Preflight Brief: Learn What to Look For

Welcome to the Safety Section of the Flying Clubs Newsletter, Club Connector!             

Every month we provide resources for flying club safety officers to keep their clubs informed and safe. You can find this month’s safety article and the full archive, here: https://youcanfly.aopa.org/flying-clubs/flying-club-newsletter/safety              

So, let’s get on with this month’s safety topic!              

Background:        

This month’s safety focus highlights the shared responsibility between pilots, aircraft owners, and the mechanics who keep our airplanes flying safely. While maintenance work is performed by certificated professionals, regulations make it clear that owners, operators, and pilots in command all play a direct role in ensuring airworthiness. For many pilots, especially those in flying clubs or shared aircraft, maintenance can feel distant or “handled by someone else.” Understanding basic maintenance requirements, knowing what good documentation looks like, and building a strong working relationship with a maintenance provider are essential parts of safe aircraft operation. Staying engaged, asking questions, and speaking up when something doesn’t look right helps protect people, aircraft, and the long‑term health of our clubs.

Learning points:         

Airworthiness is a Shared Responsibility

• Regulations place primary responsibility on the owner or operator.
  • The Pilot in Command is ultimately responsible for determining airworthiness before and during each flight.
  • Renting or flying in a club aircraft does not remove this responsibility.

Awareness is Important Even if You’re Not the Owner

• Pilots do not need to be mechanics, but they should understand inspection status and aircraft records.
  • Knowing where to find logbooks and AD status supports sound go or no‑go decisions.
  • Asking questions is part of good airmanship.

Communication Builds Safer Operations

• Professional maintenance shops welcome questions and explain findings clearly.
  • Clear expectations and open dialogue improve safety outcomes.
  • Strong owner‑operator‑mechanic relationships reduce misunderstandings and risk.

Logbook Entries are a Safety Tool

• Logbook entries document inspections, maintenance, and approvals for return to service.
  • Complete entries demonstrate compliance and accountability.
  • Poor or vague documentation is a warning sign.

Airworthiness Directives must be Tracked and Documented

• ADs must be complied with and properly signed off.
  • Recurring ADs require documentation of next due times or dates.
  • Missed or undocumented ADs can have serious safety consequences.

Safety Culture Shows in Everyday Details

• Clean, organized, and well‑lit workspaces reflect professionalism.
  • Use of approved parts and current data supports airworthiness.
  • Thorough documentation signals a strong safety mindset.

Speaking Up is Part of Flying Safely

• Raising concerns, grounding an aircraft, or delaying a flight is never a failure.
  • Conservative decisions protect pilots, passengers, and the club.
  • Safety improves when concerns are addressed early.

Other Safety Resources:              

Here is a reminder of just some of the safety resources available to all pilots:              

FAASTeam:              

faasafety.gov              

The FAASTeam website is the portal to a vast array of courses, videos, links, and much more.  Remember that WINGS not only encompasses knowledge activities but also flight activities.  Use the search options to narrow down to say, flight activities for a basic phase of WINGS, and you’ll be able to find a syllabus and often a worksheet for various flight activities.  Use WINGS to keep you proficient and think of the flight activities as a progressive flight review—earnt over 12-months, rather than at the end of 24-months.              

Wait…you don’t do WINGS?              

That’s a big shame—you are missing out on a free pilot proficiency program that will help you enjoy your flying even more, allow you to earn a flight review every 12 months just by flying, and may provide insurance discounts.              

The FAASTeam WINGS pilot proficiency program is the best way for general aviation pilots to ensure they are competent, confident, and safe in their flight operations.   Oh, and being perpetually proficient will save you money in the long run.                

If you are interested in using the FAASTeam WINGS program for your personal flying or with your flying club, create an account on the FAASTeam website, http://www.faasafety.gov, and explore the collection of courses and flight activities.  Also, feel free to contact me (Jason Levine, WINGS Representative), and I’d be pleased to walk you through the program.  More on “WINGS for Clubs” can be found here in Flying Clubs Radio Episode 8 and the May 2020 Question of the Month.                

Other FAA Resources:              

Don’t forget to regularly revisit these FAA safety gems, as new material is frequently added:              

Pilot Minute              

57 Seconds to Safer Flying              

FAA Safety Briefing Magazine              

From the Flight Deck                 

AOPA Air Safety Institute:              

https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/air-safety-institute              

AOPA’s Air Safety Institute (ASI), which by the way is funded by the AOPA Foundation just like the Flying Clubs Initiative, is packed with exceptional content, including exceptional videos, podcasts, accident analysis, online courses, recorded webinars and more.  Completing ASI activities may also earn WINGS credits.  Of particular interest to flying club safety officers is the updated Safety to Go section.  There, you can download a selection of topics, each coming with PowerPoint slides and speaker’s notes!