The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) today opened consultation on a proposed new advisory circular (AC) covering stall and spin training.
Plans for the AC have come after a series of accidents over the past 10 years in which aircraft have crashed during apparent stall/spin training, highlighted most recently through the crash of a Diamond DA40 in Queensland in September 2017.
"The induction of spins in aircraft not certified for spinning has been occurring in the flying training context," CASA states in its introduction. "It is possible this is due to the confounding of the definitions of the words 'wing drop' and 'incipient spin' in training and practice and has resulted in loss of control in the air (LOC-I) incidents and fatalities.
"It is possible that instructors may be conducting training beyond the limits of their aircraft to meet training needs without proper consideration of potential outcomes.
"This AC provides information and guidance regarding the conduct of advanced stalling exercises; in particular, stalls with a wing drop. Definitions of wing drop at the stall and spin at the incipient stage are clarified, certification standards providing margins of safety in specific modes of flight are discussed, and methods of training and practice are provided."
The final version of the AC is expected to cover the phases, recovery and avoidance of stalls and spins as well as definitions and certification requirements for stall and spin training.
The draft AC is on the CASA consultation hub, with feedback open until 27 January 2020.