HOW SAFE IS FLYING A SINGLE ENGINE PROPELLOR AIRCRAFT?

At the Subang Flying Club we realize that for many of you this will be your first flight in a small airplane. It is quite natural and common to have specific or even nonspecific anxieties, fears, and questions concerning flying in small planes. For this reason we have outlined many of our safety procedures. Please do not hesitate to take the time to discuss any questions or concerns, no matter how small, with your pilot before, during or after your flight. Above all, we want you to enjoy your flight experience with us.

What We Fly

The Subang Flying Club operates a wide variety of aircraft, including Cessna 150, Cessna 172, Socata Trinidad TB20, and Piper Seneca PA-34.

We have our own full time maintenance engineering team to ensure our aircrafts meet with all DCA aviation airworthiness requirements. If a problem is discovered, our operating procedures require us to immediately ask our DCA licensed mechanics to examine the airplane. If this happens on the day of your flight and we can not make proper repairs in a timely fashion, you will be called and we will reschedule.

Weight & Fuel Requirements

We must comply with strict weight and loading formulas. Please don’t be offended if we ask your weight, or if we have to re-adjust or limit the number of passengers due to aircraft loading and weight restrictions. We never operate the aircraft with less than one hour of fuel on board, no matter what the length of your flight.

Weather Conditions For Your Flight:

Winds of 10-15kph are common in this area and are not a problem for the flight. However, they can make for a bumpy ride. Mornings and evening are the best if you wish to avoid this slight turbulence. We will reschedule your flight if the weather is forecast to be less than our minimums. Sometimes weather reports are wrong, but we would rather ensure your ride is enjoyable. Even cloudy days can make for good flying experiences. We look for cloud bases that are above 2000 ft  and visibility of better than 3 miles (5km).

By the way, we never fly when thunderstorms are in the area.

Who Actually Flies The Plane?

That depends on the type of flight you have selected. For any of our instructional flights, you will be in the pilot seat but the instructor is actually in command, from the right seat. All aircraft are equipped with dual controls. If you have chosen a sightseeing flight, your pilot will fly from the left seat. During a sightseeing flight, you will not be permitted to operate the controls. Sightseeing flights are the only flights where more than two people are permitted in the aircraft.

Are Little Airplanes Really Safe?

You bet!  The truth is, you are statistically safer in a light aircraft than in the car that you drove to the airport. Pilot training and competency standards are rigorous and exacting. All pilots have to maintain their skills. The aircraft itself is designed to strict standards and must be approved by DCA. It is maintained to strict tolerances by aircraft mechanics who undergo many years of highly technical training and education. On top of all this, the Subang Flying Club is authorized by DCA to conduct PPL training and we must conduct our flights in strict accordance with DCA regulations and Air Law