Teaching and Testing CFIT Avoidance 2012/5/ (E)

What is “CFIT”? What Flight Environments are Most Common? How Do We Train/Test to Avoid? The Objectives

A Classic CFIT?

Pilot Certification

Aircraft Type

Phase of Flight

Six Basic Causes Loss of Situational Awareness Cockpit Distractions Complacency Lack of Technical or Operational Experience Lack of Adequate Preparation Confusion

Human Factors

“We need to educate pilots that violations during conditions conducive to CFIT risk are major contributors to death!”

“Controlled” ? Terrain Not seen, or Performance Not Available

Terrain Not Seen?

What Are Some Environmental Factors That Would Make Terrain “Unseen”? What about: Night; Visibility; Obscurations; Others?

What Factors Other Than Environmental Could Make Terrain “Unseen”? Spatial Disorientation Loss of situational awareness Reduced reaction time to see & avoid Optical illusions Getting lost or off flight planned route Head down in the cockpit Scud running Distractions

What Factors Exist When Flying IFR / IMC? Currency / Proficiency Current charts / plates / GPS database Knowing when to say “Unable” Knowing how & when to use equipment Following MAP procedures Knowing MSA & OROCAs Improperly set altimeter Unstable approach Complacency

Equipment

How Do We Train/Test For CFIT Avoidance When Terrain is “Unseen”?

19 Weather Channel Weather Channel ADDS Winds, 72 Hrs TAFs 24 Hrs METAR 1 Hr Past Prog Hrs

What Are Some Environmental Factors That Would Make Performance Unavailable? What About: Density Altitude; Horsepower; Ice; Mountain Wave; Ridge Lee Side Sink

What Factors other than Environmental Would Make Performance Unavailable? Mechanical Lack of Pilot Skills Failure to fly within Operating Limitations Distraction / diversion of attention Buzzing

How Do We Train/Test For CFIT Avoidance When Performance Not Available?

23 Consider: An Easy 2 Hr Flt From Chinle (E91) to Henderson (HND) Las Vegas Diverted to Winslow

24 Then Throw in Weather MSTEvent 1400Departed Chinle, AZ (E91), Monday, Dec Enroute Between Layers; Diverts to Winslow (INW) INW; Decides To RON; Spouse to Drive out (~5 Hrs) ~1615Pilot Decides to Go South Around Wx ~1645Returned to INW & Preflighted 1715Departed INW 1724Sunset; Twilight Ends 1754 ~1830Crash; 1+15 In The Air; 20 min Straight Line

25 Then Plan B - Also 2 Hr - And Throw In Night VFR into IMC

26 A Timeline to Disaster MSTEvent 1400Departed Chinle, AZ (E91) 1445Enroute Between Layers; Diverts to Winslow (INW) INW; Decides To RON; Spouse to Drive out (~5 Hrs) ~1615Pilot Decides to Go South Around Wx ~1645Returned to INW & Preflighted 1715Departed INW 1724Sunset; Twilight Ends 1754 ~1830Crash; 1+15 In The Air; 20 min Straight Line

Discuss This CFIT Accident: In What Ways is It Common to Other CFITs? In What Ways is It Unique?

Total Risk Increases as Square of Factors Involved  Mountains = risk level 1  Mountains + Weather = risk level 4  Mountains + WX + Night = risk level 9  Mountains + WX + Night + External Pressure = risk level  Mts. + WX + Night + EP + Unfamiliar route = Risk Level 25 28

How Do YOU Train/Test to Avoid CFIT? PreFlight Preparation especially WX Terrain to Be Overflown Mountain Area Wind Effects Other?

Summary: CFIT Comes in Two Main Categories: 1. Can’t See to Avoid 2. Can’t Perform to Avoid Pilot Discipline CAN Help to Avoid CFIT Accidents!

Thanks to: Gold Seal Flight Written by: Bill Castlen, Hobie Tomlinson, Doug Stewart