Sir - The current dispute between commercial single-engined-aircraft suppliers and the UK Civil Aviation Authority would appear to be driven by profit and safety, respectively.
Before offering support in either direction, the industry should have at its disposal information on the number of in-flight shutdowns of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine worldwide since its inception.
The whole point of the base check, line check and I/R [instrument rating] renewal revolves around losing an engine at some point and continuing the flight in a safe manner. We might just as well abandon this exercise if single-engined instrument-flight-rules operations are allowed. There is no doubt that such a move would increase profits for multi-engined-aircraft operators, but at what cost to the safety record?
The CAA has contributed towards the UK having an enviable safety record and it cannot be blamed for wanting to maintain this - at any cost.
The Cessna Grand Caravan, like my Cessna 172, is a wonderful machine, but I am aware constantly that, if I lose an engine in the business jet which I fly, we go up.
If I lose an engine in the 172, however….
M Bond
Manchester, UK
Source: Flight International
