Safety Matters

Safety is the main consideration of Southend Flying Club. Below is a selection of recent safety news and matters.

We have an open reporting culture that encourages free and frank safety reports without fear of reprisal except in the case of illegal activity, wilful misconduct or negligence.

We encourage all our staff and members to report safety events or potential risks however insignificant they may consider them at the time, please ensure you are familiar with our safety reporting system.

Southend Flying Club is committed to:
An accident free environment,
Improving towards the highest safety standards,
Complying with all applicable legal requirements, and applicable standards whilst considering best practices.
Providing appropriate resources.

Engine Fire on Start Up

It is that time of year when the cold weather makes starting aircraft harder.
Proper technique improves starting, reduces wear and also the risk of engine intake fires. Important points to note are:

Pumping the throttle increases the risk of fire.
Excessive cranking will destroy the starter and increase the risk of fire.
If you have failed to start after 3 attempts wait 10 minutes before trying again.
Always ask for help if you are unsure.
Cessna C152 are known to be tricky in sub zero temperatures. Follow this link to the POH to revise the correct technique. Also note later revisions also recommend carb heat hot on starting.
Sometimes it is just too cold and you need to give up.

Halton ATZ

Following the infringement of the Halton ATZ by one of our aircraft they would like to remind you to be aware of them and share the following update;

To recap: although we are a non-standard military flying station due to our flying being 99% civilian, we operate (7 days a week, 0900-2000L or SS+15) all year round except three days (Christmas day, boxing day & New Year’s Day).

Since my last email to yourselves, we have had 1 ATZ infringement and a drone incursion directly along one of our runways. The aircraft that infringed at approx. 1500ft AGL flew directly over the runways intersection with what seemed to be blatant disregard for where they were operating and not receiving any form of service from local aerodromes. The aircraft was a small flex-wing whereby they are not required to carry SSR equipment which resulted in the aircraft not being able to be identified. The drone incursion had the drone fly at approx. 300ft AGL directly along our runway during powered and glider operations.

Both of the above situations are examples for yourselves to note for your own airfield safety and awareness. For both situations, if you were speaking with us on Halton radio (130.425MHz) we could be in a situation to firstly warn you of the safety implications to yourself and would allow you to improve your situational awareness whilst providing aircraft already in our ATZ of your location.

Runway incursion

Runway incursions are a risk to all pilots and the results can be very dangerous.

A pilot recently involved in one recognised that it was largely down to distraction at the holding point due to social chatting about non critical matters.

We strongly recommend that you adopt a "sterile cockpit" mindset once at the holding point and brief all crew and passengers that once at the hold, the only conversations should be operational matters or safety concerns.

DON'T CROSS RED STOP BARS!