On Feb. 12, 2009, 50 people lost their lives as Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed while on an instrument approach into Buffalo Niagara International Airport. As is the case with many accidents, several causes contributed to the crash, including icing conditions and fatigue. However, what may have saved the lives of the people on board that airplane and on the ground can be summed up in three simple words: “unload for control.”
Getting Upset in a Bizjet
Key Takeaways:
- Fatal aviation accidents often result from stalls and loss of control, frequently due to pilots incorrectly pulling back on controls; Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) is crucial to teach correct recovery techniques.
- The core UPRT principle, "unload for control" (UTAP: Unload, Throttle, Ailerons, Pitch), emphasizes reducing the angle of attack by pushing forward on the yoke to quickly recover from stalls and unusual attitudes, which is more effective than instinctive responses.
- Flight Research provides hands-on UPRT using actual business jets (Sabreliner) and advanced trainers (Impala) to simulate realistic upset conditions, allowing pilots to experience and practice critical recovery skills for enhanced aviation safety, a benefit increasingly recognized by insurance companies.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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