Yesterday I stopped by Sewanee-Franklin County (UOS- University of the South) airport to look at a tan Cessna 172 I’d seen on final. I was leaning against the fence (doing my duty to keep it from falling over) when the pilot of the Skyhawk started. From 2 wing spans or so away, I heard….nothing, just the engine and the whir of the prop. No “Clear!”, zilch, nada.

I’ve seen this many times at the fly-in breakfast at nearby Winchester Municipal (BGF- BoilinG Fork, a nearby creek). There, on the first Saturday of every month, EAA Chapter 699 hosts a wonderful pancake breakfast (cooked by the Franklin County High School band supporters, I believe). Many types of airplanes are flown in: beautiful homebuilts and antiques, more conventional LSA’s and factory-built jobs (like the 182) and the occasional warbird. Here, too, you first learn of an impending airplane start by…. it starting! Either no “Clear!” or the almost as useless, “Clear” said just as the starter is engaged. This is not a 100% failure by any means, but even 20% (heck, 5%) of airplanes being started this way around non-flyers and children is unacceptable. Too many pilots forget that they are in control of a vertical, unshielded bush-hog, often around people who are unfamiliar with the danger. I’ve never heard the sound of a propellor striking flesh and bone, but I fear that sound would haunt me to the end of my days.

I know that to many of you, I’m “preaching to the choir” and perhaps you’ll be offended, but maybe some will speak up to the next pilot who fails in this most basic of airmanship. -Use the pre-start checklist, open the window or door to shout “Clear!” or “Clear prop!” at the top of your lungs (after warning non-pilot passengers), take a couple of seconds to look all around for people, pets or someone frantically waving of danger, and only then hit the starter.

Our ramps will be much safer places if all pilots did it this way, always, even when “no one’s” around.

Safe, enjoyable flying!

Bill Kershner

Sewanee, Tennessee