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Post by Radialicious on May 23, 2006 23:48:14 GMT 12
I was told that after a display pilots conference at Ohakea that it was accepted that in the future, NZ airshows would try to limit one pilot to one machine. This was in the interests of safety. It was thought better to have a pilot concentrate on one aircraft instead of chopping and changing throughout the day. NZ's airshow menu spans between WW1, WW2 and beyond. The Ohakea clinic recognised the danger of mixing your day between various types, generations, and methods. Also, the segmented nature of a display will have different groups of pilots briefing and preparing at all times throughout the day. If you are flying a number of machines, you will be under pressure throughout the whole day(s) of the airshow to be briefing, preparing and flying.
I didn't make it to Wanaka this year but I sense from reports and photos that a common sense rule developed at Ohakea wasn't followed up at such a high profile airshow.
I know that there hasn't been an incident caused by chopping and changing but it did seem like a good idea.
Just curious,
9 round the outside.
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Post by DragonflyDH90 on May 25, 2006 18:46:18 GMT 12
Very simply put....there simply are not enough suitably qualified people to do what was suggested. But this may change.
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Post by Bruce on May 25, 2006 19:20:20 GMT 12
I would rather see an experienced and appropriately current pilot fly more than one aircraft than a less experienced pilot fly 1 aircraft. A lot rests on the airshow display coordinator to ensure that displays are scheduled appropriately and that pilots get the enough of a break to rest, refresh and mentally prepare in between displays. Done properly, and with a common sense limit on different types, a sensible balance could be found. The key thing is how the Pilot feels - they are in the best position to determine whether they are capable of mixing types, and they are ultimately responsible.
Bear in mind that commercial flight instructors for example, on any one day finish an Instrument session in a twin and move directly to a cessna 150 for the next student, and then a cub for taildragger work. Those I know say it stops complacency and makes them more in tune with the various performance differences. Phil Hooker for example is a fight instructor at Tauranga, and during the SportAvex Airshow he flew the Bell 47, Cessna 152, FW190 replica, and the Piper Cub banner tow. He holds the most different ratings of any NZ instructor, and the selection he flew at the show would have been only a fraction of the different types he flies every working day. very few who saw that display would doubt his competency and ability to mix and match. In my opinion, dont create a hard and fast rule, but use common sense and experience make the call.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 25, 2006 19:51:04 GMT 12
I think Bruce is right i that it should be up to the pilot to decide. Why waste the amazing skill of a pilot like John Lanham who's equally at home in the Fokker Triplane, P-40 and L-39, among many other things? I'd rather see his skill in all three on a day than in one with two lesser pilots in the others.
However Bruce, I don't think that Phil Hooker flew the Cub at that show. Does he have long hair? I'm sure the commentator said a different name for that pilot.
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Post by Bruce on May 25, 2006 22:19:22 GMT 12
yeah, may have been Phils offsider - Phil was due to fly, but probably was exhibiting appropriate judgement.
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