Flying For Transportation

Each of us flies for different reasons. Many pilots started (or continue) as enthusiasts interested in airplanes as recreational machines. Others learned to fly as a prelude to a career in the cockpit. For many, aircraft primarily are a means of transportation for business or personal reasons. In fact, if I did not require an airplane for travel, I would not bother to fly any more. If you seek to use general aviation aircraft for travel, I believe a special approach to safety—implemented through targeted training and consistent flight operations—is required, especially if you are trying to meet any kind of schedule. Unfortunately, our training and operating procedures generally don’t prepare us for these flights. It is possible, however, to achieve high levels of safe utility, even with single-engine piston aircraft, if you employ a few simple techniques to achieve efficiency and reliability while managing risk.

Key Takeaways:

• General aviation pilots using aircraft for transportation require a special approach to safety and operational risk management, as current training methods are often inadequate for these types of flights.
• Achieving safe utility involves adopting a "mini airline" operational mindset, encompassing comprehensive risk management beyond just tactical flight planning.
• This operational risk management framework addresses key areas: Pilot qualifications and aeromedical issues, Aircraft suitability and equipment, Environmental factors like weather and terrain, and managing External pressures such as schedules and passengers.

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