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That seems like a bit of an pessimistic take on this. Isn't that like saying front impact airbags aren't very helpful in a rear end collision? CFIT, stall/spi
by lujim 11y ago
That seems like a bit of an pessimistic take on this. Isn't that like saying front impact airbags aren't very helpful in a rear end collision?
CFIT, stall/spin, and VFR into instrument conditions are all training deficiencies. This solution fixes something a pilot can't be trained to avoid, an engine failure at an inopportune time. Training can only take you as far as "glide and crash gracefully" without stalling and spinning.
Also this could easily be made to automatically activate. Many multi engine aircraft will automatically increase power on the good engine by a few percent after an engine failure.
- repiret 11y agoMost general aviation engine failures are caused by poor fuel management. Training and discipline helps just as much with fuel management. While there are clearly situations where this device can save lives, I agree with the GP that the case needs to be made that its worth the cost and weight, and that the people peddling it haven't made that case.
- lujim 11y agoI don't think of it as someone 'peddling' something. To me it seems like a creative solution to an actual problem. Training is the best, but private pilots vary drastically in their training, skill, experience level (especially recent experience). While I would love to see all pilots selected out of the population for their aptitude, then go through years of intense military like training followed by checkrides every 6 months, it's just not realistic in General Aviation. It's a group of people that differ wildly in their aptitude, age, skill level, that just happen to be healthy enough to pass a relatively low bar medical exam. Training for Private Pilots in the US might not be perfect, but I don't think a "throw training at it" response is all that useful of an answer. Train what? For how many hours, and require recency of experience after how long?