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jrh · October 12th, 2006, 09:43

Well, to add a few more details to the situation:

I'm very comfortable handling a plane on one brake. I had no problems during the landing at my home base, after all. I've also taught brake failures to students and had them rollout after landing without touching the brakes just to show them how little distance is actually used. I'm not really worried about taking a routine flight with one brake inop. Those who know me know I'm a practical, get-the-job done, real world pilot, and I'm not a 250-hour newbie CFI from a big name flight academy (not meaning to start any wars with that comment, just saying...).

I agree with the idea of consulting old timers, and just so everybody knows, I did call a couple. One guy has 4500+ hours, 3000+ of which came from working as a freight dog at Ameriflight. He said he would've handled it the exact same way, and shame on the FAA for screwing a guy for trying to do the right thing by getting a permit. The other guy, the operator of the aircraft who said I made the right call, is a retired freight dog/charter pilot with 9000+ hours. I admit I called these guys after the fact, but they still confirmed my line of reasoning.

To answer a few comments about if the plane is technically airworthy, or if I would've been breaking a reg to fly it, no questions asked...think about this: Brakes are required equipment in the equipment list for airworthiness. Trust me, I checked. No matter if I called the FAA or not, it'd be breaking a reg to take off with it.

What this situation came down to for me was, why am I sticking my neck out on the line? I'm contracted to be a CFI, not a test pilot or mechanic. I just don't see any pressing need to assume the risk. As L4L said, there's always the possibility of an aborted takeoff or other need for high speed braking, which was one of the reasons the FAA guy told me he wouldn't issue a permit.

And of course, as others have mentioned, how would I explain my decisions to an investigator after an incident? "Yeah, uhhmmm...yeah....I didn't think I needed a brake for this one flight, I thought I could handle it." That's a good way to look like a goof in the accident report.

October 12th, 2006, 09:43	#22
jrh Old Skool Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: USA Posts: 1,788	Re: Hypothetical situation: mx issue Well, to add a few more details to the situation: I'm very comfortable handling a plane on one brake. I had no problems during the landing at my home base, after all. I've also taught brake failures to students and had them rollout after landing without touching the brakes just to show them how little distance is actually used. I'm not really worried about taking a routine flight with one brake inop. Those who know me know I'm a practical, get-the-job done, real world pilot, and I'm not a 250-hour newbie CFI from a big name flight academy (not meaning to start any wars with that comment, just saying...). I agree with the idea of consulting old timers, and just so everybody knows, I did call a couple. One guy has 4500+ hours, 3000+ of which came from working as a freight dog at Ameriflight. He said he would've handled it the exact same way, and shame on the FAA for screwing a guy for trying to do the right thing by getting a permit. The other guy, the operator of the aircraft who said I made the right call, is a retired freight dog/charter pilot with 9000+ hours. I admit I called these guys after the fact, but they still confirmed my line of reasoning. To answer a few comments about if the plane is technically airworthy, or if I would've been breaking a reg to fly it, no questions asked...think about this: Brakes are required equipment in the equipment list for airworthiness. Trust me, I checked. No matter if I called the FAA or not, it'd be breaking a reg to take off with it. What this situation came down to for me was, why am I sticking my neck out on the line? I'm contracted to be a CFI, not a test pilot or mechanic. I just don't see any pressing need to assume the risk. As L4L said, there's always the possibility of an aborted takeoff or other need for high speed braking, which was one of the reasons the FAA guy told me he wouldn't issue a permit. And of course, as others have mentioned, how would I explain my decisions to an investigator after an incident? "Yeah, uhhmmm...yeah....I didn't think I needed a brake for this one flight, I thought I could handle it." That's a good way to look like a goof in the accident report.