Signonsandiego.com reports that Dick Rutan made a successful emergency landing in a C-150 on Tuesday morning. Reasons for the forced landing are unclear. The Sign quotes Rutan as saying a cylinder blew while San Bernardino's The Sun suggests an oil leak.

Mr. Rutan is envied and admired by pilots around the world for his flying adventures such as circumnavigating the globe in the Voyager, and for flying as a Misty FAC in Vietnam.

With all his experience, it's no surprise that he was able to handle this problem in a little C-150. It's worth noting though, that the skills he used to land safely on Tuesday are very basic ones taught to every student pilot out there. However, it's easy for pilots to get lazy, cut corners and ignore this possibility. That's what makes the difference between the experts like Mr. Rutan and the individuals who end up as NTSB statistics.

My question is this: What strategies do you use to make sure you are ready to deal with an engine failure when you're flying single engine? (Or, what do you teach to students or what have you been taught?)

To follow up that question: Ballistic recovery parachutes have saved many lives and are becoming increasingly common on new aircraft from LSAs to VLJs. Are they a good thing though? Do they lead pilots to abandon safe flying procedures and good judgment? Let's hear what you have to say!