<div dir="ltr">Hello MN Wing Pilots,<div><br></div><div>Unfortunately we have experienced a tail strike incident in Minnesota this spring. This type of incident is becoming too common, up to number two behind flat spotted tires. We have looked at several possible solutions to help avoid these type incidents in the future. One option would be to install skid plates on the tails of the airplanes as some flight schools have done. This option has been removed since NHQ, the owner of the airplanes, must approve ANY modification to the planes . At the present time they have not approved this type of modification.</div><div>So we will have to be more diligent and proficient at our flight skills to prevent tail strikes in the future.</div><div>To be more proactive and have some better guidance on helping to alleviate this problem I have come up with the "new approach criteria" that should be followed to help in remedying this problem. </div><div>This guidance has previously been sent out to all of the wing instructors, so they have had time to review it and be ready to implement this new guidance.</div><div>Please review the following new guidance, and as we enter the busy summer flying season, be aware that instructors should be more proactive to help avoid tail strikes, practice good stabilized approach standards, and work on gaining more flight proficient (especially in short and soft field takeoffs and landings as well as go arounds) </div><div>I thank you for your attention to this safety related issue and your help in preventing future incidents.</div><div><br></div><div><img src="cid:ii_lgkt6f3y0" alt="image.png" width="177" height="42" style="margin-right:0px"><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Capt. Greg Bestul, CAP</span></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">DOV, MN Wing </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">612.251.4786</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a href="mailto:gbestul@gmail.com" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">gbestul@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:14pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(4,66,122)">U.S. Air Force Auxiliary</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:14pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">GoCivilAirPatrol.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:22pt;line-height:107%">New Approach Criteria</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">1.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">     </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">“55 stay alive” – any approach in
either C172 or C182 where the airspeed falls below 55 knots, before flare,
becomes criteria for a mandatory go-around. 
Slow speed approaches are one of the leading causes of bad landings</span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">2.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">     
</span></span><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Unstable approaches should result in a go around (on final with
an improper speed, glide path, bank angle, or  power setting)</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"></span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:11.75pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">3.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">     </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">If the pitch attitude in the flare
becomes excessive a go around should be executed.</span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%"> </span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">4.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">     </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">Instructors <u>will</u> have their
hands on the yoke following through with the students on ALL takeoffs and
landings. This will enable quick reaction by the instructor to take off’s or
landings that are moving into an undesired state.</span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%"> </span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">5.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">     </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">Instructors will brief all students
on control of the airplane. This should include the statement that if the
instructor senses that the aircraft is moving to an undesired state, they will
state “I have the flight controls” at which time the instructor will fly the
aircraft and  the student should
relinquish control of the aircraft and state “you have the flight controls”</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%"><br></span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">6.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">     </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">Instructors must be decisive on
intervention, not letting the aircraft get so far into an undesired state that
an unsatisfactory outcome arises (i.e. damage to the airplane)</span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%"> </span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.5in;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">7.<span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">     </span></span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%">Go arounds should be practiced on a
regular basis. They should also be practiced from different points in the
landing pattern, from base turn thru flare. Students should be comfortable with
executing a go around from any point in the flight.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt 0.25in;text-align:center;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:16pt;line-height:107%">The key to good landings is a stabilized
approach!</span></p></div></div>