Questions tagged [safety]
Safety includes all aspects of protecting aircraft, passengers and crew from accidents, mistakes and other potentially dangerous situations.
1,242 questions
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The Airbus A320 that pitched down due to solar radiation recently. Why did that happen? I thought the computers vote the corrupted one out and ignore?
Relevant article https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e9d13x2z7o
The plane pitched down "4-5 seconds" before the autopilot somehow corrected it. I'm asking why that happened in the first ...
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Who can authorize a breach of usual flight rules in the United Kingdom?
There is a basic air law rule that an aircraft should not fly within 500ft of a person, building etc. (apart from take-off and approach obviously).
I want to fly under a bridge (the Bristol suspension ...
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Is there any way to fly single engine safely at night? [closed]
I am adding a night rating to my private license, just for fun. But at my local flying club, I have been discouraged from using it, due to the inability to find a safe landing spot (i.e. a field) at ...
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Would longer runways allow pilots to cancel a takeoff for failures that right now are too far into the takeoff to allow for a deceleration?
I think V1 is partly a function of how much runway length there is to decelerate and stop (correct me if I'm wrong).
If runways were required to be longer, would that allow for a greater number of ...
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Why do aviation safety videos mime mouth-inflating the life vest?
Historically, the in-flight safety briefing would include a demonstration of the life vest, saying "pull the tab to inflate, or blow into the tube at shoulder level". The flight attendant ...
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How dangerous are consumer drones under 1kg to airplanes in practice?
The Wikipedia article listing every verified collision between a UAV and an aircraft contains only two airplane collisions worldwide (plus two additional cases involving a helicopter and a hot air ...
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Loss of Engine Power in Single Engine Airplane- Low Altitude or After Takeoff
I can’t find a question that is exactly similar to this. A couple years ago, someone asked what to do if a 172 had an engine failure at 200’ and whether to add flaps or not.
My question isn’t about ...
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Why a pull leverlock switch VS a Flip Up Switch Guard Cover?
Looking at the 787's throttle quadrant, I noticed that the STAB control switch uses a typical red flip-up toggle switch guard safety cover while for the FUEL CONTROL there is a pull leverlock switch. ...
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What does the preliminary report say about the AI171 crash?
The Indian AAIB has released their preliminary report into the Air India 171 crash at Ahmedabad.
What are the findings?
Is there a 'smoking gun'?
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If the horizontal stabilizer actuator seizes on a modern airliner, can pilots still move the horizontal stab manually?
Pilots can move the horizontal stab manually using the trim wheel that is in the cockpit. I've read about 737 horizontal stab actuators jamming, and I'm wondering about the redundancy in these ...
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How could a 737 Max bird collision potentially lead to engine fire smoke getting into the cockpit?
CNN's June 18, 2025 NTSB issues rare safety bulletin about potential issues with Boeing 737 Max engines begins:
The National Transportation Safety Board issued a rare, urgent safety bulletin warning ...
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Is there a maximum number of go-arounds?
Are there any national regulations or internal airline rules limiting the number of go-arounds before the flight must be diverted to another airport ?
In the "Mayday" TV documentary series, ...
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Is there a cockpit crew change after an aborted take-off?
Contrary to in-flight incidents, the cockpit crew could be changed after an aborted take-off.
Are there any rules (either national regulations or internal rules of some airlines) prescribing airline ...
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How safe is paramotor flying relative to the rest of GA & Ultralights?
I fly mostly Ultra / Microlights (Eurofox), which I believe have roughly a fatality rate of 1 per 100,000 flying hours. Meaning, on average, if you fly 5,000 hours in your lifetime (very high), you ...
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Can you take leisure time on the flight deck for a non commercial flight?
I recently flew with another pilot, in a 172 with autopilot and traffic avoidance software. To my surprise, about 30 mins into the flight (he was PIC and I was monitoring), he whipped out a novel and ...
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Could a commercial pilot get his/her license revoked if he/she flies into a thunderstorm?
Recently, a 787 pilot flew into (or too close) to a thunderstorm. Airliners must avoid thunderstorms at all costs, due to lightning. A Japanese pilot flew his 787 into or too close to a thunderstorm, ...
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Untowered Field Operations: Communicating a right turnout *after* departing the pattern
Say you are departing runway 09 at an untowered field with left traffic, and your destination is to the south.
According to the AC 90-66C (pg 15, section 11.8) you should depart the pattern either ...
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How are dry bays meant to prevent fire in the event of uncontained engine failure?
This page mentions dry bays being used to help protect the aircraft from fire in the event of an uncontained engine failure. These dry bays are deliberately placed in areas inline of the turbine. ...
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What is the mitigation for brake overheating in part 23 aircraft to minimize risk of fire?
I read this summary of accident report Swearingen SA226-TC in Mirabel, the main issue was about brake overheating due to dragging brake. Unaware of the situation, the flight crew retracted the landing ...
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Generally in part 23 aircraft, why is avionics bus being differentiated from essential or main bus?
I checked some AFMs from part 23 aircraft (i.e. Grand caravan and King Air). It seems the avionic equipment is always supplied by a dedicated avionic bus. Why does it not supplied by essential or main ...
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Regulations about broadcasting on 2.4GHz on a plane
What are regulations about broadcasting on the 2.4GHz band on a commercial flight? I am specifically asking regarding broadasting a WiFi network (i.e. hotspot).
I don't think it is illegal to ...
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What is the correct procedure for disconnecting PC Air from the aircraft? [closed]
What is the correct procedure for disconnecting the PC Air from the aircraft??
Notify the Flight Deck Crew PCA will be disconnected and wait for acknowledgement
Turn the switch from FAN ON to GEN ON
...
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Is a 52 year old ex Soviet aircraft safe in UK airspace?
UR-CVK, Antonov An-12, first delivered to the Soviet Airline, Aeroflot, in August 1972 and still regularly overflying my town between 21/2200ft. Announced by its distinctive 4 engine sound it plies a ...
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What are the reasons for flight cancellation when atmospheric pressure is 1052 hPa?
On 8th February 2025, pressure at Pulkovo airport exceeded 1055 hPa, all flights of Superjets in and out were cancelled. Safety concerns included wrong flight height detection, engines overheating and ...
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Flight delays and/or diversions due to "rocket launch failure"; was January 16, 2025's Starship Test Flight 7 the first?
This answer to Did the loss of Starship Test Flight 7 force plane flights to be diverted? in Space Exploration SE indicates that several flights were diverted and delayed on January 16, 2025.
I'm ...
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What measures do aircraft take to prevent the spread of disease, if any?
I would imagine a confined space like a plane would be a very easy place for diseases to spread. During the COVID era they had people wear masks, but are there other design considerations/features ...
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Do OSHA Rules apply to Aircraft Line Maintance inside a wing?
A question for Aircraft Line Maintenance experts. Do OSHA rules apply to confined spaces inside an airplane (non-passenger areas)? For example a fuel tank, E/E bays and other areas that are not easily ...
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How can one detect a clear-air turbulence with the naked eye?
A previous revision of Wikipedia stated:
Clear-air turbulence is usually impossible to detect with the naked eye
How can one detect a clear-air turbulence with the naked eye?
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Why build a sturdy embankment at the end of a runway if there isn't much to protect beyond it?
I read on the Wikipedia page about the Jeju Air Flight 2216 crash today:
The aircraft overshot the runway and struck an embankment holding the ILS array while attempting a belly landing after its ...
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what's the procedure if you can't establish communication with tower before landing under weather minimums IFR approach? [duplicate]
If for whatever reason(i.e. radio malfunction) you can't establish communication with tower before landing an IFR approach, what is the procedure to follow on that situation?
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Why are straight-in approaches dangerous at uncontrolled airfields?
Why are straight-in approaches ill-advised at uncontrolled airfields? My understanding is that the recommendation is to do a standard overhead join where possible, if there is no radio service.
But at ...
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"Get a box" article?
Been in "professional" aviation for 20Y. I recall an article where the author, an aviation manager, advocated for keeping a box in your office, for the purpose of packing all of your ...
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Is loss of engine in single engine part 23 aircraft leading to a forced landing categorized as CATASTROPHIC or HAZARDOUS?
For part 23 aircraft (CS-23 or FAR-23), there are some aircraft categories such as Normal 1,2,3 and Commuter. For instance, Cessna Grand Caravan is certified as normal category part 23.
But, it has ...
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Should I carry a parachute on GA flights? [duplicate]
The Eurofox aircraft that I have a share in does not have a parachute option fitted and there is no appetite for this at my club.
Would it be safe / reasonable / useful to just wear a parachute when ...
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Why helicopters don't use complete tail rotor guard?
Knowing that there is a difference between a tail rotor guard and Fenestron (which also serve as a guard and is present in many helicopter designs), I came across this UltraSport Helicopter and ...
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Does using a Starlink mini in a plane's cabin pose any danger to the plane?
Does using a Starlink mini in a plane's cabin pose any danger to the plane? I am mostly interested in commercial planes.
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Why do evacuations result in so many injuries?
Evacuations often end in several minor and sometimes serious injuries, why is this? What are the most common causes? I've never done it, but I struggle to imagine how sliding down an inflatable can ...
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How close are aircraft allowed to get to each other mid-flight? [duplicate]
I was on an easyJet flight from Antalya to Manchester on the 20th September 2024, flight number 2142. I looked out of the window and saw a green and white coloured plane. I have looked it up and it ...
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Basic question about changing track at flight level
I'm a beginner private pilot flying VFR in Europe. I think I've heard that in the US it's not so common to fly at flight levels on small aircraft, but in Europe the transition altitude can be quite ...
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Are pilots allowed to take laptops into the cockpit?
In response to one of my other question, a comment mentioned Northwest Airlines Flight 188, an incident where both pilots became extremely distracted after taking out their laptops. Although Flight ...
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Is there such a thing as icing in the propeller?
It is well known of the fatal effects that can have ice build up on the wings, causing loss of lift and the multiple fatalities that have occurred due to this trough the years.
I was thinking though, ...
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What is the difference between "Crew weight" and "Occupant Limit"?
On page 11 of the Eurofox POH it states:
Max crew weight per seat......................................................83 kg (Note: occupant limit is 100kgs per seat)
What does this mean? What is ...
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Has there ever been an accident caused by a laser pointer strike?
As seen in the FAA's Laser Incidents by Year data, the number of laser strike incidents has increased over the years.
I wonder if there has been a strike serious enough to have caused an accident* in ...
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Terrain rising, controller not giving climb clearance... what to do?
Over the weekend, I asked for a zone transit for some class D airspace surrounding two large airports.
This is because the Minimum Safe Altitude for the area is 3,200ft and the airspace started ...
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Were flight crew allowed to carry firearms before 9/11?
After the devastating terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, many aspects of aviation safety and security were improved and/or enforced.
These security measures and enhancements include:
More ...
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Had there ever been a self-ejecting FDR/CDR?
Ever since the invention of Flight Data Recorders (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR), they played a crucial role in helping investigators determine the cause of accidents. Since they are so ...
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Airshow pilots not making radio calls - best course of action
I recently flew into an air show, where some very large, fast and expensive historical aircraft were being flown. It is important to note that although this was within an ATZ, it was uncontrolled ...
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What is the best procedure if the rudder falls off?
I've recently looked up American Airlines Flight 587, the second worst aircraft accident in U.S history. The main cause of the accident is the separation of the vertical stabilizer and rudder from the ...
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Why aircraft don't have integrated scale? [duplicate]
There have been some accidents due to wrong weight calculations that ended in fatalities, both in comercial and private aviation.
Besides this, though it is a simple task on the pilot's flight check ...
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B777-300 secure cockpit door flaps
B777-300 secure cockpit door has two flaps for rapid decompression pressure going from cockpit to cabin.
What system is used internally to release the flaps? Subsidiary question: can the system be ...
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