I've blogged on the Spot before, as have others. Since my last post there has been more from Kevin Psutka at COPA. Basically every thing that looked so reasonable about the proposed ELT regulation has been washed away. US pilots take note, the proposed regulation will require you to install a 406 ELT before venturing into Canadian airspace. What impact this will have on our tourist economy I do not know, but on top of high gas prices and the dollar, it can't be good.
However, this is only a proposed regulation. As Kevin advises, if you have issues with the proposal, let Transport Canada know. Kevin tells you how.
Lastly, there is also an article about Spot at InterGovWorld.Com.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Good News for one Small Airport
I've had posts about airports coming under threat from municipal government and local groups before. Happily I found this article about a small town airport that seems to be getting some recognition at least for the fiscal contribution it makes to the area. A bit more digging turned up the actual study posted on-line.
COPA: Aviation Language Proficiency & You
I recall Aviatrix wrote something on her blog about this, but I can't find the actual article. In any case COPA has a short write up on the rather complex issue of Canadian pilots' licence and the ICAO language proficiency certification requirements. There seems to be lots of promises not to violate each other's pilots wafting across the Canada-US border, but I wouldn't want a trip to depend on everyone having gotten the message.
Monday, February 25, 2008
A Successful Crash
The latest post over at Cockpit Conversation resonates with some recent events in my flying, and around Eastern Ontario.
During a recent stop over I was showing off the airplane to a youngster. His mother asked me if we wore parachutes. She was a bit nonplussed that my answer was no, it would be too difficult to get everyone out, and that most people wouldn't have the training to use a parachute safely; instead pilots are trained how to land safely in fields in case of emergencies.
Of course we must understand the lay persons attitudes when I pilot puts this training to use, executing what would seem to be a very successful emergency landing that ends up being described as a "soft crash". There was also a great deal of coverage on a First Air 737 completing an emergency landing after having difficulty with flaps.
Perhaps all this coming so soon after a runway overrun at Ottawa has sensitized the press. It would have been nice to see some reporting that indicated that at least two of these occurrences were normal and perhaps the best possible outcomes from mechanical difficulties. I guess I'm just wondering why the press are so quick to point out human error when it is the cause of an aviation mishap, but seem so reluctant to point out when humans, following correct procedures and training, snatch safety from the jaws of danger.
During a recent stop over I was showing off the airplane to a youngster. His mother asked me if we wore parachutes. She was a bit nonplussed that my answer was no, it would be too difficult to get everyone out, and that most people wouldn't have the training to use a parachute safely; instead pilots are trained how to land safely in fields in case of emergencies.
Of course we must understand the lay persons attitudes when I pilot puts this training to use, executing what would seem to be a very successful emergency landing that ends up being described as a "soft crash". There was also a great deal of coverage on a First Air 737 completing an emergency landing after having difficulty with flaps.
Perhaps all this coming so soon after a runway overrun at Ottawa has sensitized the press. It would have been nice to see some reporting that indicated that at least two of these occurrences were normal and perhaps the best possible outcomes from mechanical difficulties. I guess I'm just wondering why the press are so quick to point out human error when it is the cause of an aviation mishap, but seem so reluctant to point out when humans, following correct procedures and training, snatch safety from the jaws of danger.
Monday, February 18, 2008
West Jet 737 Skids off Runway in Ottawa
Last night after 4mm of freezing rain fell in the Ottawa a West Jet 737 slid off the end of the runway. No injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. Transport Canada and the TSBC are, of course, investigating.
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