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.

LANDLAND

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 Respect your limits and capabilitiescapabilities

� Make room for change of planMake room for change of plan

� Weather Weather does notdoes not cause cause accidents, 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