David-aviator
Well Known Member
Flight safety has been beaten to death here, but I would like to comment one more time.
First off, it is clear this is a very diverse group of pilots. There are doctors, lawyers, engineers, military, airline, ex-military, ex-airline, cops, ex-cops and quite a few plan old intelligent country boys. Everyone has a point of view that is as diverse as the individual. We are all of a different background and it is reflected in what we write and how we think.
A fundamental difference exists and perhaps it can be reflected in the FAR's. Part 91 is freedom (as much as we have) and Part 121 is control, a lot of it.
What I am leading up to is this. It is somewhat unfair to pontificate to group of guys flying under 91 as if it were 121. The 2 worlds are very different. And from that difference comes some misunderstanding in what we attempt to communicate to each other.
A pilot who has always flown under 91 and is a survivor, is so because he has learned to trust himself and his judgement. Their are more accidents under 91 because sometimes the learning curve does not keep up with the pilot, but once a pilot reaches a certain experience level, he is a very savy creature.
A pilot under 121 is programmed. The environment is very controlled from the color of shoes he wears to when to raise and lower the gear. Every aspect of the operation is written in a policy manual, ops specs, the FHB and the FAR itself. Its all a matter of training, training, and more training. They show you how to do it and if you insist on doing it your way, its out the door and that's as it should be because they write the pay checks. The airlines have a good safety record because they have indentified areas that are safe and those that are not, and crews are trained to operate within a defined safety envelope. The written word is very detailed, for example, no take off or landing in heavy rain....no landing in moderate freezing rain....no PA below 10,000'....no flight within x miles of a thunderstorm depending on altitude....etc. etc. Its not all that complicated. Operate by the book and it very difficult to get into trouble. Its not so much risk management as knowing the rules of the game.
So how does all this relate to flight safety under Part 91? Its like this. (and it will be different for each pilot depending on his training, skill and currency.)
Under 91 it is risk management and not so much rules of the game. Yes, there are rules in the FAR's and in your operating limitaions and you need to know them, but mostly it is risk management. If you fly strictly by the FAR's, you can easily kill yourself. It's your good judgement that will keep you alive. Try to honestly identify those parts of a flight that may be beyond your capabilities or the capabilities of the airplane. This is tough because we all have bigger egos than we sometimes can manage. This is not to say don't fly IMC or in formation or at night. It's to say know your limits and those of your airplane, measure the risk and have fun.
I truly believe the average private pilot does not do enough risk assessment. He is more inclined to spend a ton of money on equipment and ignore the basic risks.
I hold in highest regard those of you who are survivors under 91. You are indeed real pilots.
First off, it is clear this is a very diverse group of pilots. There are doctors, lawyers, engineers, military, airline, ex-military, ex-airline, cops, ex-cops and quite a few plan old intelligent country boys. Everyone has a point of view that is as diverse as the individual. We are all of a different background and it is reflected in what we write and how we think.
A fundamental difference exists and perhaps it can be reflected in the FAR's. Part 91 is freedom (as much as we have) and Part 121 is control, a lot of it.
What I am leading up to is this. It is somewhat unfair to pontificate to group of guys flying under 91 as if it were 121. The 2 worlds are very different. And from that difference comes some misunderstanding in what we attempt to communicate to each other.
A pilot who has always flown under 91 and is a survivor, is so because he has learned to trust himself and his judgement. Their are more accidents under 91 because sometimes the learning curve does not keep up with the pilot, but once a pilot reaches a certain experience level, he is a very savy creature.
A pilot under 121 is programmed. The environment is very controlled from the color of shoes he wears to when to raise and lower the gear. Every aspect of the operation is written in a policy manual, ops specs, the FHB and the FAR itself. Its all a matter of training, training, and more training. They show you how to do it and if you insist on doing it your way, its out the door and that's as it should be because they write the pay checks. The airlines have a good safety record because they have indentified areas that are safe and those that are not, and crews are trained to operate within a defined safety envelope. The written word is very detailed, for example, no take off or landing in heavy rain....no landing in moderate freezing rain....no PA below 10,000'....no flight within x miles of a thunderstorm depending on altitude....etc. etc. Its not all that complicated. Operate by the book and it very difficult to get into trouble. Its not so much risk management as knowing the rules of the game.
So how does all this relate to flight safety under Part 91? Its like this. (and it will be different for each pilot depending on his training, skill and currency.)
Under 91 it is risk management and not so much rules of the game. Yes, there are rules in the FAR's and in your operating limitaions and you need to know them, but mostly it is risk management. If you fly strictly by the FAR's, you can easily kill yourself. It's your good judgement that will keep you alive. Try to honestly identify those parts of a flight that may be beyond your capabilities or the capabilities of the airplane. This is tough because we all have bigger egos than we sometimes can manage. This is not to say don't fly IMC or in formation or at night. It's to say know your limits and those of your airplane, measure the risk and have fun.
I truly believe the average private pilot does not do enough risk assessment. He is more inclined to spend a ton of money on equipment and ignore the basic risks.
I hold in highest regard those of you who are survivors under 91. You are indeed real pilots.
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