Lessons learned

If you have read my previous post, you already know that a Diamond DA42 Twin Star, operated by the FTO I train in, landed with no landing gear at the airport I train 30 minutes or so after I landed and 30 minutes or so before I was to take off again.

The accident was not very serious but was enough to close the airport for several hours. At the time it happened three of my colleagues were in the air without an instructor (flying solo). And they were not prepared. They have never went to their filed alternate airport, they did not have charts for it, they did not have even a visual chart (as they were not flying a route, but some NDB approaches). The only thing they had was enough fuel to get to their alternate.

Fortunately with the help of the air traffic controllers they managed to get to their alternate and land safely. We all learned a lesson now – always expect the unexpected and be ready to visit your alternate.

I guess as we did not learn this the normal way, we had to learn it the hard way!

Training goes on....