10 Disasters that changed Aviation

10 Disasters that changed Aviation
By David Noland
In the September 2007 addition of Popular Mechanics

At first I didn't know if a disaster article was the best thing to read for my WISE bibliography as I'm flying now and don't want to fill my head with disasters. But as I read the article I realized that it was understanding how accidents happen that makes flying so safe today. Air accidents are heavily investigated and lead to safety improvements. today's flying is actually the safest type of transportation.

In 1956 a TWA Jet crash with a DC7 after they had both taken off from LA 3minutes apart about 90 minutes later out of contact with ground control the aircraft collided. It seems that both pilots were trying to show their passengers the Grand Canyon and the crash killed everyone. This crash started a 250,000,000 to the air traffic control system (ATC) it also led to the start of the Federal Aviation Administration that watch's air safety. The improvements worked there hasn't been a collision between two air liners since.

Some accidents brought about some simple fixes. in 1983 a DC9 Filled with black smoke and although the pilot could land the cabin caught fire and everyone died. The FAA then required smoke detectors and automatic fire extinguishers in the bath room, (were the fire started). Jets also have flour lighting to passengers can see the exits.

Other disasters are also mentioned. some results are better air planes and other results are better training. crashes have led to new rules like the 1996 Miami fire that stopped allowing hazardous cargo on aircraft's. Pre flight checks are added to when accidents teach pilots new things to check. and 1980 MAUI flight lost a large section of fuselage leading to more inspection and maintenance.

These corrections work. No jets have crashed into each other inspections have stopped corrosion damage. Our air traffic control system watches out for jets and smaller planes like mine. It was a result of an accident that led to small planes having to use transponders. transponders that are electrical devises that broadcast where you are in the air. No small plane has ever collided with a jet in the US and that makes me relieved

My First Flight

My first flight was the most amazing feeling I've had controlling any type of machine. We took about 30 minutes checking the planes fuel, checking all the electrical in the plane was functional, and looking at the entire out side of the plane to make sure there were no holes or dents of any type on the air craft. But I was talking to my instructor and he said that i seemed very prepared for this flight and knew a lot about the engine almost more then him which made me feel like a million bucks.

Taking off was so stressful mostly because i was made to contact the radio tower and use their code names like Al fa, Delta, Charlie, etc... But I got to taxi down the run way which I did a pretty good job on, Then we were cleared for take off so i gave the plane power and move it onto the runway then we were cleared to go. When I hit full power on that bad boy were got off the ground in a matter of seconds. Those planes only need to go about 40mph to lift of the ground.

So now I was up in the air I felt like I had the world under my feet and I literally did. I had complete control over the plane and when I turned it I think my heart skipped a beat. But at the same time never in my life felt more alive. We flew over Enfield most of the time which was nice and we did sets of maneuvers that were part of the lesson and I nailed them. we were only up there for 45 minutes and came back for our landing which he took care of because I was still way to new for that step.

When we flew over the school / lake and it was weird because even though I've been in planes hundreds of times I never saw the ground in the same perspective. I looked down I saw my friends houses there cars and how small it all was from up there and it made me realize that the world is a lot bigger than just my Ithaca and that if I can be flying a plane over my home town I can do what ever I want in this life.

After the Flight was all over we parked the plane and debriefed I was graded on my proformance and I am pretty sure I got a perfect score. so All in all it was a perfect day for me.