The SACAA reckons that there is a fatal plane crash every 107 hours. Yup – that’s what the CAA’s DAMES guide – for aviation medicals says: (Explainer – I guess the 7 in 107 is ‘to the power of’ but the writer/proofreader failed math’s literacy).Read More →
Bonanza Wheels-up While Training This discussion is to promote safety and not to establish liability. CAA’s report contains padding and repetition, so in the interest of clarity, I have paraphrased extensively. Date and time 20 January 2017 at about 1447Z Aircraft registration ZS-JBE Aircraft model Beechcraft BonanzaRead More →
Trevor Jacob, the California pilot and YouTuber who intentionally crashed a Taylorcraft for video views in 2021, will spend six months in a federal prison for the stunt. Jacob took a plea deal in the protracted case and pleaded guilty to one count of destruction and concealment with the intentRead More →
Jim Davis This discussion is to promote safety and not to establish liability. CAA’s report contains padding, repetition and inaccuracies so in the interest of clarity, I have paraphrased extensively. Aircraft registration: ZS-IWV Owner Brian & Wynand Investments Date and time of accident: 15 September 2013 Type ofRead More →
Jim Davis SOUTH AFRICAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY This discussion is to promote safety and not to establish liability. CAA’s report contains padding and repetition, so in the interest of clarity, I have paraphrased extensively. Aircraft registration: ZS-IFK Date and time of accident: 15 September 2014 1808Z Type of aircraft: Read More →
THE DREADED HAMMERHEAD AGAIN. This discussion is to promote safety and not to establish liability. CAA’s report contains padding and repetition, so in the interest of clarity, I have paraphrased extensively. Aircraft registration: ZU-YUM Date and time of accident: 14 February 2015 1345Z Type of aircraft: LancairRead More →
C182 – NEARLY MADE IT? This discussion is to promote safety and not to establish liability. CAA’s report contains padding and repetition, so in the interest of clarity, I have paraphrased extensively. Aircraft registration: ZS-PHB Date and time of accident: 27 August 2016 1025Z Type of aircraft: Cessna C182QRead More →
Guy Leitch asks the question in his Attitude for Altitude column. For years I have moaned about how crappy piston aircraft engines are. They are prohibitively expensive, yet have antiquated technology and are far less efficient and reliable than modern car engines. The modern car now has mature technology engineRead More →
In 2016 musician, Michael Ferguson and commercial Pilot Felix Gosher joined forces to offer underprivileged children the opportunity to experience the joys of flight, a privilege that many of us take for granted. The initiative was inspired by a song by Michael, ‘Paper Plane’ about a young boy with aRead More →
The piston twin is making a comeback. In the 1980s, under the pressures of high maintenance and high Avgas prices, the demand for piston twins collapsed in the face of Cessna Caravan and Pilatus PC-12 turbines. But now, the value proposition of a 40-year old piston twin is once againRead More →
