Apron Safety, BFRs and Linton Airspace
Treat propellers as live and escort passengers airside; use your BFR to genuinely sharpen skills; stay above 1,200 ft or well clear of Linton military airspace.
2 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
Safety on the apron
Stay vigilant whenever you're airside – aircraft can start at any time. Look for warning signs that someone may be about to start up, such as a person sitting in an aircraft or a flashing beacon.
Always treat propellers as live. Approach aircraft from behind, cross behind other aircraft, and keep your distance.
- No smoking or vaping on the apron.
- Avoid distractions such as mobile phones.
- Passengers must be escorted at all times.
As pilots we're familiar with the hazards airside, but your passengers might not know that a flashing beacon means the propeller is about to start turning. Brief passengers thoroughly before they step airside.
Biennial Flight Review (BFR)
Once you hold a licence, you need a Biennial Flight Review (BFR) every two years. During a BFR the instructor reviews your current knowledge and proficiency, giving you a chance to maintain and improve your skills. It's not a test where you have only one opportunity to pass – if you're not up to scratch, you'll get the chance to practise until you are. The requirements are set out on the CAA BFR form. The CAA has also asked instructors and examiners to assess the topics from its Work Together, Stay Apart campaign.
A BFR is more than a box-ticking exercise – we want to keep you and others safe. How many flights it takes depends on the competency and currency of the licence holder. When did you last practise a forced landing? Or low flying? Real situations that need these manoeuvres can happen at any time, so they need to be practised regularly.
There's a difference between 'good' and 'good enough'. Ask yourself:
- Wouldn't you want to be 100 percent comfortable carrying out a forced landing without power (FLWOP)?
- Isn't an hour or two of practice worth it to be comfortable with your ability?
- Would your next passenger be comfortable if they knew you hadn't practised a FLWOP for more than a year?
Manoeuvres in the BFR need to meet the standard of the applicable licence.
Linton Military Camp
Avoid the Linton military airspace just south of NZPM. Make sure you're either above 1,200 ft or well clear of the area. Drones are often flown up to the limit of the airspace, so operating within it can be very dangerous.