Bulletin Cautions Pilots on Proper Use of Airplane Seat Restraints

On April 16, 2012, the FAA issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advising pilots of an airworthiness concern relevant to all airplanes equipped with a seat restraint system. A 2011 NTSB study of inflatable restraint systems revealed that in some accidents the restraints were not used correctly (i.e, passengers inadvertently fastened the wrong restraint or did not position the restraints properly).

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Pilot-in-Control

According to recent data prepared by the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC), loss of control-inflight (LOC-I) is the dominant cause of fatal GA accident in the past 10 years. "We need to get better at maneuvering our aircraft," says Rich Stowell, seven-time Master Flight Instructor and author of "Pilot-in-Control" in the March/April 2012 FAA Safety Briefing. "LOC-I happens to low-time and high time pilots, to student pilots and ATPs alike." Stowell suggests pilots build a multi-layered defense against LOC-I through better training in the mental skills needed to avoid LOC-I, coupled with better training in the stick-and-rudder skills needed to prevent and recover from LOC-I scenarios.

Revised Practical Test Standards Released

The FAA's Airman Testing Standards Branch released the following revised Practical Test Standards (PTS) and new aviation training handbooks: FAA-S-8081-14B, Private PTS for Airplane (effective June 1, 2012); FAA-S-8081-12C, Commercial Pilot PTS for Airplane (effective June 1, 2012); FAA-S-8081-25B, Parachute Rigger PTS (effective July 1, 2012); FAA-H-8083-31, Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook—Powerplant, Volumes 1 and 2; FAA-H-8083-32, Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook—Airframe, Volumes 1 and 2; FAA-H-8083-18, Flight Navigator Handbook.