Monthly Training MARCH 2009

1. Monthly Training MARCH 2009

2. Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC) What is IIMC? Inadvertent IMC is a situation where deteriorating weather prevents you from flying under visual meteorological conditions.

3. What is IIMC? Inadvertent IMC is an EMERGENCY Unplanned Unexpected Seat Sucking Emergency

4. Inadvertent Instrument MeteorologicalConditions (IIMC)

5. How do you get into it? Don’t plan Forget to plan Change/Ignore the plan enroute Ignore advice Ignore the warning signs Mentally freeze/panic Fail to commit Inadvertent Instrument MeteorologicalConditions (IIMC)

6. How do you get into it? (cont) Don’t plan Flight planning Don’t do route planning/familiarization Don’t plan for alternate airports along route Don’t communicate and check weather enroute Don’t plan bingo fuel levels / turn around points Don’t bring IFR pubs on board, so what if you are only a VFR pilot

7. How do you get into it? (cont) Forget to plan Didn’t prep map Didn’t note terrain elevations along route Didn’t prepare a communications plan / radio set up Didn’t plan for deteriorating weather Didn’t plan for “What will I do if I punch in?” What altitude will I climb to along the route? What’s the guard frequency? What’s the emergency transponder setting?

8. How do you get into it? (cont) Change the plan enroute You had a plan to land elsewhere if you encounter bad weather but decide to push on and check it out You made your bingo fuel mark and its not to bad, so you push on

9. How do you get into it? (cont) Ignore advice Before departing FSS states “VFR NOT RECOMMENDED” Enroute ATC states the wx ahead of you is deteriorating and tower reports ceiling to the surface “VFR NOT RECOMMENDED” Flight Watch reports the same and “VFR NOT RECOMMENDED”

10. How do you get into it? (cont) Ignore the warning signs Ceiling getting lower Scud running Visibility becoming restricted Precipitation beginning to hit the windshield Fog beginning to form You have left your planned altitude for lower You have slowed your airspeed Your gut is telling you

11. How do you get into it? (cont) Mentally freeze/panic You heard the warnings, see the signs, your gut is talking to you and you have a bailout plan, but… I can see farther than they say I can. I’ll just continue on, it will get better. I’ll just get lower and slower instead of landing or turning around. I can’t see well to the sides I’m not sure its safe to turn! Not in a position to check your map now are you! I can’t go IFR I’m not certified.

12. How do you get into it? (cont) Fail to commit Make a decision to turn around or divert and land at an airport with better weather or since we are talking helicopters, in a field. Commit to continue living this day!

13. How do you stay out of it? Get a good forecast – departure , enroute, arrival Avoid flight in MVFR Heed the warnings of the briefers Check weather ahead of you enroute ATC, Flight Watch (122.0, 6 am – 10 pm local, 5000 & below, but try them lower anyway) Recognize signs Deteriorating wx, obscured hills, fog, precipitation, decent below planned altitude (FAR 91.119 flight over uncongested area 500’ from people, vehicles, vessels and structures)

14. How do you stay out of it? (cont) Don’t presume you know more than the guys on radar and at your destination. They do this job everyday. But, yes they can be conservative. Get over yourself (self imposed stresses) Get there Itis Your flight hours Your ego, your stubbornness It’s really not a competition

15. How do you stay out of it? (cont) Assesse the situation and if the signs back up the warnings then make your decision to turn around or land. Do it before it’s to late.

16. What to do if you go IIMC To prepare for IIMC, you must first make the conscious decision that continued flight under VMC is no longer possible, and then decide to either turn around, land immediately (if possible), or request an IFR clearance in-flight. Don’t try to fly down to the ground when you encounter IIMC. Let me emphasize something: the moment you “punch in,” the ground is no longer your friend!

17. What to do if you go IIMC (cont) Upon encountering IMC, the most important consideration is aircraft control, FLY THE AIRCRAFT. Altitude Indicator – level aircraft Heading Indicator – maintain constant heading, turn only to avoid know obsticles Torque Meter – adjust to climb power Airspeed – establish climb airspeed     

18. What to do if you go IIMC (cont) Climb to appropriate (pre-planned) altitude or as assigned by ATC. Initiate procedures only after transition to the instruments is complete, aircraft is under adequate control, and climb is established. Turn only to avoid known obstacles. Immediate action will then be: Set transponder to Code 7700 and contact Approach Control (or controlling agency) on appropriate frequency or 121.5/243.0.

19. Training Opportunity AOPA Air Safety Foundation Course Accident Case Study VFR Into IMC

21. Questions