Until next week, fly safe and stay sharp!

 

Staying Sharp on the Runway This week's Pilot Report (PIREP): A dual engine failure disaster, new FAA runway safety video, and bounced landing recovery tips. FEATURE FOCUS A Casual Attitude, a Deadly Outcome As the Hawker Beechcraft Premier jet approached South Bend, Indiana, the unthinkable happened: both engines went silent. With no power, limited control, and only the nose gear extended, the pilot attempted to salvage the landing. A single-engine restart offered a glimmer of hope with a last-minute go-around. But moments later, the jet crashed into a neighborhood, killing the pilot and front-seat passenger and leaving several others seriously injured. At first, investigators suspected equipment failure, but they soon uncovered a series of shocking errors—including an unqualified passenger at the controls. What led to this rare dual-engine failure, and how did it spiral into disaster? Click below to uncover why the cockpit is no place for a casual attitude.   WATCH NOW NEWS UPDATE Line Up and Wait: FAA’s New Safety Focus Source: The FAA Ever had a moment of doubt on the runway—were you cleared for takeoff, or to “line up and wait?” If so, you’ll want to check out the FAA’s latest video. They just released a new episode from their From the Flight Deck series, highlighting recent near-accidents caused by pilots ignoring “line up and wait” instructions. “Line up and wait” means to taxi onto the runway and hold position until cleared for takeoff. Yet, time and again, pilots fail to follow this direction, leading to dangerous situations. In one close call at Houston Hobby Airport, two aircraft clipped wings after a “line up and wait” instruction was disregarded, resulting in an unauthorized takeoff. The video explores the human factors—like habit, expectation, and distraction—that make this instruction all too easy to forget. Watch the full FAA video here for practical tips on avoiding “line up and wait” mistakes. QUICK TIPS Bounced Landings, AIRMETs, and Illusions Tip #1   Bounced Landing Recovery Everything seems under control—until the jolt of a hard touchdown sends you back into the air. Now you’re low on airspeed and altitude, hovering just above a stall. Bounced landings can be startling. Here’s how to regain control: Stay Aligned: Keep the nose straight using rudder to maintain runway alignment. For a Small Bounce: Hold your landing attitude steady. Let the airplane settle gently back onto the runway. For a Big Bounce: Do not try to salvage the landing. Apply full power for a go-around. Expect a nose-up moment and left-turning tendencies. Level the nose, accelerate, retract flaps gradually, and climb out. Re-enter the traffic pattern for another approach. Want to avoid bounced landings altogether? Click below to learn how. READ NOW Tip #2   What AIRMETs Tell You With the grayer, colder, and frostier months rolling in, AIRMETs are more relevant than ever. AIRMETs alert pilots of weather conditions that may be hazardous to light aircraft, making them a key part of any preflight briefing. Here’s what each type covers: AIRMET Sierra: Widespread ceilings below 1,000 feet, visibility under 3 miles, or mountain obscuration. AIRMET Tango: Moderate turbulence or sustained surface winds of 30 knots or more. AIRMET Zulu: Moderate icing and freezing levels. Each AIRMET covers at least 3,000 square miles and remains in effect for up to six hours. Curious about AIRMET’s “big brothers”—SIGMET and Convective SIGMET? Click below for a full breakdown. READ NOW Tip #3   Know Your Flight Illusions Flying can play surprising tricks on your senses. Your brain says you’re climbing or banking, but your instruments show you’re straight and level. These sensory illusions aren’t just distractions—they can be deadly if unrecognized. The acronym ICEFLAGS can help you remember the eight most common in-flight illusions. Inversion: A sudden level-off from a climb can feel like you’re tumbling backward, making you want to pitch down. Coriolis: Moving your head during a turn can trick you into feeling like you’re tumbling in multiple directions. Elevator: An updraft feels like a climb, leading to unnecessary nose-down input. False Horizon: In low visibility, sloping clouds or lights may look like the horizon, causing incorrect alignment. Leans: A slow bank may go unnoticed, making leveling out feel like a bank in the opposite direction. Autokinesis: Staring at a single light too long makes it seem like it’s moving. Graveyard Spiral: Correcting an unnoticed turn can lead to a tightening, deadly downward spiral. Somatogravic: Acceleration can feel like a climb, prompting a nose-down attitude. Want to know how to avoid or recover from these illusions? Click below for the full guide. READ NOW Until next week, fly safe and stay sharp!