balance procedures.
The first three reports describe incidents where cargo was loaded in the wrong location on the aircraft. The remaining accounts detail various other errors that were experienced in Air Carrier Operations.
The Usual Suspects
Cargo loaded into the wrong compartment and closeout paperwork that did not specify its location allowed this B737 Flight Crew to launch with an inaccurate Center of Gravity (CG) that was not discovered until after the aircraft landed.
Flying into Writing: Amazing Contrast
By Eric McCarthy
Descending through the San Pasqual Valley (Rich Lee) I recently had the opportunity to fly with a good friend, Rich, in his beautifully maintained C-172. Our flight was to take us from Imperial County Airport (KIPL) to our home base, McClellan-Palomar (KCRQ). The contrast in terrain and weather along our route could not have been greater. Imperial sits 54’ below sea level in the middle of a vast agricultural area south of the Salton Sea, and even though we departed before noon, with clear skies, it was already hot.
Departing from IPL, we skirted El Centro Naval Air Facility’s airspace (KNJK) and joined V458 westbound to the KUMBA intersection, where V458 turns northwest bound to the Julian VOR (JLI). Just a few miles west of El Centro, the terrain changes dramatically from the miles and miles of lush greens and dormant browns of agricultural fields, to desolate gray desert, punctuated sporadically with cactus and hardy low bushes. The terrain starts to rise significantly as well, with peaks more than 6,000 feet, just 40 miles west of below-sea-level Imperial Valley.
Garmin Seminar San Jose July 12
Garmin Seminar Series
New WACO Dealer
Passing of Thomas W. Wathen
Editorial: Student Pilots… Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth?
By Ed Downs
Yes, we start with a very open-ended question, so let’s narrow it down. “Student Pilots” come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the newbies who are just getting into flying to advance pro’s going for type ratings in large turbojet aircraft. In fact, every pilot is, or should be, a “student” any time they are exercising the privileges of being a pilot in command. This writer has been at it for 60 years and has yet to land from any flight without having learned something from the experience. For the purpose of this discussion, let’s stick to newbies who are just getting into the art of flying and even narrow it down a bit more by talking about the cost and quality of flight instruction.
Now, you may ask, who made Ed Downs the know-it-all of flight instruction quality? Plainly stated, this writer does not claim to be the top expert in the field of instructing, but circumstances have given this writer an interesting look into the national window of what is going on, at least in the sector of flying with small, independent schools and part-time CFIs. As a long time CFI, and regular instructor for Aviation Seminars, a company that specializes in weekend training programs for a variety of written examinations and Flight Instructor Revalidation Courses (FIRCs), this writer works with hundreds of students every year. Additionally, Aviation Seminars guarantees results, providing private tutoring to those who have a tough time with written exams. That “guarantee” is, you guessed it, this writer.
Heaven's Landing Celebration
Heaven’s Landing Invites Public to Celebration Airshow & Concert June 25
A year ago, Clayton, county seat of northeast Georgia’s Rabun County, planned a “Skywalk Celebration,” a festival commemorating the 40th anniversary of hi-wire great Karl Wallenda’s crossing of nearby Tallulah Gorge, and asked Heaven’s Landing, its picturesque fly-In community, if they could provide the venue and a fly-over for the finale of the concert. Mike Ciochetti, who heads up Heaven’s Landing, said, “We turned that fly-by into a whole airshow, and it went really well. Everybody had fun.”
It went so well, in fact, that this year, Heaven’s Landing is going to host a second-year event. Last year, it was an adjunct to the county’s celebration; this year, Ciochetti says, “Everybody had such a good time that we’re making it an annual event, sponsored by Heaven’s Landing. We’re providing something for the county to do, as well as for our guests and neighbors.”