As a South African flying school it is our responsibility to instill safety conscious habits in all our students.

Let’s take a particular scenario: You’re a flight academy student lined up on the runway, the pre-departure checklists is complete, you’re ready to do some hour building towards your commercial pilot license. You’ve confirmed the runway is long enough, that you’ve sufficient fuel, the weather is within your personal limits and all NOTAM’s have been checked.

Is there anything you missed? What about the engine failure you’re about to have on take-off?

That’s right. As a pilot, you always need to be thinking “Engine Failure” on every take off. You can hope it will never happen, but luck is no substitute for preparation.

And remember your training from flight school, climbing at the best rate of climb airspeed might not always be the best idea. Climbing slowly at best angle airspeed will put you higher, closer to the runway. Our flight instructors taught us all about the “impossible turn”. But depending on when the engine decides to quit, you might be high enough and close enough to make it back to the runway safety area, if not onto the runway itself.

That’s also one reason why it’s a good idea to study the area surrounding the departure airport. If you have an engine failure after take-off, what are your best options for making an off airport emergency landing causing the least grief for your airplane as well as property and people on the ground?

When it comes to take off emergencies, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst could mean the difference between a minor incident or a catastrophic accident.

If your future involves becoming a commercial pilot or recreational pilot, and you are planning on joining a flying school in Gauteng, or even South Africa, then come to Central Flying Academy for your introductory flight and take a tour of our facilities. We focus on pilot safety, both in ground school and flight training. Contact us for more information