Title:
KWJF Saturday Morning FLY SAFE Meeting - Unrecoverable CLIFFS in Aviation
Topic:
How to Avoid Unrecoverable Situations in the Air Caused by Lack of Pre-flight Planning on the Ground
Speaker(s):
Donna Knighton CFII/Aircraft Performance & Flying Qualities Engineer
Brief Description:
Sometimes things go wrong in flight that are gradual and the pilot has time to react. But there are other situations that we call “CLIFFS” in aviation that are caused entirely by faulty pilot decision-making, often pre-flight, that create immediate catastrophic situations that may not be recoverable. Donna Knighton, a CFII and aircraft performance and flying qualities engineer, looks at 3 areas to avoid falling off such a CLIFF:
1) AIRCRAFT LOADING. Review of Longitudinal Stability, aircraft CG and moments, and how loading the aircraft outside the approved CG range (fwd or aft) and weight range affects the aircraft. How an improper CG can create a non-flyable aircraft.
2) PERFORMANCE CHARTS – how they were made, and why “flying on the edge” of your charts is not a good idea. A review of the effects of Density Altitude, humidity, gusty winds, aircraft age, and pilot technique. What do you do when your DA is off the scale? Is the aircraft “linear”?
3) RUNNING OUT OF GAS – it still happens too often to experienced pilots.
Select Number:
WP01145694
Location of Seminar:
William J Fox (KWJF) Airport
4725 W Ave G
Terminal Building
Lancaster, CA 93536
Directions to Venue:
From Hwy 14 in Lancaster, turn West on Ave G. Turn right at the Fox airport sign. Turn left onto one-way circular road in front of terminal building.
Seminar Length is 1.5 hours, with an extra 0.5 hours as needed for discussion and meeting other pilots.
Fly-in Seminar?:
Yes KWJF
Seating:
50
seats at the facility,
50
remaining for online registration.
Registration Information:
Sponsoring Division:
FAASTeam
Additional Event Information & Acknowledgement of Industry Sponsor(s):
This presentation will include detailed material about Aircraft Loading, Weight and Balance, and Stability, as well as the use of Performance Charts, Density Altitude, and fuel planning that are a good review of both Private and Commercial Ground School content. We are inviting Flight instructors at all levels, and their students, as well as all pilots wishing to refresh their knowledge in these areas. Questions and discussion welcome!
Donna Knighton has a BME degree from the University of Dayton, and was an Aircraft Performance and Flying Qualities engineer for military contractors and DOD for over 35 years. She has CFI/CFII/AGI ratings, was a flight and ground school instructor at the Edwards Aero Club for many years, as well as the Aero Club Safety Officer. She also developed a New Engineer Training course for the 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB, teaching aircraft performance and flying qualities, and was a certified Crew Resource Management (CRM) instructor for Air Force pilots and engineers.
The Saturday FLY SAFE meetings at KWJF are presented by the the Antelope Valley FAAST Team, with planning, coordination, outreach, and admin by FAAST representatives Donna Knighton and Bob Stambovsky (CFI/CFII/MEI/AGI/ATP.)
Refreshments will be provided. The terminal restaurant is open from 8AM to 2PM for breakfast or lunch.
Equal Access Information:
The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) is committed to providing equal access to this meeting/event for all participants. If you need alternative formats or services because of a disability, please communicate your request as soon as possible with the person in the “Contact Information” area of the meeting/event notice. Note that two weeks is usually required to arrange services.
Credit Applicability:
½ Credit for Advanced Knowledge Topic 1
1 Credit for Advanced Knowledge Topic 2
FAASTeam Project Information:
National Project:
In-Person Safety Promotion to GA Pilots and Flight Instructors
Additional Event Documents: