Comments on: Incapacitation? http://blog.aopa.org/leadingedge/?p=128 A place to discuss safety-of-flight issues, procedures, techniques, and judgment. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:17:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Maynard Perkins http://blog.aopa.org/leadingedge/?p=128&cpage=1#comment-9570 Maynard Perkins Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:19:11 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/asfblog/?p=128#comment-9570 I am just a youngster, 64, with 45 years of flying time. I am a current CFI/G for the CAP. CAP requires that I take two flight checks each year, one for SEL and one for gliders. These are usually taken in the spring about a month apart. I fly on average 50-60 hours per year. I do not believe that this is sufficient for me to maintain the level of proficiency that I would like. To help ameliorate my concern, at least for being able to demonstrate appropriate pilot skills and to point out areas of deficiency, I also attempt additional flights with other CAP instructors. I ask that they run me through the ringer, providing a basis to polish my skills and maybe most importantly provide a honest critique of me as a pilot. We are friends and maybe there is a bit of the “good old boy” attitude (“I have seen you do better, give it another try”). But all flight instructors that I know within CAP take their flight instructor position very seriously and my check pilot is not going to let me fly knowing that I do not have the necessary skills, even age related.

In terms of “flying minimums” I believe that if one follows -Pilot, be truthful to thy self, we will reduce the probability of pilot error. Are you missing check-list items, do you forget equipment/materials necessary for a flight, are you behind the curve, do you gueston your abilities? If you answer yes (to these or other appropriate questions) then you are either below or at your minimums and you need to do something to correct the problems. If training will take care of the problem, then do it. If the time has come that the mind and/or body can not respond as needed to enable you to be a safe pilot then it is the time to park the plane and graduate to being the best hanger instructor you can be.

]]> By: Mary Creason http://blog.aopa.org/leadingedge/?p=128&cpage=1#comment-9361 Mary Creason Sun, 28 Dec 2008 21:37:50 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/asfblog/?p=128#comment-9361 I’ll be celebrating my 65th year of solo flight in May ’09. Being a super-cautious 84-year old and a still-current flight instructor, I’m curious about other “older” pilots and their flying minimums.
Thanks,
Mary Creason

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