How safe are small private planes

[coxmaster]

Anyone know how many more small plane flights happen per year compared to commercial?
How about small plane crashes compared to commercial?

I wonder if the rate is actually higher on a per flight basis.

NTSB Info on that

So yeah, commercial is safer. So what? Walking is safer than driving and you still drive a car

 

[DrPizza]

If you're looking for an inexpensive, relatively safe way of just getting up there, that doesn't require a shitload of training hours, look into powered parachutes. They're perfect for that, unless you're planning on leaving point A and arriving at a different point B that's many miles away.

look at the view! And with the engine off, no problem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvYB89hk4Ks

edit: this one's better, from 10k feet, no power.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gatHajZQGrY&feature=related

you know you want to do this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaIjQCvCzpg&feature=related

 

[EagleKeeper]

Few fixed wing accidents happen in good weather.

Most are when the pilot pushes himself or the plane beyond acceptable limits.

If the engine fails, you can still glide (as long as you do not panic) and get down fairly safely. You may hurt the plane a little if you can not come down on a road or smooth field.

steve fosset was a better pilot than anyone here, and his unfamiliarity with local weather patterns took him into a mountain when his wing stalled.

As you stated, it was unfamiliarity with the area that got him into trouble. And over confidence that the situation was not as bad as it was.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I would love to win a lottery enough to get a 6 passenger twin with floats and buzz up along the Gulf of Alaska.

But all it is is a dream

Here's a pic from my vacation a few weeks ago. Mighty fun flying around in that.

That is what I am talking about. :thumbsup: Problem seems to be that most twins are low wings w/ retractable gear - which will not suppport floats.

 

[rudder]

An ultralight might be more approachable/affordable for an amateur. If you're looking for scenic vistas, you don't get much better than hanging out in the open under a wing :^D

The FAA now has the sport pilot license. It is like a private pilot but only allows you to fly planes that are sport pilot eligible. Usually meaning lighter planes with less than two seats. These are a lot cheaper to buy and fly. However they are a lot more limited in capabilities... so there is a trade off. A good way to get started.

And to all the ones saying there are plance crashed everywhere... usually it is the fault of a careless pilot. If you play it safe, know what you are flying, it is safe as can be.

 

[JMorton6]

So what would be a good way to start, do I join an aviation club or something?

 

[mfenn]

The FAA now has the sport pilot license. It is like a private pilot but only allows you to fly planes that are sport pilot eligible. Usually meaning lighter planes with less than two seats. These are a lot cheaper to buy and fly. However they are a lot more limited in capabilities... so there is a trade off. A good way to get started.

And to all the ones saying there are plance crashed everywhere... usually it is the fault of a careless pilot. If you play it safe, know what you are flying, it is safe as can be.

Is that a fancy way of saying one seat?

 

[coxmaster]

So what would be a good way to start, do I join an aviation club or something?

Best bet is to find a local airport that does training. Shouldnt be too hard to do, PM me if u need help or whatever.

Is that a fancy way of saying one seat?

LSA (light sport aircraft) are generally 2 seats. Not 1. Not sure why he said less than 2

 

[EagleKeeper]

So what would be a good way to start, do I join an aviation club or something?

Best bet is to find a local airport that does training. Shouldnt be too hard to do, PM me if u need help or whatever.

Punch following into Google along with your state.

private pilot training schools <state>

Most will be situated near a small airport. then follow Coxmaster's suggestion

 

[rudder]

Is that a fancy way of saying one seat?

You can take a passenger... bad typo... usually 1-2 seats.

here is a sport aircraft...

http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/slsa/T&T&#37;20Aviation Falcon LS.html#TopOfPage

 

[skyking]

• Maximum gross takeoff weight&#8212;1,320 lbs, or 1,430 lbs for seaplanes.
• Maximum stall speed&#8212;51 mph (45 knots) CAS
• Maximum speed in level flight with maximum continuous power (Vh)&#8212;138 mph (120 knots) CAS
• Single or two-seat aircraft only
• Single, reciprocating engine (if powered), including rotary or diesel engines
• Fixed or ground-adjustable propeller
• Unpressurized cabin
• Fixed landing gear, except for an aircraft intended for operation on water or a glider
• Can be manufactured and sold ready-to-fly under a new Special Light-Sport aircraft certification category. Aircraft must meet industry consensus standards. Aircraft under this certification may be used for sport and recreation, flight training, and aircraft rental.
• Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if kit- or plans-built. Aircraft under this certification may be used only for sport and recreation and flight instruction for the owner of the aircraft.
• Can be licensed Experimental Light-Sport Aircraft (E-LSA) if the aircraft has previously been operated as an ultralight but does not meet the FAR Part 103 definition of an ultralight vehicle. These aircraft must be transitioned to E-LSA category no later than January 31, 2008.
• Will have FAA registration&#8212;N-number.
• Aircraft category and class includes: Airplane (Land/Sea), Gyroplane, Airship, Balloon, Weight-Shift-Control ("Trike" Land/Sea), Glider, and Powered Parachute.
• U.S. or foreign manufacture of light-sport aircraft is authorized.
• Aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate that meet above specifications may be flown by sport pilots. However, the aircraft must remain in standard category and cannot be changed to light-sport aircraft category. Holders of a sport pilot certificate may fly an aircraft with a standard airworthiness certificate if it meets the definition of a light-sport aircraft.
• May be operated at night if the aircraft is equipped per FAR 91.205, if such operations are allowed by the aircraft's operating limitations and the pilot holds at least a Private Pilot certificate and a minimum of a third-class medical.

The Sport Pilot Rule:
A sport pilot may exercise flight privileges in one or more of the following aircraft categories:

• Airplane (single-engine only)
• Glider
• Lighter-than-air (airship or balloon)
• Rotorcraft (gyroplane only)
• Powered Parachute
• Weight-Shift control aircraft(e.g. Trikes)

The sport pilot rule:

• Creates a new student sport pilot certificate
• Creates a new sport pilot flight instructor certificate.
• Requires FAA knowledge (written) and practical (flight) test.
• Credits ultralight training and experience toward a sport pilot certificate providing the ultralight pilot transitions to a sport pilot certificate by 31 January 2007.
• Credits sport pilot flight time toward more advanced pilot ratings.
• Requires either a 3rd class FAA medical certificate or a current and valid U.S. driver&#8217;s license as evidence of medical eligibility (provided the individual's most recent application for an FAA medical certificate was not denied, revoked, suspended or withdrawn).
• Does not allow carrying passengers for compensation or hire
• Does not allow flights in furtherance of business
• Allows sharing (&#8220;pro-rata&#8221 operating expenses with another pilot.
• Allows daytime flight only.
• Allow sport pilots to fly vintage and production aircraft (standard airworthiness certificate) that meet the definition of a light-sport aircraft.

 

[skyking]

Champs and chiefs and Taylorcraft, luscombes all make it into the sport criteria.

 

[dawp]

A real ultra light isn't actually that cheap. 80k I believe

nope, much less than that, most are between $10k and $20k and less if you just get the plans and do all the work yourself.

http://www.beliteaircraftstore.com/kits-complete-kits.html

most ultralights aren't much more that hang-gliders with an engine attached.

 

[sao123]

as long as you're flying it's safe. If you start dropping, you're no longer safe.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

My uncle got his licence and bought a small plane used for around 70k I believe. Seats 4. It runs off of regular gasoline. He commutes between his homes in NJ and cape cod now and he says its actually not only much much faster but he uses less gasoline in the plane.

 

[skyking]

My uncle got his licence and bought a small plane used for around 70k I believe. Seats 4. It runs off of regular gasoline. He commutes between his homes in NJ and cape cod now and he says its actually not only much much faster but he uses less gasoline in the plane.

The straight line thing really pays off in some areas like that. Here is an extreme example in the Seattle/Puget Sound area.
Flight from South Sound to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island = 45 minutes to an hour depending on plane.
Drive the same trip and take a ferry = ~4 hours depending on traffic and ferry traffic.

 

[coxmaster]

Makes for a great lunch trip too!