Minnesota Wing Aircrew Training: Tasks P-2020, P-2023, P-2024

1. Minnesota Wing Aircrew Training: Tasks P-2020, P-2023, P-2024 Weather Effects on Scanning Wake Turbulence High Altitude and Terrain Considerations

2. Weather

3. Weather • The most important aspect of weather is its impact on flight conditions • Safety is paramount • Navigation — Visual verses Instruments • Effects on Search • Prevailing visibility • Search visibility • Search patterns and altitudes • Information — National Weather Service, Flight Service Stations, Pilot Reports

4. Reduced Visibility • Under almost all circumstances, VFR daytime flight requires: • At least three miles visibility • When clouds cover more than one-half the sky, cloud bases must be no lower than 1,000 ft. AGL • Search aircraft must usually remain at least 500 ft. below the cloud deck • There are exceptions: ask your PIC

5. Reduced Visibility • Fog • Haze • Snow • White out • Blowing dust • Affected by sun angle and direction • Aircrew must increase vigilance during these conditions

6. Turbulence Flight Path • Can reduce scanning effectiveness • Increases fatigue • Interferes with scan • Plan flights around high terrain carefully • Wind currents on the downwind side can be very strong • Ridges and peaks should be cleared by at least 2000 feet 2000 ft. Wind

7. Flight Precautions • Each member of the aircrew must be vigilant during all phases of flight • Assign each an area to watch • Characterize visibility in the search area to establish the proper scanning range • May be different than assumed • Visibility conditions or turbulence may increase fatigue

8. QUESTIONS?

9. Wind Shear- Appears as a change in wind direction and/or speed within a very short distance in the atmosphere • Thunderstorms • Fronts - wind shear may advance as far as 15 nm • Air flow around obstacles Windward

10. Wind Shear • Two potentially hazardous situations, dangerous mainly during landing: • Tailwind turns calm or to a headwind • Headwind turns calm or to a tailwind • Pilot must adjust quickly

11. Wake turbulence • Caused by aircraft moving through the air generating lift (proportional to weight) • Settle 500 to 800 feet below the flight path • Drift out slowly (5 mph) on the ground • Takeoff before, land after other aircraft

12. Wake turbulence

13. Weather — ThunderstormsRemain clear of thunderstorm activity by at least20 miles Cumulus Stage Mature Stage Dissipating Stage

14. High Altitude and Terrain Considerations

15. 18,000 ft = 7.5 lbs per sq in 10,000 ft = 10 lbs per sq in Sea Level = 15 lbs per sq in Atmospheric Pressure • A barometer is used to register changes in pressure; measured in inches of mercury • Standard sea-level pressure and temperature: • 29.92 inches of mercury • 59 degrees F (15 degrees C) • A change of 1000 feet in elevation makes a change of about one inch • To correct for local elevation, set altimeter to latest reading (ATIS/AWOS/ASOS/FSS) or enter field elevation

16. Density Altitude • Three factors: • Pressure • Temperature • Humidity • Altitude and pressure combined to determine pressure altitude • Add non-standard temperature to get density altitude • Pilots calculate (next slides) or can get on ASOS • Affects takeoff, climb, true air speed

17. Flight Computer • Circular slide rule • Density altitude • Nautical to statute miles • True airspeed • Other stuff

18. Aircraft Performance • Density altitude and aircraft weight have a tremendous effect on aircraft performance • Both must be accurately calculated, especially for mountain flying missions

19. Pressure vs. Performance • As altitude increases pressure decreases; this decrease can have a pronounced effect on flight: • Engine (hp) and prop are less efficient • Take off distance, climb rate, and landing distance effected • Take off distance almost doubles with a 5000 foot elevation increase • Rate of climb slows with higher elevation • Landing distance increases with higher elevation • Higher Humidity, Heat or Height result in reduced aircraft performance

20. Effects of Density Altitude Takeoff Roll at Sea Level Takeoff Roll at 5,000 ft Density Altitude Climb at LOWER Density Altitude Climb at HIGHER Density Altitude

21. Strategies • Don’t fly at high elevation during the hottest part of the day • Carefully calculate DA and weight • Reduce load: • Less fuel • Crew of three instead of four • Less baggage • Remember “High to Low, Look out Below”(update altimeter setting hourly) • If you fly in the mountains, take the Mountain Fury Course

22. Flight Near Mountainous Terrain

23. Flight Near Mountainous Terrain

24. Flight Near Mountainous Terrain

25. Dehydration • The loss of water through the skin, lungs and kidneys never ceases • Loss increases as the humidity drops with increasing altitude • Symptoms are dryness of the tissues and resulting irritation of the eyes, nose and throat • Minimize intake of coffee, tea, cola or cocoa since they contain caffeine and other chemicals • Strategies • Drink plenty of fluids • Increase air flow (vents and windows) • If the search objective allows, reduce temperature by climbing to higher altitude

26. Effects of Altitude on Crew Member Performance • Ear Block • Congestion around the Eustachian tube makes pressure equalization difficult • Can produce severe pain and a loss of hearing that can last from several hours to several days (can rupture eardrum) • Sinus Block • Sinus congestion makes pressure equalization difficult, particularly during descent • Can produce severe pain • Hypoxia (Lack of oxygen to the brain) • Loss of night vision as low as 5,000 feet • For most people altitudes above 12,000 feet result in a loss of judgment , coordination, memory, and alertness • Normally not a concern for non-mountainous CAP operations (usually below 12,000 MSL) • Body has no built-in warning system against hypoxia

27. Strategies • Ear Block • Yawn, swallow, tense muscles in throat • Valsalva maneuver • Sinus Block • Don’t fly if you’re not well • Medication usually not effective and has side effects • Hypoxia • Avoid smoking, alcohol and depressants • Supplemental oxygen