Content

1. Collision Avoidance

2. Right-of-Way Rules

3. Minimum Safe Altitudes

4. Controlled Flight into Terrain

5. Taxiing in Wind

1. Collision Avoidance

i.?Visual Scanning

• Scan Patterns: A consistant habit of looking outside the cockpit coult avert most mid-air collision

• When scanning for traffic, divide your windshield into 10 degree segments, and then methodically focus on each segment for at least one second

• Start at the far left of the windshield and make a methodical sweep to the right, pausing in each block of your windshield to focus your eyes

• Be sure that the scan pattern you use covers all of the sky that you can see from the cockpit, both horizontally and vertically, with particular emphasis on the area 60 degrees to the left and right of the center visual area and 10 degrees up and down from your flight path

• Scan Limitations:

• Reduced detail in peripheral vision

• Absence of relative motion

• Refocusing time

• Reduced visibility

• Background contrast

• Empty field myopia

ii. Blind Spots

• Aircraft Blind Spots:

• To reduce the possibility of a collision due to blind spots:

• Prior to beginning a turn in a high-wing airplane, lift the wing and look in the direction of the turn to check the area for other aircraft

• During extended climbs or descents, make shallow S-turns and avoid climbing or descending at steep angles

iii. Aircraft Lighting

• Aircraft operated at night must meet specific lighting and equipment requirements:

• Position Lights:?

• Green light on the right wingtip

• Red light on the left wingtip

• White light on tail

• Anticollision Lights

• On whenever the engine is running

• Red or white flashing

• Found on wingtips or tail

• Can be extinguished when they might interfere with safety

• Operation Lights on:

• To increase safety at airports, the FAA has established a voluntary program called Operation Lights On, which encourages you to use your landing lights during departures and approaches, both day and night, especially when operating within 10 miles of an airport or in conditions of reduced visibility

iii. Clearning Turns

• Clearing Turns: Enable you to see areas blocked by blind spots and make it easier to maintain visual contact with other aircraft in the area
  

• To clear the area:

• Perform two 90-degree turns

• Perform one 180-degree turn, followed by an entry to the practice maneuver as soon as possible

2. Right-of-Way Rules

• When another aircraft has the right of way:

• Give way to that aircraft

• Do not pass over, under, or ahead of aircraft unless your flight path is well clear of the other aircraft

• Aircraft in Distress:?

• An aircraft in distress has the right of way over all other aircraft

• Converging Aircraft of the Same Category

• Overtaking

• Approaching Head-On

• Converging

• Converging Aircraft of Different Types

• The least maneuverable aircraft usually has the right of way over all other traffic

• Balloon

• Glider

• Aircraft Refueling

• Airship

• Airplane

• Landing Aircraft

• An aircraft on final approach or landing has the right of way over aircraft in the traffic pattern and on the ground

• When two or more aircraft, each of which are preparing to land, enter the traffic pattern at the same time, the aircraft at the lowest altitude has the right of way
  

3. Minimum Safe Altitudes

• Congested Area

• Fly at least 1,000 feet above any obstacle within 2,000 feet of your aircraft

• Uncongested Area

• Fly at least 500 feet above the surface

• Sparsely Populated Area

• Stay more than 500 feet from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure

• Any Terrain

• The lowest altitude at which you can fly over any terrain is one that permits you to make an emergency landing without posing an undue hazard to persons or property on the surface

4. Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)

• Causes of CFIT Accidents:

• Loss of situational awareness

• Operational and nonoperational cockpit distractions

• Complacency

• Lack of technical or operational experience

• Lack of adequate preparation

• Confusion

• CFIT Risks During Takeoff and Climb

• Causes:

• Incomplete or inadequate review of the departure

• Terrain around the departure airport

• Aircraft performance

• Density altitude

• Turbulence

• Distractions in the cockpit during the departure

• Failure to plan for an unexpected return to the departure airport

• Intervention Strategies:

• Review the departure route, with particular attention to terrain surrounding the airport

• Carefully review aircraft performance limitations at the reported density altitude to ensure that your aircraft can clear terrain safely

• Review weather reports to identify potential areas of turbulence that could affect your flight

• Preset all communication frequencies, navigation frequencies, and course selectors, if needed

• Review what you would do if you had to return to the airport unexpectedly

• CFIT Risks During Cruise

• Causes:

• Misreading or misinterpreting safe altitudes

• Losing situational awareness and becoming disoriented

• Flying into deteriorating weather conditioins, requiring a descent ot maintain VFR below the cloud layer

• Overestimating aircraft performance capabilities

• Unplanned diversion to a different destination, resulting in flight over unfamiliar terrain

• Intervention Strategies:

• Review aeronautical charts to determine the maximum elevation of terrain and obstructions for the proposed flight

• Maintain situational awareness by monitoring the charted terrain depiction

• Immediately make 180-degree return to VFR conditions

• When flying in mountainous terrain, plan carefully with regard to the climb capability of your aircraft in the applicable density altitude, and be aware of strong winds and turbulence that could affect your maneuverability

• Devise an "escape route" in the event that you cannot complete your flight as planned

• CFIT Risks During Descent, Approach, and Landing

• Causes:

1. Improperly planning the descent and approach

2. Responding to distractions in the cockpit?

3. Neglecting to plan for a go-around

• Intervention Strategies:

• Review the terrain features near the airport and plan a safe descent and approach using appropriate approach speeds and rates of descent

• Prior to beginning your approach, preset communication and navigation frequencies. Early in your approach, establish the aircraft configuration, including airspeed and gear and flap positions

• Review what to do in the event of a go-aounrd

5. Taxiing in Wind

i. Taxiing a Tricycle-Gear Aircraft in the Wind

• Left Quartering Headwind

• Up aileron on left wing

• Neutral elevator

• Left Quartering Tailwind

• Down aileron on left wing

• Down elevator

• Right Quatering Headwind

• Up aileron on right wing

• Neutral elevator

• Right Quatering Tailwind

• Down aileron on right wing

• Down elevator

ii. Taxiing a Tailwheel Aircraft in the Wind

• Position the ailerons the same as you do for a tricycle-gear aircraft

• In a tailwind, hole the elevator control forward (elevator down)?

• In a headwind, hold the elevator control aft (elevator up) to help keep the tailwheel on the ground