1. Civil Air Patrol – California Wing Weather Mission Scanner Course
Chapter 6
Version 1.3 (22 February 2014)

2. Objectives
Discuss how reduced visibility affects search operations, and precautions for flight during reduced visibility conditions
Describe how turbulence can affect search operations

3. Aircrew Tasks P-2023 Discuss How Reduced Visibility and Turbulence Effect Search Operations

4. Weather
The most important aspect of weather is its impact on flight conditions
Safety is paramount and not OPTIONAL!
Effects on Search
Prevailing visibility
Search visibility
Search patterns and altitudes
Details in the Mission Observer ground school
6.4
Objective 6.8 – Discuss how reduced visibility affects search operations, and precautions for flight during reduced visibility conditions.
A high percentage of general aviation accidents have weather as a primary or contributing factor. When a small aircraft is down, CAP may be called on to search in less than ideal weather conditions.
Safety is paramount! Weather will determine whether it's safe to fly search missions or not.
Navigation - weather will have an impact on the ability to reach the search area, perform an effective search and return to base.
Effect on search - Weather will help determine the starting point for a search (areas of thunderstorms, frontal activity, icing, etc.). Visibility has a direct bearing on ability to successfully fly mission. Poor visibility will impede aircrew ability to locate target.
Patterns - Weather has an impact on the type of search pattern flown. If low clouds exist in the search area, electronic searches may not be very effective. Keep in mind the weather in the search area as well as at the recovery base. Don't allow yourself to become trapped by the weather. Search visibility may be much worse than overall prevailing visibility reported by weather stations

5. Low sun and cloud shadows
Reduced Visibility
Fog
Rain
Haze
Snow
White out
Blowing dust
Affected by sun angle and direction
Fog is comprised of water droplets suspended in the air. Expect fog anytime the temperature and dew point are within 2°F of each other in weather observations. Fog can severely reduce visibility and therefore constitute a serious hazard to aircraft.
Snow is another form of precipitation that presents unique problems. A whiteout is an optical phenomena that can occur with snow covered ground, and a low level cloud deck in certain low light conditions. As sunlight is diffused through the clouds, it reflects off the snow in various directions. The net result is the loss of any reference to horizon and lack of depth perception.
Low sun and cloud shadows

6. Turbulence Can reduce scanning effectiveness
Increases fatigue
Interferes with scan
Plan flights around high terrain carefully
Wind on downwind side can be very strong
Clear ridges and peaks by 2000 feet
6.5
Objective 6.9 – Discuss how turbulence can affect search operations.

7. Flight Precautions
Each member of the aircrew must be vigilant during all phases of flight
Assign each an area to watch
Don’t forget to “check six” – conditions can sneak up!
Characterize visibility in the search area to establish the proper scanning range
May be different than assumed
Visibility conditions or turbulence may increase fatigue. Take care of yourself and your crew!

8. Obstacles and Other Dangers
TALL TOWER
Guy wires may extend outward over 1,000 ft.
How many can you count in this picture?

9. Obstacles and Other Dangers
GUY WIRES
Guy wires may extend outward over 1,000 ft.

10. Obstacles and Other Dangers
POWER LINES

11. Obstacles and Other Dangers
LOW-FLYING or HEAVY AIRCRAFT

12. QUESTIONS?