T&T: Equipment Failures

[Mike Maurice]

There are 2 kinds of equipment, those that have failed and those that 
will. Of course, you knew this, right?

But, have you thought out the consequences of such failures in your own 
operation. The more dependent we become upon our high tech toys, the 
more their potential to fail becomes suppressed in our minds. The result 
is that sometimes the failure won't be noticed until an accident has 
happened.

After you have been bit by one of these infrequent failures you will 
have a "wholnew" attitude about equipment failure. One of the reasons I 
have such a paranoid attitude about this sort of issue is that I 
experience such failures frequently and I stay out of trouble by 
planning for them. Otherwise, I would be dead.

GPS, autopilots and radars are critical equipment, and are prone to 
failures and erroneous behavior. There is no substitute for knowing your 
equipment, inside and out. Don't rely solely upon any one piece of 
equipment or technology. Verify what your equipment is telling you with 
your eyes, don't assume that things are alright, check and double check.

There is no substitute for alertness.

Regards,
Mike

+++++++++++++++
Capt. Mike Maurice
Beaverton Oregon(near Portland).