On 3/6/2019 4:11 PM, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote on 3/6/2019 12:47 PM:
When I see pilots in a general SEL doing a huge pattern to an
uncontrolled airport ( like where I fly, Middletown, NY 06N), a 2-33
wouldn't make a good landing if the GA lost an engine......Sigh.

I've heard this and similar comments over the years, and I used to think I
understood it, but now I realize the SEL has likely flown of reach of an
airport for most of it's flight (which could be anywhere from 6 minutes to
6 hours), so what's another minute or two of being out of reach?


Assuming the question is non-rhetorical, and responding as one whose GA trips
have (mostly) been above the area lying between Denver and Oshkosh (i.e. the
Great Plains and points 'somewhat east'), whether PIC-ing or keeping another
seat in the plane warm, my philosophic take on the truism alluded to by
Charlie M., has long equated 'within reach of an airport' (for a
single-engine, 200 hp, GA plane) to 'the same thing it means when playing J.
Glider Pilot.'

IOW...keep a safely-landable field within reach. Of course, 'out here' that's
generally an easily-accomplished goal whether burning dinosaur juice or using
nookyular fuel. True even in the mountains (A/P-to-A/P flight, for the most
part). Just another safety-vs.-utility tradeoff that 'works for me!'

But then, I 'fly for fun' even those times when boring a hole in the sky. And,
yes, I've been in GA planes in hard IFR...and 'got away with it.' Point being,
this particular Joe Pilot is always most comfortable having a decent grasp of
any particular flight's 'actively-accepted level-of-risk.' Betting on an
engine continuing to run is - in its own way - philosophically equivalent
(somewhat) to betting on pilot judgment to handle what may come up under the
circumstances of any given flight.

YMWV...

Bob W.

P.S. Thanks to everyone helping generate/make-available SSA Webinars!!! As
with previous webinars, I hope-to catch this one after-the-fact.

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