FAAST Blast — Week of Nov 28, 2016 – Dec 04, 2016
Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update
Safety Alert Issued for Helicopter Hover Checks
Earlier this month, the FAA issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) that emphasizes the importance of utilizing checklists and specifically performing stabilized hover checks before departure in a helicopter. A review of helicopter incidents and accidents over the past five years has identified several accidents where a loss-of-control (LOC) was encountered immediately after liftoff while light on the skids/gear, or from other issues caused by missed checklist items. Some of the recommended actions in the SAFO are to always use an appropriate checklist to ensure proper takeoff configuration and, unless otherwise prohibited by environmental conditions, always perform a hover check prior to takeoff.
To view the SAFO, visit http://go.usa.gov/x8RJz.
New Drone Safety Video Released
If you’re one of the lucky people who gets a drone for a holiday gift, the FAA wants you to know how to fly it safely. The agency has released a new video reminding everyone of the rules and regulations that safe drone pilots must follow.
The video stresses that whether you fly your drone for recreation or business, safety is everybody’s responsibility. And that means following the rules:
- Don’t fly over people and respect the privacy of anyone on the ground.
- Don’t fly near other aircraft or in restricted airspace, such as “No Drone Zones.”
The video also tells you how to get the FAA’s B4UFLY smartphone app that provides the latest information about airspace restrictions wherever you intend to fly your drone. The bottom line: Safe flying is what smart drone pilots do.
Breaking Bad
Ever wondered what to do when you see an airman doing something they shouldn’t? Whether they are skimping on the preflight, or buzzing the local wildlife, watching a fellow aviator do something wrong and potentially put their life in danger can be a distressing experience. Sabrina Woods’ “Breaking Bad” gives a bit of insight into navigating that fine (and often necessary) line between buddy and butt-in-ski. You can find a mobile-friendly version of the article here in the Nov/Dec issue of FAA Safety Briefing www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing.
Produced by the FAA Safety Briefing editors, http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/
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