This conversation usually comes up regarding airframe parachutes, such as a BRS system. People ask my opinion on whether they should spend thousands of dollars on the parachute. You can see my explanation here:https://airtimeamphib.com/2013/12/12/parachutes-for-trikes-and-light-aircraft/
But there are some higher priorities. I would not buy the airframe parachute until these other higher priorities have been covered.
Training: This is most important. I have seen too many cases of people costing themselves a lot of extra money by trying to save a little bit on training. Hard landings, running into things, and errors in setup and breakdown have cost new pilots lots of money. These ‘beginner mistakes’ are best avoided by gaining experience with an experienced instructor.
Be heard: Buy a radio and headsets. Be heard in the places you fly. Listen to other pilots announce where they are, and say where you are. Get over the radio shyness that everybody starts with. ‘Mic fright’ goes away after you realize that everybody has it at first. Practice gets you comfortable. Can’t have mid-air collisions just because people were too shy to speak up and announce where they are. Be heard, so that you can be seen. We can sell you a portable radio system and intercom for under $1000.
Be seen: Wingtip strobes and position lights are required for night flying, but help you be seen all day long too. Under $1000 installed.
Be seen electronically: With tablets in the cockpit of so many aircraft these days, more pilots are looking at their screens than looking out the window. Get a transponder and ADS-B, even if you don’t plan to fly in airspaces where it is required. For about $4000 installed, you make yourself visible on the screens of the other aircraft flying around you, and you can see them on your screens too.
After all those higher-priority items are handled, then you can consider whether to also add an airframe parachute system.
Leave a Reply