Flight Safety

AVweb’s Flight Safety section offers in-depth coverage of aviation safety topics, including accident analyses, risk management strategies, regulatory updates, and pilot training insights. Designed for pilots, instructors, and aviation professionals, this section provides timely information to enhance situational awareness and promote best practices in flight operations.

ATC Monitoring Eclipse Balloon Launch

Pilots flying on the days leading up to the coming solar eclipse on Aug. 21 have surely planned already to cope with extra traffic near the path of totality, but they also need to be aware of a nationwide balloon launch that will take place along that path. Teams of students will release about 100 […]

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FAA Proposes Emergency AD For Lycoming Rods

The FAA Wednesday evening proposed an emergency airworthiness directive requiring owners of Lycoming engines to inspect and potentially replace off-spec connecting rod small-end bushings in Lycoming engines overhauled during the 2015 to 2016 time period. The AD codifies the procedures found in Lycoming’s Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 632 released last month. Although Lycoming says at […]

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Savvy Pilots Fly Better IFR

Savvy pilots know how to get the most out of the resources at their command. They demonstrate this by having the airplane and its systems do as much of the effort as possible. In all phases of flight, their knowledge is brought to bear on each task to reduce the workload. This trait helps ensure […]

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NTSB Completes Icon Investigation

The NTSB on Tuesday released its final report on the Icon A5 crash on May 8 that took the lives of two Icon employees, pilot Jon Karkow and passenger Cagri Sever. The investigators found the probable cause of the accident was “the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude.” […]

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New Policy: Drones In Military Airspace May Be Shot Down

Personnel at military bases can shoot down private or commercial drones that are deemed a threat, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said at a press briefing on Monday, according to The Military Times. The bases “retain the right of self-defense when it comes to UAVs or drones operating over [them],” Davis said. “The increase of […]

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Flaps Up In Fatal Rough Water Takeoff

The Lake Renegade that crashed during takeoff from the AirVenture 2017 seaplane base in rough water had its flaps up, according to the NTSB’s preliminary report. The 84-year old pilot and one of his passengers was killed in the accident. A second passenger survived with minor injuries. According to the NTSB, persons at the seaplane […]

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Short Final

My wife, the captain, and I were flying to AirVenture 2017 in our C-152 in July. We were on an IFR flight plan out of Gainesville, GA (KGVL) and cruising at 5000 feet. We were talking to Atlanta Center. Centre: “Cessna 1234, cleared to FL230.” We just looked at each other and laughed. Fairly quickly, […]

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Three Missing In Osprey Accident

The Marine Corps has abandoned hope of finding alive three Marines missing after their MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft went down off the northeast coast of Australia on Saturday. The other 23 personnel aboard the Osprey were rescued and only one of them had to be admitted to the hospital. The aircraft was taking part in […]

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Air Canada Flight Misses By Four Feet

New flight recorder data says Air Canada flight 759 (ACA759), an Airbus A320, descended as low as 59 feet above ground level and the 55-foot tall 787 on Taxiway C before beginning to climb out on its go-around—coming potentially as close as four feet from a collision. At four minutes to midnight on July 7, […]

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Sumwalt Confirmed As NTSB Chair

As expected, Robert Sumwalt has been confirmed as the 14th chair of the National Transportation Safety Board and he brings a wealth of aviation experience to the job. Sumwalt was a pilot for Piedmont Airlines and US Airways for 24 years and his appointment is being met with enthusiasm from aviation groups. “Robert is committed […]

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