CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 4
LETTERS
The most critical aspect of operating at a nontowered
airport is being aware of the existence and intentions
of other pilots using that airport. The manner in which
that occurs is through having and properly using a comm
radio. I'm not generally one to ask (beg) for more FARs
but the time is long overdue for a requirement that all
aircraft have a comm radio and the pilot be required to
properly use it at all nontowered airports. The availability
of inexpensive self-powered handheld comm radios
allows for their usage in all aircraft, even crop dusters and
ultralights.
I've been a pilot for 56 years but two recent events finally
brought me to the above conclusion as either one of them
could have easily resulted in my death. Each of the two
events have similar things in common. The other pilot
was not using a comm radio either for transmitting
or receiving and I was using my comm radio to make
multiple transmissions to announce my position and
intentions. In the area in which I typically fly, the
frequencies are not particularly busy with transmissions.
In other areas with more radio traffic it will probably be
necessary to divide the CTAF frequencies more wisely to
minimize interference between one airport and another.
The first event occurred at my home airport, a private
airpark where we all use 122.9 as the CTAF. I had just
departed the airport and was making a left downwind
departure while still climbing with the nose high. While
climbing through pattern altitude on the downwind leg,
another aircraft flying the opposite direction passed
directly beneath my left wing at a distance of no more than
30 feet. Our closing rate of speed was likely in excess of
200 mph.
The second event occurred at a small city airport where
I frequently make a full stop landing and then taxi back
for takeoff. There is rarely any other traffic at this airport.
The winds were from the south favoring Runway 17, so
that was the runway I landed on and taxied back to for
takeoff. Before taxiing on to the runway for departure, I
looked to the north and then the south and saw nothing,
and, of course, heard nothing on the radio. I took my time
taxiing on to the runway and aligning myself with the
centerline. Once on the runway I could not see anything
straight ahead as I fly a taildragger with limited forward
visibility when in the 3 point stance. As usual, I brought
the power up slowly to minimize the left turning tendency.
When I had the throttle about two-third advanced with
the tail still down, a crop duster taking off in the opposite
direction filled my windshield, no more than 30 feet above
me. In two more seconds, I would have lifted off and met
the crop duster head on.
Having experienced the above two events in the past year
is startling. But it matters less to me that another pilot
is using a nonstandard traffic pattern or procedure at a
nontowered airport as long as I'm aware of what he or she
is doing and I'm able to adjust my pattern to accommodate,
if necessary. Until more recently, most of my flying has
been in and out of towered airports and over the years
I've often observed that the tower controller was less
important to the safety of operations at that airport but
rather it was the mandatory communications from other
pilots that was of the greater benefit. Pilots are pretty good
at sharing the airspace and runway environment with
each other, but only if they are talking with one another,
hence the appeal for one more FAR regarding comm radio
usage.
Just my opinion.
-Anonymous
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CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3
CFItoCFI Newsletter—Vol. 12, Issue 3
CFI Notes
Letters
From the Editor: Collisions Avoidance—Use Technology to Your Advantage
You're Behind the Airplane—What Does This Mean?
Safety Webinars: Hone Your Skills—Be Well-Informed
ASI Message: Analyzing Midairs
CFI News
CFI Tips: Terrain Tips for Flatlanders
Checkride Checklist: DPE Answers for Students and CFIs
Practical Advice: Avoid Mishaps—Keep Your Pocket Book Happy
Chart Challenge: Pick the Right Height for Your Flight
CFI's Point of View: Two vs One—Is a Two-Pilot Crew Safer than Single-Pilot Operations?
There I Was…: Miracle on Mount St.Helens
You Can Fly: AOPA Flight Training Advantage—In Flight and On the Ground
Safety Quiz: Radio Communication
CFI Tools: Where Am I? Where Am I going?
Chief's Corner: A Cool Job!
Ask ATC: Can ATC Declare an Emergency for You?
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - CFItoCFI Newsletter—Vol. 12, Issue 3
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - CFI Notes
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - Letters
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 4
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - From the Editor: Collisions Avoidance—Use Technology to Your Advantage
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 6
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - You're Behind the Airplane—What Does This Mean?
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 8
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 9
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 10
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - Safety Webinars: Hone Your Skills—Be Well-Informed
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - ASI Message: Analyzing Midairs
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 13
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - CFI News
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 15
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 16
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 17
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - CFI Tips: Terrain Tips for Flatlanders
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 19
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 20
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 21
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - Checkride Checklist: DPE Answers for Students and CFIs
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 23
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - Practical Advice: Avoid Mishaps—Keep Your Pocket Book Happy
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 25
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 26
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - Chart Challenge: Pick the Right Height for Your Flight
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 28
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - CFI's Point of View: Two vs One—Is a Two-Pilot Crew Safer than Single-Pilot Operations?
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 30
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - There I Was…: Miracle on Mount St.Helens
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 32
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - You Can Fly: AOPA Flight Training Advantage—In Flight and On the Ground
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - Safety Quiz: Radio Communication
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - CFI Tools: Where Am I? Where Am I going?
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 36
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 37
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - Chief's Corner: A Cool Job!
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 39
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - 40
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 12 Issue 3 - Ask ATC: Can ATC Declare an Emergency for You?
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