Questions tagged [safety]
Safety includes all aspects of protecting aircraft, passengers and crew from accidents, mistakes and other potentially dangerous situations.
1,056
questions
-1
votes
1answer
40 views
Can I do QAR files readouts locally? [closed]
I have access to Quick Access Recorder files (.dat, .rec binary files) from the Flight data recorder. I would like to make the readout locally if possible. There was an interesting question What is ...
3
votes
1answer
128 views
What exactly does "exercise extreme caution" mean when seeing alternating red and green light gun signals?
I've seen the light gun signals chart a hundred times but I don't quite understand when it says "use extreme caution" when you alternating green and red signals.
What does that mean exactly? ...
4
votes
2answers
178 views
Do large cities contain enough iron to significantly affect an aircraft's magnetic compass?
In most areas of the world, the magnetic compass is the ultimate heading reference. Although pilots look to the directional gyro most of the time when flying (because the directional gyro's reading ...
6
votes
2answers
512 views
How do fighter jets pre-flight so quickly?
Military fighter jets can get in the air and to their target in minutes and faster than almost all other aircraft. How do they achieve this considering that a normal pre-flight alone takes ~10-15 ...
25
votes
6answers
6k views
Do airplanes really expose their internal wires and electronics like this on the wings when braking?
While watching a video today about airplanes and how they have little thingies on their wings to make them come to a stop much quicker than otherwise, I noticed something very odd:
Are those cables ...
-1
votes
1answer
153 views
Why didn't ejection seats become a thing in civil avation and only limited to military? [duplicate]
Recently, an Indian CDS Bipin Rawat and his family as well as eleven members of the Indian Army died in an helicopter crash. You can find the story here. I did look at any questions asked on the topic ...
2
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2answers
282 views
With supplemental oxygen, what altitude can a pilot safely operate at?
Will there be operating limitations regarding ascent or descent speed to avoid decompression sickness?
What altitude will require a pressure suit?
-1
votes
1answer
174 views
What measures are there at Vancouver International Airport to prevent wild animals from entering the airport?
This video shows a wild coyote on a taxiway at Vancouver International Airport (CYVR):
I ask from the standpoint of safety, and menace to aircraft. Does CYVR lack ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
How much more dangerous is it to fly in Mexico than Europe?
Recently, Mexico's air safety rating was downgraded. How much more dangerous (in terms of statistical chances of fatal accident) is it to travel with a Mexican airline, than a European one?
7
votes
8answers
5k views
Minimum number of runways required for international airports?
What is the minimum number of runways required for an International Airport to be operational - commercial aviation?
Would two runways suffice?
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Do commercial aircraft carry personal weapons?
Even though airport security is very strong nowadays, commercial flights are still at risk of hijacking. Alternatively, passengers (perhaps mentally distressed) could provoke damage to crew, ...
4
votes
1answer
905 views
What is the proper protocol in the US regarding abandoned aircraft not deemed safe to fly? [closed]
Security forces in Guatemala detected a plane entering airspace on 4 Nov 2021. They followed through and found it abandoned, with evidence that it transported illegal drugs. After an assessment by ...
5
votes
2answers
871 views
Is there a framework for inter-country rules enforcement?
I have a US pilot's license and if I do anything foolish or infringe an important rule while flying in the US, the FAA can take action such as order more training, suspend my license for a while, or ...
21
votes
4answers
6k views
Is it legal to take off from the road?
Specifically, I'm referring to the takeoff attempt which led to this crash (video here). This took place on highway 124 in Winnie, TX. Apparently the aircraft had just finished serving as a float in a ...
11
votes
2answers
389 views
Why are gliders oftentimes not equipped with a transponder?
Oftentimes gliders are not equipped with transponders (at least in Europe). Even if they are, they do not necessarily operate it at all times. This is allowed by SERA.13001:
(a) When an aircraft ...
2
votes
1answer
229 views
How is the radius of the danger zone marking for engine inlets calculated?
Does the radius (shown below) take into account smaller objects (FOD), or only people? How is it determined?
Source: Facebook
2
votes
0answers
63 views
Have airlines average fleet age been shrinking?
I had read somewhere that nowadays Average age of Airlines is shrinking. I do not know how much of that is true. I did see this -
https://simpleflying.com/airlines-youngest-fleets/
On the other hand, ...
9
votes
3answers
389 views
Why don't [most] sailplanes use whole-airplane / ballistic parachutes?
My understanding is that sailplanes usually have the pilots wear the parachute on their back, requiring the pilot to bail out of the aircraft before they can use the parachute.
Given the maturity of ...
15
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I request a frequency change to listen to ATIS?
If I only have one radio, and I'm using VFR Flight Following, what do I tell ATC when I want to pick up ATIS for the landing airport before I'm told to contact the tower?
13
votes
3answers
4k views
What does the expression "Normally with hull loss" mean?
This is a question from a non-english speaking person.
I encountered the expression "Normally with hull loss" in this safety categorization:
(image source: EASA CS-25)
Why is that not only &...
-2
votes
1answer
190 views
Should a runway overrun be expected if takeoff is begun with one-engine-out?
Multi-engine aircraft have enough power to successfully takeoff if one engine fails after V1. But what if, on a runway equal to the specified takeoff distance, someone decided to roll with one engine ...
31
votes
2answers
4k views
Is it safe to carry bear spray on a GA plane?
I'm aware that bear sprays are normally banned from commercial flights, including in checked bags. As I'm not sure of the reason behind that, I'm in turn unsure of whether it's wise to have some with ...
3
votes
1answer
249 views
Is there a procedure for canopy static discharge before the pilot egresses from the cockpit?
Is there a procedure for canopy static discharge before the pilot egresses from the cockpit?
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is the Auto GCAS system on F-16s limited to only 5G?
The automated ground collision avoidance system (Auto GCAS) on the F-16 is set up for only 5G's.
If the system predicts an imminent collision, an autonomous avoidance maneuver—a roll to wings-level ...
3
votes
1answer
84 views
In big transport jets, what is the difference between manoeuvring loads and gust loads?
In the design certifications for big transport jets, there are two factors that must be met in order for a new aircraft to be certified; manoeuvring loads, and gust loads. Why are these two separate ...
4
votes
0answers
293 views
Why hasn't there been a case of an airliner breaking apart and crashing due to turbulence in the past 40-50 years?
Most of the breakups involved clear air turbulence as well, the type that still can't be detected today.
Examples like:
Boeing 707 (BOAC Flight 911) - which crashed near Mt Fuji
BAC One-Eleven ...
4
votes
2answers
440 views
Is there evidence that inattention to Flight Attendant safety briefings increases risk to all occupants?
So many passengers pay little or no attention to the Flight Attendant safety briefing (or Safety Briefing cards) given prior to takeoff (commercial air carriers).
Question: Are there any data, ...
6
votes
0answers
119 views
Why was the minimum turbulence intensity that commercial airliners have to withstand increased?
From 50 fps turbulence intensity at VC to 90-100 fps turbulence intensity at VC. The amended FAR design criteria was introduced in 1980 or 1981 for commercial airliners. What prompted this change?
2
votes
1answer
245 views
What is the minimum runway surface friction coefficient?
After calculating the friction coefficient for an asphalt runway pavement through a test, how to know if it’s acceptable or not? In other words, hat is the lowest acceptable value for friction ...
1
vote
1answer
152 views
Why do planes not employ a non-technological banking indicator? [duplicate]
I apologise if this is a very daft question with an obvious answer.
I've been enjoying Air Crash Investigation episodes and there have been a few where the pilots, through differing training or faulty ...
1
vote
2answers
124 views
Are the turbulence reports by pilots via PIREPs used by other nearby aircraft or air traffic controllers to modify operations in any way?
I know the pilots are required to report turbulence experienced in the aircraft via PIREPs. The data for turbulence with lat,long,alt and the severity is available. I am wondering if the PIREPs are ...
1
vote
1answer
112 views
What kind of weather conditions would produce turbulence with an intensity of 90 feet per second?
This is the official documentation that we found regarding current commercial airplane design criteria; https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/25.341
It says the criteria for continuous turbulence is ...
0
votes
1answer
61 views
How does an airline develop a Safety Management System (SMS) program? [closed]
How does an airline develop an SMS program? Like from the ground up. And who does it involve? Does it involve regulators?
I know the 4 pillars but who does it involve?
3
votes
1answer
251 views
On a Gulfstream jet checklist, do you do the walkaround before or after disengaging the gust locks?
On a Gulfstream jet checklist, do you do the walkaround before or after disengaging the gust locks?
With small planes we generally remove the gust locks as we do the walk around, but with a larger jet ...
13
votes
9answers
7k views
Were propeller airplanes significantly more "scary" to fly in compared to modern jet ones?
I've flown exactly once in my life. It was in 2004, with a commercial jet. Not a "jumbo", but a normal-sized jet plane in common use for cheap flights in that year. (Well, twice if you ...
5
votes
1answer
826 views
When is it appropriate to foam a landing strip? (example JB292)
Background:
I recently watched the Channel5 documentary on JetBlue 292 with their famous sideways landing gear. At around the 8:00-mark you see footage of the actual landing: Main landing gear intact ...
13
votes
1answer
321 views
Has a passenger's consumer electronic device ever actually caused a crash?
Most of us are familiar with the standard warnings and regulations against passengers using electronic devices (at all during takeoff and landing, and in some cases throughout the flight). This is ...
-2
votes
3answers
196 views
Why is it safe flying in a tailwind when taking off is not? [duplicate]
If taking off in q tailwind is unsafe (due to loss of lift from reduced air speed), then why is it safe flying in tailwind, such as in jet stream?
2
votes
1answer
513 views
Have there been accidents involving flight simulators?
Have there been any accidents which have happened to/in flight simulators?
I understand that simulators are used to simulate general accidents for training purposes (engine failure, birdstrikes etc), ...
31
votes
4answers
10k views
Do Flight Simulation Instructors stop the simulator before a simulated crash?
There has been quite a lot of debate in healthcare simulation communities around whether or not to allow a simulated patient to die during training because it might negatively impact the intended ...
7
votes
1answer
2k views
How to safely handle AVGAS (100LL)?
Obviously 100LL is risky. It's got lead in it, so there's going to be some danger. But is it possible to not get lead into my system when I start flying?
It is, for obvious reasons, something I wish ...
2
votes
1answer
292 views
What stops Germanwings 9525 happening again — a suicidal pilot crashing the plane?
I'm unpersuaded and still afraid, after reading What safety rule replaced the now-rescinded two-person rule (after Germanwings 9525)?. What's to stop or prevent another lone suicidal pilot from ...
11
votes
2answers
875 views
How often is the fuel sampled in turbine aircraft?
In planes using avgas, sampling fuel from the tanks is generally done before every flight, or at least before the first flight of the day and then after any refueling. This is done because water ...
-4
votes
1answer
207 views
Why did Boeing choose for a solution as aerodynamically invasive as MCAS to solve a much less safety related issue? [closed]
Why would Boeing, or anyone, ever jeopardize the aerodynamic integrity of an airliner, just to change the way a pilot feels the controls? The more I learn about it, the clearer it becomes that that is ...
1
vote
5answers
307 views
In theory, can jetliners remain controllable after losing the entire tail section?
The scenario here is a detachment of the tail,one with the whole empennage.
Could a variant of an existing model of swept winged jet airliner be made to remain controllable, using ailerons, ...
22
votes
1answer
2k views
What makes a jet single pilot certified?
Why are some small-ish jets (Embraer Phenom 300, Pilatus PC-24 for example) single-pilot certified? The pilot still has to fly+navigate+communicate. Why would a small jet be more manageable than a ...
5
votes
1answer
414 views
Is it safe to use a propeller plane to fly commercially over the Tibetan Plateau?
I saw this youtube video today: Flying over Mt Everest. A lovely view of stunning nature - quite spectacular. However, I looked up the plane - or at least what I think is the plane - and found that it ...
2
votes
4answers
535 views
Engine out over a mountain road. Do you land upwind or up hill?
You're flying solo in a late-model, fixed-gear Cessna 172 with half-full fuel tanks. You are at 1000 feet AGL, 100 knots indicated, directly above the middle of a 2000 foot long straight section of ...
16
votes
8answers
6k views
Could an airliner exceed Mach 1 in a zero-G power dive and safely recover?
(I looked for duplicates. I really did.)
Being as it is that "safety" and this are mutually exclusive:
I am stupid. I take a cruising A320, apply TOGA power, and push zero Gs until I exceed ...
5
votes
3answers
560 views
Helicopter mast bumping in low g condition
The helicopter shown in the concrete pouring video seems to taking off from a hill and descending down in a way which can be classified as low G with low rotor loading. Although, the helicopter is ...
