The accident numbers and NASA reports seem to cluster around particular areas of operation. This fact should serve as a warning sign. If pilots are repeatedly having problems in predictable situations, then whenever you find yourself headed into a similar situation you should know to get ready.
Author: Paul A. Craig
Lost Arts 2 – Diversion to the Alternate
I have been learning to use the new technology and along the way I have discovered a few situations where the old technology is not only still relevant, it's more important that ever. One of these situations is planning to divert to an alternate airport...
Lost Arts 1– FSS Communications.
I told you last summer that I would give the new technology an honest try (Trying not to be an Old Fogey) and I am doing that. Here is what I've learned so far: Some old methods are still necessary even with the new equipment. But I'm afraid some of these methods may become Lost Arts.
Point Of Diversion 5 — In The Dark
Should the title of last week's accident report be, "When you gotta go, ya gotta go." Or, "Always know where the nearest airport is." A pilot who needed to make a restroom stop crash-landed instead of landing at an airport 2 miles away. The pilot was not thinking straight -- but he was dealing with a big distraction.
Point Of Diversion 4 — Landing Diversion
Common sense and calculations were missing when two pilots ran out of fuel in flight and experience off-airport landings. Did you see where the pilots went wrong in last week's POD examples?
Point Of Diversion 3 — Lessons Learned
Bad things can happen when a pilot flies without understanding the complete situation that surrounds them. Last week we learned from three pilots who did not have complete awareness and because of it, each had an accident on takeoff. Let's recap...
Point Of Diversion 2 — Takeoff Diversions
If we can spot where a pilot goes wrong on a flight, will it be easier to recognize the same point during our own flights? Last week we heard from a pilot who got in over his head with weather. He learned. Can we?
The Point of Diversion (POD) – 1
My previous series of articles was written to help pilots stay "ahead" of the airplane, but if you are a pilot I'm confident you have at some time felt "behind" the airplane. I remember my first takeoff in a complex airplane. Between the landing gear retraction, faster speed, manifold pressure adjustments, and propeller control settings, I never looked outside the airplane once. I thought, "I'm glad this flight instructor is in here taking care of everything." I was so far behind the airplane, it felt like I was sitting in the back seat! The real problem is that "behind the airplane" feeling is a sure sign that situation awareness is gone or on its way out.
Trying not to be an “Old-Fogey”
I'm really not trying to be an old-fogey about this, but I guess I can't help myself. My flight school has just purchased 25 brand new airplanes and each one has a fully IFR capable GPS moving map system. The systems are wonderful, and I should be happy that students will have a very hard time ever getting lost again. I should be happy that calculating an in-flight intercept angle on a vectored NDB approach is a thing of the past. I should be excited that holding patterns are now drawn out for us, but I still have to pause and reflect on what we're giving up.
Stay Ahead Of The Airplane — Avoiding The Self Inflicted Wound
Pilots have enough problems in the dynamic flight environment without making things worse on themselves. But sometimes pilots impose unnecessary distractions on themselves that compound and aggravate an already challenging situation.