Susan Biegel MD

Tips

There is nothing quite like getting into your airplane and taking to the skies. Our pilot patients tell us it can be a huge stress reliever as well as a fun way to get from one place to another. But like all activities there are some good tips that can help keep you flying safely and for a long time into the future. Here are some of the tips we've received from our own patients who fly for fun or for a living.

• Pre-Fight is not an option. Always use your checklist and never take your aircraft for granted. It is a machine and as such can provide you with a safe, fun experience or fail when you need it most. So preparation is everything and never skimp on this vital step before you start the engine.
• Flight planning is the best way to be sure you know your plan and so do others. Know where you are going, how you're going to get there and let others know so you have a safety net in case of timing issues.
• Know the weather all along your planned route. This is critical and has been the cause of many tragic endings for pilots who did not check or were not trained to handle adverse weather conditions. There are many ways to know the weather from these links:

• Aviation Weather
• www.aopa.org
• www.weather.com

• USA Airport Data