Safety review - November 2019
October was the worst month for accidents since the start of this year, with 4 fatal accidents, two with instructors on board and one on a first solo flight in a gyroplane. The human toll is heavy, with 6 dead, and our thoughts go above all to the families and friends of the victims.
Once again, sadly, this makes us question our work as instructors. I deliberately say work, because whether one instructs in an association or as a commercial operator, instructing in flight is first and foremost a professional act. Let us not forget it. Let us pass no judgement and wait for the results of the BEA investigations to draw up action plans if necessary.
We are entering a period when the threat is changing: the weather deteriorates, aeronautical night arrives sooner, temperatures drop and humidity rises, bringing with it the potential for carburettor icing on the ground, when taxiing before take-off, in flight and on final. A reminder in your respective clubs and regions may be a good idea.
In this context, the BEA has asked us to take part in a test campaign, starting this week, to check the relevance of the current icing chart and, if necessary, adapt it for the tests that will be carried out at the CEV.
In November a tour of France of the BGTA will also begin. We know your relations are very good everywhere in France, but we are responding to a request from General Gesnot, who would like us to be able to talk with his men in a more official setting. At the same time, we will now also take part in the training of gendarmes joining the BGTA.
From November, the RASU will be taken over by Laetitia Botton, and I would like to thank Pierre Kolodziej for his commitment over all these years in monitoring and updating this tool for reporting our accidents. A lot of data comes directly to the federation; let's keep things simple — that is what prompted our decision.
There are still two months left for the REV and we have already doubled the number of flights compared with N-1, but there is still potential, so do not hesitate to chase up the clubs and instructors in your regions.
Julien Tourbez, elected to the IT committee, is working on simplifying the registration tool, which should be operational at the start of the year.
There are two months left to finish the year. Let us make sure together that all the actions carried out in the field, at head office, and with our partners (DGAC, MALGH, BEA, GTA, ENAC, our insurer) continue to help improve flight safety. There is no inevitability!
Twenty times over, go back to your work. (Boileau)
