Again with walking into a prop!

We hammered into our kids to give ALL props of ALL airplanes at ALL times a wide berth. Doesn’t matter if it’s tied down and has a cover over the windshield. At no time ever were they to go near the arc of any prop. The idea was to make it automatic muscle memory and I hope it sticks with them the rest of their lives. I modeled the same behavior. Only exception was preflighting the prop, removing the plug, etc.
 
The trouble of course is that when they are spinning they are nearly invisible. When passengers are unfamiliar they can think it is just fine to walk toward the plane in that direction. Rush's advice and training is the best.
 
The trouble of course is that when they are spinning they are nearly invisible. When passengers are unfamiliar they can think it is just fine to walk toward the plane in that direction. Rush's advice and training is the best.
Correct. Technically it’s not the prop you teach them to avoid; it’s a big empty sphere around the front of the plane. Doesn’t matter what you do or don’t see or hear, you don’t go within that bubble. Ever. For any reason. The ground under that sphere is hot lava, pretty much a semicircle from wingtip to wingtip. You can approach the airplane from outside of that semicircle and from behind the wing. You deplane in reverse: Behind the wing, stay outside the area in front of the plane. All kids and pax should have this drilled into them repeatedly.
 
The trouble of course is that when they are spinning they are nearly invisible. When passengers are unfamiliar they can think it is just fine to walk toward the plane in that direction. Rush's advice and training is the best.

I am actually little surprised that the natural aversion to loud noises is not enough to ward off accidents.
 
I am actually little surprised that the natural aversion to loud noises is not enough to ward off accidents.
You would think. But directionally I guess the ear doesn’t really identify the source well enough (if it’s bouncing off hangar walls and such) and it’s not sudden if it’s been going on a while so the brain doesn’t perceive it as a threat. Maybe also people are used to car engines which don’t have huge invisible meat grinders extending out into space.
 
I am actually little surprised that the natural aversion to loud noises is not enough to ward off accidents.
Noise has very little to do with it. Besides you should be wearing your hearing protection when around a running aircraft.;)

There have been a number of studies done on preventing people from walking into a running helicopter main and tail rotor blades which unfortunately are more frequent than prop incidents. These studies looked at every possible preventative measure but the only one that works consistently is situational awareness. Same applies to running airplane props. As mentioned, when running these blades and props are virtually invisible and unless specific training and other physical measures are taken no one is immune to making this mistake. Same if you look to non-aviation industries and products you'll find similar issues with rotating parts and components. For example, running lawn mowers still get a few body parts every year as well as shop machinery. However, the #1 method to prevent any injury is to simply shutdown the aircraft before anyone moves around.
 
Residential-use cooling fans are required to have a safety mesh around the blades. A "mesh" around an airplane propeller only needs to be substantial enough to mark off the location to be kept clear of. I suspect 4 to 6 stiff wires radiating from the cowl would be sufficient without affecting drag.
 
I read somewhere why they can’t put such protective mesh around jet intakes but I don’t know what effort has been made wrt to props. I can’t picture flying with a big mesh around it like my fan here.
 
they can’t put such protective mesh around jet intakes
The inlet "mesh" would impede and disturb the airflow into the engine and reduce efficiency and performance. Also you would have to heat the mesh to prevent ice formation. Its used on smaller turboshaft engines within the cowling but on pure jet it tends to create more problems than it prevents.

A "mesh" around an airplane propeller only needs to be substantial enough to mark off the location to be kept clear of.
FYI: you'll find any mesh structure short of a similar set up found around air boat props wouldn't last on an aircraft due to various loads and forces. Then there are the aerodynamic issues and vibrations. On the helicopter side applying high-visibility paint schemes to the rotors and lighting the tail rotor help increase situational awareness which could be easily and economically applied to airplanes and their props. However, short of a physical barrier much methods provide limited results. Two of the more effective preventive measures taken to reduce tail blade strikes on the helicopter side is to mark landing areas with designated walkways and danger areas and/or the use of dedicated trained ramp personal that escort all pax to and from aircraft along said walk ways. Unfortunately even these trained ramp people and HLOs are not exempt from running into blades and props. So no method is 100% except aircraft shutdown which isn't always possible.
 
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