By Jerry Rosie (USUA #A86096)

Ultralighters All -

August is upon us and everyone is busy flying. So busy, in fact, that they have little time for writing (or reading?) newsletters. But, we have a treat for those of you who are reading this column. I have been saving this article from last December, when it appeared in that month's issue of the "Lite-Wing News", the monthly newsletter of the Middle Tennessee Ultralight Group. Written by Gary White, the president of that organization, who in real life is an Assistant Chaplain at Vanderbilt University and, from reading his articles, an obviously accomplished, safety conscious, pilot. Gary granted me permission to steal his article in totality, which I am happy to do because its message is important, and the style in which he wrote it can't be captured via my usual method of paraphrasing and freely quoting the words of others. By paying attention to his monthly column, I have discovered that Gary holds a PPL and is currently the proud pilot of a Trike. With that introduction, here is Gary's Article:

"As humans, we are creatures of habit. I notice that I will, generally, take the same route driving to work and a different path driving home from work. Always utilizing the same two roads. I have a place in my refrigerator where the blueberries go. Fridgedaire did not create such a space, but I certainly did. It is a test of patience when visitors unknowingly disrupt my sense of blueberry order.

"In aviation, routine can be a positive trait. When I was flying general aviation aircraft, even after I had spent a couple of hours in a Cessna 172 performing a cross country flight, and it had performed flawlessly, and, although I had only stopped for a few minutes to refuel, and the aircraft never left my sight, I could not climb aboard and prepare for takeoff without physically checking the fuel level in the tanks and performing a walk around.

"Routine can also be quite the demon. As I was recently preparing for work, the Today Show had a segment about an ultralight airplane crashing in a crowd at a football game in Nebraska. The footage was shocking as the Quicksilver stalled and rolled as it dived into the sideline bystanders. Fortunately, and unbelievably, no-one was seriously injured. The reporter stated that the pilot, "frequently flew over the games." This practice, of course, is in direct conflict with Part 103 and my best guess is that pilot (who was FAA licensed) will endure a lesson he will never forget! "In flying I have learned that carelessness and over-confidence are usually far more dangerous than deliberately accepted risks."

— Wilbur Wright in a letter to his father, September 1900.

"This pilot regularly flew over these games. That's one of the problems with doing something while flying that pushes the margins of safety and getting away with it. It makes it that much easier to repeat in the future. In a way, it is like kinky sex: it is only kinky the first time you do it. We may fly low over the treetops for several flying seasons with no consequence other than bugs on our teeth and stories to tell over the campfire. But we never know when our mechanics or judgment will fail us and our "accepted risks" morph into, "carelessness and overconfidence." At our November meeting, John Sewell's program on "Aging Aircraft" reminded us of the perils of "getting away with it." We only have so much luck before our supply is exhausted. Have pity on all of those who cause Katie Couric to gasp!"

Gary's article to his club members points out the possible dangers of settling into an unsafe routine and becoming overconfident in our abilities to exceed the envelope. Our sport is only as dangerous as we let it become.

On the lighter side - We have completely explored the Albuquerque Ultralight Association's Mechanic's toolbox but they have come up with a few observed "Laws of the Natural Universe" that can bring a knowing chuckle to your day. For example:

The Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

The Law of the Workshop - Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

or -

The Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will. (The reverse is also true)

That's it for this month - Fly Safe, and Fly for Fun!