Brigitte OuelletBrigitte OuelletSystem SafetySystem Safety
Low Level FlyingLow Level Flying
Transport Canada Transports CanadaQuebec Region Région du Québec
Civil Aviation Aviation civile
ContentContent
Recency training requirementsRecency training requirements
Altitudes and minimum distancesAltitudes and minimum distances
BirdstrikesBirdstrikes
Illusions and disorientationIllusions and disorientation
VFR flights in adverse weather VFR flights in adverse weather conditionsconditions
safety seminar given by Transport safety seminar given by Transport Canada AviationCanada Aviation
questionnaire published in Aviation questionnaire published in Aviation Safety NewsletterSafety Newsletter
obtaining a rating, a permit or a licenseobtaining a rating, a permit or a license
RecencyRecencyRequirementsRequirements
Altitudes and Altitudes and Minimum Distances Minimum Distances
Where Am I ?
2 000' or less2 000' or less
500' or less500' or less
Over a Built-Up AreaOver a Built-Up Area
WhatWhat
500’500’ 2 000’2 000’
1 000'1 000'
to do ?to do ?
less thanless than500’ AGL500’ AGL
Did you know...Did you know...
Only Only knownknown objects extending 300 feet objects extending 300 feet or more will be depicted on VFR chart.or more will be depicted on VFR chart.
Alert TC if there are such objects not Alert TC if there are such objects not depicted on VFR chart.depicted on VFR chart.
Make sure you will not enter anMake sure you will not enter anMF or ATF Zone.MF or ATF Zone.
BirdstrikesBirdstrikes
E = MVE = MV22
E = M V2
M
E = V2
V2
E =
=E
To minimize the risksTo minimize the risks
NOTAM et ATISNOTAM et ATIS
Strobe lights and landing lightsStrobe lights and landing lights
Windshield heatingWindshield heating
Avoid low level flyingAvoid low level flying
Report bird activity and birdstrikesReport bird activity and birdstrikes
1-888-282-2473 or1-888-282-2473 or
http://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/wildlife.htmhttp://www.tc.gc.ca/aviation/wildlife.htm
Illusions andIllusions anddisorientationdisorientation
Vestibular apparatus and Vestibular apparatus and loss of visual referencesloss of visual references
Runway length and width Runway length and width
Runway and terrainRunway and terrainon a slopeon a slope
Down slopeDown slope
Perceived heightabove the runwayActual height above
the runway
Illusion Result
Too low approachtoo high
Runway and terrainRunway and terrainon a slopeon a slope
Up slopeUp slope
Perceived heightabove the runwayActual height above
the runway
Illusion Result
Too high approachtoo low
What else ?What else ?
Black Hole “effect”Black Hole “effect”WhenWhen : : At nightAt night
IllusionIllusion : : Too highToo high
ResultResult : : Approach too lowApproach too low
How to fight illusionsHow to fight illusions
Planning and pre-landing checksPlanning and pre-landing checks
Verify runway length, width and slopeVerify runway length, width and slope
Know the field elevationKnow the field elevation
Do not “cut corners” on the approachDo not “cut corners” on the approach
Prop pitch and power settingsProp pitch and power settings
DisorientationDisorientation
Contributory FactorsContributory Factors– StressStress– Health conditionHealth condition– Alcoholic drinkAlcoholic drink– DrugsDrugs– Sky obscured by fog or cloudsSky obscured by fog or clouds
Vestibular ApparatusVestibular Apparatus
Opposite turn illusionOpposite turn illusion Coriolis illusionCoriolis illusion
Lateral Canal
Posterior Canal
Anterior Canal
Semi-circular canalsSemi-circular canals
Cupula
Filaments ofhair cells
Endolymphfluid
No turnsNo turns
What happens ?What happens ?
What happens ?What happens ?
AcceleratingAcceleratingturnturn
LiquidLiquid
What happens ?What happens ?
ProlongedProlongedconstant turnconstant turn
What happens ?What happens ?
LiquidLiquid
DeceleratingDeceleratingturnturn
Opposite Turning Illusion Opposite Turning Illusion
When will it happen ?When will it happen ?
– Coming out of a turn or a spinComing out of a turn or a spin– Loss of visual reference pointsLoss of visual reference points– Brain is sending/receiving erroneous Brain is sending/receiving erroneous
informationinformation
Coriolis IllusionCoriolis Illusion
When will it happen ?When will it happen ?
– Coming out of a turn or a spinComing out of a turn or a spin– Loss of visual reference pointsLoss of visual reference points– When leaning or raising your headWhen leaning or raising your head– Brain is sending/receiving erroneous Brain is sending/receiving erroneous
messagesmessages
To reduce the risksTo reduce the risks
Fly healthyFly healthy
Learn to recognize the situations leading to Learn to recognize the situations leading to disorientationdisorientation
Recognize when you are a victim of Recognize when you are a victim of disorientationdisorientation
Learn to control disorientationLearn to control disorientation
Trust your flight instrumentsTrust your flight instruments
VFR flight in adverse VFR flight in adverse weather conditionsweather conditions
TSB RecommendationTSB Recommendation
The Department of Transport The Department of Transport evaluate the adequacy of the margin evaluate the adequacy of the margin of safety afforded by current VFR of safety afforded by current VFR and SVFR regulations.and SVFR regulations.
TSB A96-10TSB A96-10
CFITCFIT
What is Controlled Flight into Terrain?What is Controlled Flight into Terrain?
When the aircraft collide with an When the aircraft collide with an obstacle before the pilot can react obstacle before the pilot can react and avoid it.and avoid it.
Safety of VFR FlightSafety of VFR Flight
Human factors assessment related to flyingHuman factors assessment related to flying
Aircraft performance Aircraft performance obstacle avoidance obstacle avoidance manoeuvresmanoeuvres
Understanding the process leading to CFITUnderstanding the process leading to CFIT– identify unsafe act(s) and conditionsidentify unsafe act(s) and conditions– determine error type (slip, lapse, mistake)determine error type (slip, lapse, mistake)
VFR flight into IMCVFR flight into IMC
49 accidents (largest group)49 accidents (largest group)
Inexperienced pilotsInexperienced pilots
Weather worst than forecastWeather worst than forecast
Happened while a/c was turning aroundHappened while a/c was turning around
Failed to delay or landFailed to delay or land
ViolationsViolations
22 accidents - 36 lives22 accidents - 36 lives
knowingly flew into below minima knowingly flew into below minima weatherweather
for most of the pilots, was common for most of the pilots, was common practicepractice
AnalysisAnalysis
Almost no one crashed « legally »Almost no one crashed « legally » Relatively few « willful violations »Relatively few « willful violations » Perceptual issue :Perceptual issue :
What does 2 miles look like ?What does 2 miles look like ? Decision difficulty - selection of actionDecision difficulty - selection of action Use available resourcesUse available resources
Human PerformanceHuman Performance
NavigationNavigation get lostget lost
Control of the aircraftControl of the aircraft Loss of controlLoss of control
Obstacle avoidanceObstacle avoidance CFITCFIT
NavigationNavigation
How does it workHow does it work– mental model mental model map or knowledge map or knowledge
Decrease in visibility !!!....Decrease in visibility !!!....– do not recognize landmarkdo not recognize landmark
LOSTLOST– misidentify landmarkmisidentify landmark
do NOT KNOW that we are LOSTdo NOT KNOW that we are LOST
Control of the aircraftControl of the aircraft
How does it work ?How does it work ?– attitude, altitude and heading attitude, altitude and heading horizon or horizon or
landmarkslandmarks
Decrease in visibility !!!....Decrease in visibility !!!....– disorientationdisorientation
At nightAt night
To Prevent CFITTo Prevent CFIT
Detect the obstacle Detect the obstacle identify hazard identify hazard
Select and implement evasive actionSelect and implement evasive action
TIME (critical eTIME (critical elementlement))– identify the obstacle as a hazardidentify the obstacle as a hazard– select the appropriate actionselect the appropriate action– make control inputsmake control inputs– aircraft response timeaircraft response time
Decrease in visibility !!!...Decrease in visibility !!!...
– decrease in capability to evaluate distancedecrease in capability to evaluate distance– need more time for decision makingneed more time for decision making
CountermeasuresCountermeasures
Acquire bad weather flying techniquesAcquire bad weather flying techniques Learn to turn back / alternate plansLearn to turn back / alternate plans Overcome normal human decision making Overcome normal human decision making
tendencies « traps »tendencies « traps » Better weather interpretation and weather Better weather interpretation and weather
related decision making skillsrelated decision making skills Make PIREPSMake PIREPS Use available livewareUse available liveware
Aircraft PerformancesAircraft Performances
How much airspeed will you lose if you slam your How much airspeed will you lose if you slam your aircraft into a 45aircraft into a 45o o bank turn ?bank turn ?
How much space will you need to do a 180How much space will you need to do a 180o o turn ?turn ?
How much more space will you need with a 20 knot How much more space will you need with a 20 knot wind behind you half way round the turn ?wind behind you half way round the turn ?
If you have to pull up quickly straight ahead, what If you have to pull up quickly straight ahead, what airspeed will you have after 300 feet of climb ?airspeed will you have after 300 feet of climb ?
Put the odds on your sidePut the odds on your side
Have a current VFR map of the areaHave a current VFR map of the areayou plan to fly over.you plan to fly over.
Do not rely only on your GPS.Do not rely only on your GPS.
Beware of power lines.Beware of power lines.
Get a complete weather briefing prior to the Get a complete weather briefing prior to the flight.flight.
LANDLANDLANDLAND
1 000 ASL1 000 ASL
1 300 ASL1 300 ASL
1 400 ASL1 400 ASL
300 AGL300 AGL
Portland 1251Z OVC005 3SM FG
St-Hubert1200Z VFR
Sherbrooke (20nm N)1100Z SCT007 OVC0126SM -DZFG
Radar PlotsFlew around the thunderstorm cells
Portland (forecast)OVC020 2SM FG ... SCT 020 OVC100 5SM
REVIEWREVIEW
Respect your limits and capabilitiesRespect your limits and capabilities
Make room for change of planMake room for change of plan
Weather Weather does notdoes not cause accidents, cause accidents, WE DOWE DO
Regulations may well have protected Regulations may well have protected these people, had they been observedthese people, had they been observed