NASAO, the National Association of State Aviation Officials and AOPA Foundation Inc. presents, The Flight Decision. Produced by Film Originals in 1955. Technical Director, Chet Moulten.
This 1950s era, color film follows two pilots through their flight decision process relative to instrument flight vs. visual flight rules. The film examines why a pilot might make a poor decision while another makes a good decision, with laziness and overconfidence pointed to key factors in making a misjudgment. At the time, the film indicates that 85% of fatal accidents were due to pilot error. Current statistics indicate approximately 80 percent of airplane accidents are due to human error (pilots, air traffic controllers, mechanics, etc.) and 20 percent are due to machine (equipment) failures.
The film opens with a small private aircraft flying overhead, a Piper Cub with skis affixed 1:25. Man draws an airplane and a man on a blackboard. He illustrates that 5% of fatal accidents can be traced to the factory or equipment of an airplane 2:04. The man draws a pilot – pilots are responsible for 85% of total fatal airplane accidents 2:33. A man walks away from his Piper Cub 3:00. A pilot enters his car 3:20. A pilot lights a cigarette and speaks confidently about his flying prowess 3:34. Two men approach a plane and talk about doing stunts 3:56. A woman pilot sits in the cockpit 4:40. A VFR pilot walks from his plane 5:00. A pilot is indecisive as he lands his plane 5:20. Man and woman sit in a bar and order drinks 5:40. Pilot leaves his car and enters the hangar after having drinks and he takes off in poor weather 6:21. Piper J-3 Cub is covered in snow 6:30. Men dig out the airplane from the snowbank 6:48. Plane takes off with skis over the snow 7:05. Clouds roll in 7:30. Man tracks a route on a map 7:38. Aviation Forecast book is consulted 8:03. Pilot number one takes off in questionable weather in his Beechcraft Bonanza 8:25. Pilot number two plans a flight to Kentucky 8:47. Pilot number one encounters rain squalls 9:22. The Weather Bureau reports that a squall line is building across the area and visibility is becoming restricted 9:45. Communications directors contact the pilots 10:00. Pilot is approaching whether that is below VFR regulations and he is not instrument rated 10:11. The clouds darken 10:21. Pilot number two sees a hole through the clouds and tries to go over the top of the clouds 10:34. Squalls are developing to the right of pilot number one 11:00. Pilot number one is not instrument rated and decides to land his plane 11:32. Communications experts mark weather patterns on a map 12:00. A squall line is marked on the map 12:14. Holes in the clouds disappear rapidly 12:30. Pilot number one lands in Louisville and squeezes and ahead of the storm 12:49. Pilot number two is on top of the storm 13:10. He is looking for a hole to go down through 13:20. Pilot number two makes his decision to go down through a hole and picks up ice on his windshield – a dangerous situation 13:52. Pilot number two is in danger as he is not instrument rated. Dark clouds loom on the horizon. A plane is safely on the ground. The End. Aviation Safety Film.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
