NTSB Discusses Safety of Glass Cockpits in Small Aircraft

[MikeD]

Re: NTSB Discusses Safety of Glass Cockpits in Small Aircraf

From some of your earlier posts, it sounded like you thought glass panels were bad because they make flying easier and therefore lower time pilots become more confident. I hope that's not your opinion.

There is some truth to glass making certain pilots feel "hey, automation makes this whole flying thing easier!" That's why you get pilots who think that they can just descend below a DH/MDA because "the synthetic vision shows its clear!"

That said, I wouldn't necessarily make a broadbrush statement about that idea.

 

[Timbo]

Re: NTSB Discusses Safety of Glass Cockpits in Small Aircraf

Thanks for the kind words and the welcome. I also respect your flying skills and experience, based of course on your avitar. The steering wheel is on the right end of that airplane!

I started in my Dad's J3 when I was 9, it's still one of my favorite airplanes of all time. Of course I would have loved to have had a more modern, high performance ride, like a C140.

In the 1960's-70's my Dad was a CFI at a little grass strip in NH. He made all his students start out in the J3. One guy (a Doctor, now that I think of it) didn't want to start in the J3, he wanted the C150. My dad told him, "The 150 is too easy, you'll be a much better pilot if you start out in the Cub."

Truer words were never spoken.

;^)

 

[jrh]

Re: NTSB Discusses Safety of Glass Cockpits in Small Aircraf

There is some truth to glass making certain pilots feel "hey, automation makes this whole flying thing easier!" That's why you get pilots who think that they can just descend below a DH/MDA because "the synthetic vision shows its clear!"

Definitely. I'm one of those pilots! Well, minus the going below minimums part. But it *is* a heckuva lot easier to make a long IFR trip using a glass panel than a conventional panel. That's why I like them.

The difference is that I see it all as a good thing. It's easier, less fatiguing, more reliable, safer, and so on. Other pilots see it as a bad thing. It makes you lazy, degrades your instrument scan, and so on. To me, that attitude seems backwards. I say to work smarter, not harder.

 

[jrh]

Re: NTSB Discusses Safety of Glass Cockpits in Small Aircraf

Thanks for the kind words and the welcome. I also respect your flying skills and experience, based of course on your avitar. The steering wheel is on the right end of that airplane!

I started in my Dad's J3 when I was 9, it's still one of my favorite airplanes of all time. Of course I would have loved to have had a more modern, high performance ride, like a C140.

In the 1960's-70's my Dad was a CFI at a little grass strip in NH. He made all his students start out in the J3. One guy (a Doctor, now that I think of it) didn't want to start in the J3, he wanted the C150. My dad told him, "The 150 is too easy, you'll be a much better pilot if you start out in the Cub."

Truer words were never spoken.

;^)

Haha! Thanks. The 140 is a fantastic plane, even by modern standards. Very fun and economical.

I think we'll get along well

 

[Timbo]

Re: NTSB Discusses Safety of Glass Cockpits in Small Aircraf

I say no matter which one you use, use it enough to stay proficient.

 

[MikeD]

Re: NTSB Discusses Safety of Glass Cockpits in Small Aircraf

Definitely. I'm one of those pilots! Well, minus the going below minimums part. But it *is* a heckuva lot easier to make a long IFR trip using a glass panel than a conventional panel. That's why I like them.

The difference is that I see it all as a good thing. It's easier, less fatiguing, more reliable, safer, and so on. Other pilots see it as a bad thing. It makes you lazy, degrades your instrument scan, and so on. To me, that attitude seems backwards. I say to work smarter, not harder.

Work smarter, not harder yes.

But the difference between you, and someone who does think "hey, automation! I can do anything!" is that you know and are always mindful of both your as well as the systems, limitations. And you insure you operate within those at all times.

So what I'm saying is it depends on the individual.