FAAST Blast-Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In, Combatting Crosswinds and Turbulence, and Mountain Flying

FAAST Blast — Week of April 6 – April 12, 2015











Biweekly


FAA Safety Briefing


News Update

Aviation Safety Front and Center at 2015 Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In

           
Headed to the 2015 Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-in and Expo this year? Be sure to check out the FAA Aviation Safety Center where you’ll find more than 20 safety forums to choose from. This year’s forum lineup will cover several important GA safety topics including loss of control, pilot deviations, ADS-B equipment, fuel management, and more. Several of the sessions will be hosted by NTSB officials, including NTSB Board Member Dr. Earl Weener, who will provide a progress report on GA safety.
            You’ll have a chance to congratulate some of your fellow pilots and mechanics, too, as they receive their Master Pilot and Mechanic awards on Thursday, April 23, followed by a chance to meet Dennis Roberts, FAA’s Southern Region regional administrator. A general aviation Town Hall is also scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 25, led by Congressman Sam Graves.
            The FAA Center, located at the corner of Laird Drive and Sun ‘n Fun Drive, opens daily at 8:00 a.m. and will serve as host to several informational booths and exhibits from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. daily. Be sure to grab a free copy of FAA Safety Briefing while you’re there.
            For a complete schedule of FAA forums, go to http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/ and click the FAA Safety Forums link. For more information about Sun ‘n Fun, visit http://www.sun-n-fun.org/.
 
Combatting Crosswinds and Turbulence
            Although the more pleasant temperatures of spring are now upon us, gusty winds are also on the rise in many areas. A good (and safe!) way to start your flying year is to get some crosswind flying practice with your favorite flight instructor. It’s also a good idea to review some of the best practices and procedures for dealing with winds and turbulence. For example, prior to landing, pilots should always review what their Plan B is going to be should excessive crosswinds or turbulence factor in. It’s much better to execute a well-thought-out contingency plan than to make radical decisions during critical phases of flight.
            For more helpful tips on how to combat crosswinds and turbulence, check out “Getting Crossed-Eyed with Crosswinds and Turbulence” in the March/April 2015 issue of FAA Safety Briefing http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/2015/media/MarApr2015.pdf.

Understand the Challenges of Mountain Flying
            Flying over the beautiful scenery of a mountain range involves more risks than flying over flat land. It can be a challenge for any pilot, especially those without a lot of experience. Get the facts about mountain flying at http://1.usa.gov/1H36HVH.
 
Produced by the FAA Safety Briefing editors, http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/
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