Flight Rules Essay (Essay Sample)

Flight Rules
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Introduction
Despite the fact that flying in an plane is one of the most risky ventures considering the vulnerabilities of such height and speed, plane crashes are rare; but the same cannot be said about driving a car even at speed limits. Ironically, most of the crashes that take place are ideally pilots flying perfectly working planes into the ground (Skybrary.aero, 2014). One of the most common types of accident that claims most fatalities even though statistically do not happen severally is flying VFR in IMC. This relates to pilots flying the planes into bad weather conditions either without the instrument meteorological conditions training, or avoiding the use of instrumentation controls in the event that visibility (Ison, 2014).
The NTSB Report Review
According to the NTSB report, the pilot of the Cessna 172 flying to Pagosa Springs, Colorado; took the flight in VFR into IMC regardless of the dangers posed by the maneuver. The pilot also posed greater to the plane and the passengers on board, by not landing sooner when he realized his mistake on the return trip (Skybrary.aero, 2014).
There are quite a number of risks associated with flying into bad weather. Regardless of whether the pilot is highly experienced, chances of losing control of the plane are quite why if they decide to face the weather without the instrumentation. At the same time, if a pilot flying into bad weather does not have adequate training or their skills are not as polished, with reference to instrumentation assisted flying, they will lose the control of the plane in less than 10 minutes. If a pilot is not certified to fly in IMC, they should seek guidance on how best to steer the plane away from the condition (Marasa, 2008).
With reference to errors, most of the pilots that fly into the bad weather situation neglect their training and put the lives of the passenger in danger. Pilots that have leaved through the ordeal of losing the control of the plane and crashing have cited that they felt either over confident or they thought that the clouds forming were only mild and would go away only to realize their mistake when it too late. Pilots have also been found make the mistake of considering the aspects of time loss and money, when they make decision to continue on their flight plan despite the bad weather risks (Ison, 2014). Flying in VFR in IMc does not just pose a hazard to the passengers but also the plane.
Planes are a great investment and destruction of a plane sets the company millions of dollars behind (Skybrary.aero, 2014). At the same time there is the fact that the pilot in this condition endangers the lives of other passengers aboard other planes in close flight paths and at the same time poses risk of destroying the planes in the space. When that plane loses control, it puts all the people on the ground along the light path in danger and risks destroying their property (Marasa, 2008). As such, flying in VFR in IMC is reckless given the amount of risk involved in the sky and on the ground. Of all the errors that have been raised as echoed in the report by NTSB regarding the Cessna 172, it is mainly the poor choices and poor decision making skills that lead to the VFR in IMC.
Mitigation
The first step of mitigating the risks associated with VFR is by avoiding the bad weather at all costs. Sometimes even the high skilled pilots may lose control of the plane and the risks involved do not compare with any of the objectives that the pilot may have or the company. This means that the pilot should at all times evaluate the weather information to make informed decisions. The pilot should take maximum caution to study the moisture, temperature and the wind. These are the most influential weather elements as they bring about turbulence, poor visibility and ultimately reduce the performance abilities of the plane. This makes it difficult to control the plane and it is easy to lose all control and crash (Marasa, 2008). This information should be spread from the point of departure, enroute and the destination of the flight. Where possible the pilot should make plans to have a reserve plan and additional fuel, to make sure that what happened to Cessna 172 is avoided (Skybrary.aero, 2014).
If the pilots are qualified and certified to fly in IMC, proper protocol and caution should be used at all times whenever decisions are made, ensuring objectivity. It always crucial to acknowledge the severity of...