Aero Club adopts new safety measures, will resume flying operations

  • Published
  • By Maj. John Hutcheson
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Kadena Aero Club has adopted a comprehensive set of new safety measures and procedures as a result of the Oct. 24 Cessna -172 forced landing near Nago City. The safety measures incorporate the recommendations from the accident investigation report as well as additional measures developed by the Aero Club itself. They were approved for implementation by the 5th Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Edward Rice.

While the primary cause of the accident was pilot error, these new measures are designed to improve Aero Club processes and procedures in an effort to help prevent future accidents. 

As a result of implementing these new measures, the Aero Club will resume limited flight operations Dec. 26 so that club instructors can regain proficiency in their core tasks. Only qualified flight instructors will fly at this time, and they will be required to fly with at least one fellow instructor. 

Student training is expected to begin with limited local area training flights on Jan. 10, 2009. No cross-country flights will be conducted during period. The club will resume normal flying operations, including cross-country flights around Feb 1, 2009. As the Aero Club moves closer to resuming routine operations, Wing leadership will continue to review club procedures and ensure the effectiveness of newly implemented safety measures. 

The new safety measures adopted by the Aero Club are detailed below: 

1) The Aero Club has eliminated the use of estimated fuel burn rates for all flights. This includes removing any estimated fuel burn rates from all planning documents and products. All fuel burn data that has not been provided by the engine manufacturer has been removed from club-provided flight planning materials.

2) The Aero Club now requires aircraft refueling at all islands more than 1.5 hours flight time from Kadena Air Base. These island destinations will be listed in the Aero Club standard operating procedures and on the flight planning board.

3) The Aero Club now requires that navigation logs be used as a flight planning tool for cross-country flights. These logs will be reviewed by a Reviewing Official before all cross county flights. Blank navigation logs and navigation log software will be made readily available for members use.

4) The Aero Club now requires a reviewing official to review preflight paperwork for all cross-country flights before issuing aircraft keys to a pilot. While the pilot in command still retains final clearance authority and is ultimately responsible for the safe operation of the aircraft, a reviewing official will help ensure that proper mission planning has been accomplished before cross-country flights.

5) The Aero Club now requires a cross country training flight with an Aero Club instructor prior to allowing any club member to take a plane outside the local training area. A Cross Country check out for any members who were not trained at Kadena's Aero Club will also be required. Standard Operating Procedures will be amended to include this requirement.

6) Aero Club Flight Instructors will re-emphasize to students and club members how fuel burn rates can differ depending on altitude, temperature, RPM settings, and proper leaning techniques. These topics are already addressed in instructional sessions and will receive greater emphasis before the students are allowed to fly again.

7) The Aero Club now includes a safety read file into the plane dispatch procedures. This information will be required reading for all club members before checking out an Aero Club aircraft, and will ensure that all club members are aware of special situations unique to Japanese airspace and local club flying

8) The Aero Club will increase discussion and awareness of appropriate emergency airfields within the island flying region for all Club members. This information will be reviewed at the club's monthly safety meetings and before any student training flight.