This discussion contains extracts from a report by the Air Transport Safety Board of Canada. It’s to promote safety and not to establish liability. Piper PA-28-180, C-GGOR 2 NM W of Brisco, British Columbia, Canada. 24 November 2023 History of the flight The aircraft took off on a recreational VFRRead More →

Jim Davis Don’t you hate disclaimers? Those notes, in seven languages, that say, “WARNING. Servicing this device in the bath may lead to injury or death.” The word device covers anything from an electric lawn-mower to a vibrator. However, I regret that I must now issue one. Low flying canRead More →

Jim Davis What’s the big deal about a steep turn? Hell it’s only 15° more than an ordinary 30° banked turn – and 15° is nothing – right? Now I’m not good at sums so it took me a while to understand that it depends where you put that 15°Read More →

               Time of Accident ±1800Z Type of Aircraft PIPER PA 34-200T Type of Operation Private Pilot-in-command License Type: Commercial  Age 24 License Valid Yes PIC Experience Total Flying Hours 1064.0  Hours on Type: 354.3 Departure Kruger Mpumalanga Airport (FAKN) Intended landing Piet Retief Aerodrome (FAPF) Accident site Runway 15 –Read More →

SPINNING Jim Davis I have been doing some long-range mentoring of a new instructor. I called her the other night to find out how she was getting on with her patter and preparation for the flight test. She had been due to patter spinning in a little C152 and IRead More →

Jim Davis Most of us feel a bit edgy when the ASI creeps down within 10 KIAS of the stall. Jim Davis has some hints on how to be comfortable and in control – even when the airspeed is 20 KIAS below the stall. The nose of our Twin ComancheRead More →

[intro] SA Flyer owned a Saratoga II TC and this top of the range model has trended to overshadow the early basic Togas which were Piper Lances with the tapered wing. It may have been a basic beginning, but Jim Davis reckons it’s still a great plane. [body] Jim DavisRead More →

FAR TOO CASUAL This discussion is to promote safety and not to establish liability. The CAA’s report contains padding and repetition, so in the interest of clarity, I have paraphrased extensively. Aircraft registration:                      ZS-LVC Date of accident:                             8 April 2004 Time of accident                             0730Z Type of aircraft:                             Read More →

Jim Davis Descending is a remarkably complicated subject and us overworked instructors have to be able to field all manner of questions about it. To ease you gently into it – here’s the story about Joe’s picture. It was 1964 when I clambered on to an SAA Skymaster at ErosRead More →