Brian,
do you use day time lights in your cars?
Can you believe it is in Finland mandatory 24 hrs and those few poor
cars without lights are almost invisible.
Human eye picks object=B4s with light easily - especially if it is
blinking. Strobes do.
Sure strobes are an essential safety feature. What more that better!
Light coloured planes front of the clouds or dark coloured planes front
of the ground are almost invisible without strobes for example. Or
Europa during typical English or Finnish rainy autumn...
Wearing safety glasses to change a light bulb
- that is a good investment for personal health ;)
Raimo OH-XRT
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Davies
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 5:28 PM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Safety improvement list
In the UK, homebuilts are daylight VFR only. I have never spotted an
aircraft in daylight by seeing its strobes. I dont think they are an
essential safety feature.
Regarding the check valve in the fuel return line, has there ever been
an incident/accident where the lack of one has caused a fire?
It is very easy to add a long list of additional safety items (and
weight) using a "what if" method. If you are carrying out a proper risk
assessment you should always balance this with probability and the
consequences of the risk materialising.
The reason everyone in the UK has to wear hard hats, high vis jackets,
safety boots and safety glasses to change a light bulb is because of
defective risk assessment.
Brian Davies
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of G-IANI
Sent: 18 November 2009 11:56
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Safety improvement list
Frans and all,
Some comments on your safety improvement list
1) Safety belts.
Do not use types which formulate loops - Agreed
Make modified upper fixing points - Agreed
I am not sure you need the "lengthened and foldable headrest".
2) Fuel systems
- routing outside the cabin (weight penalty none or some) - Agreed in
principal. G-IANI is a Trigear so all the fuel system is in the centre
tunnel
- return line with one-way-valve or emergency off-selector - Sounds a
good idea, I will talk to LAA about this
- do not use original glass fuel filters - They have there limitation
but are acceptable if they are accessible and can be monitored and
cleaned. Has anyone found a reasonably priced substitute we could
standardise on.
- consider the safety of sight gauge and it=B4s location. - What the
manual recommends is not good. Of the variations that builders have
done which is the best compromise in terms of safety and functionality?
- have a fuel warning /gauge/pressure gauge /computer - Agreed I
would not fly G-IANI without it
3) Doors
- use unintentioned opening guards and secure them with pip-pins to
levers - In the UK the LAA do not approve this. It is a value
judgement on the risks involved.
- install serial connected micro switches w warning lights behind
shoot bolts. - OK but, as Karl said, they can lead to a false sense of
security. A manual check is essential
4) Cowlings
- do not make those little oil/water check doors - so you have to take
whole upper cowling away and see and check same time much much more
(weight penalty none, use cam locks or equal - so it is pleasure to open
so often you like - I do it every 5 flight hrs)
I have Southco fasteners on my cowl. They are a lot of work to fit
but do make removing the cowl a lot easier. I still think you need the
oil/water check doors for doing the daily "A" check.
5) Electrics
- use two serial connected master switches; so called panel mstr
leaves juice for trim, stall warner, charging for emergency batteries,
clocks, burglar alarms, horns, convenience lights AND an engine starter
- total master cuts everything (weight penalty none, normally my total
master is always on, I close it only during longs stays over two weeks
or just before possible crash I wish, panel mstr switch uses light
weight 40A relay which uses only few milliamperes, total mstr switch is
mechanical with "a key" and uses 0 amperes)
That is essentially how G-IANI is set up1. Both my switches are
mechanical
6) Cockpit equipments
- have a carbon monoxide detector - Agreed
- have a Halon fire extinguisher - Agreed it is a requirement in the
UK
- have a personal locater beacon with gps - Agreed
- have a stall warner or AoA indicator - Agreed
7) Outside equipments
- have at least strobes - Agreed. This is something that should be
in the manual
Ian Rickard G-IANI XS Trigear, 280 hours
Europa Club Mods Rep (Trigear)
e-mail g-iani@ntlworld.com
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270.14.69/2508 - Release Date: 11/18/09 07:50:00
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