" wrote in news:f2cbb5ae-e29a-
:

On Jan 24, 8:16 am, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:

Well, al of that is very true, but the foundation of good aircraft
handling is still central in my view.

Bertie

While it may be true that aircraft handling is foundational, lack of
handling skills accounts for a small proportion of fatalities. This
seems to indicate that training and practice is deficient in
inculcating judgment.

The IMSAFE cutsie deal ain't cuttin' it.

Don;'t even know what that is, but I could guess.

ONe other thing I have noticed a significant degradation of, at least in
some cases, is that some fundamental ( there;s that word again)
practices are being laid to one side. I know of a recent accident in a
cherokee where the pilot taxiied to the end of the runway, did his
runup, his checks and then changed to the fullest tank.
Well he moved the selector to "off" by mistake and then , when the
engine quit at 300' or so, he tried to turn back to the runway.
Now, when I got checked out in my first low wing airplane, also a
cherokee, I was told to select the intended tank for takeoff just after
engine start, if necessary. that way, if there were something wrong with
teh supply from that tank, you'd know a looong time before you rolled.
As for turning back, this can be done , of course, but this guy was in
no way proficient enough to do it, nor had he ever practiced it. He
lived, but the airplane was written off.


Now, who wants to to be the first to start an argument about turning
back?


Bertie