Collision Avoidance Procedures

1. Collision Avoidance Procedures Soaring Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic Rich Carlson

2. Sharing Airspace

4. Regulations • FAR 91.113 (b) • Regardless of … IFR or VFR … all pilots will observe “See and Avoid” procedures • Advisory Circular 90-48C • Pilots role in collision avoidance • AIM Section 4-4-13 (d) • Describes effective scanning techniques

5. See and Avoid • Basic Concept • Look outside and avoid running into other aircraft!

6. See and Avoid • Advantages • Uses Mark I human eyeball • Low regulatory overhead • Limitations • Pilot must recognize hazard and take action

7. Mark I Eyeball Supplement Page 8

8. Problems • Physiological issues • Blind spot • Empty Field Myopia • Physical obstructions • Seat location • Canopy rails • Instruments

9. Visual Scanning • Peripheral vision detects motion • Foveal vision identifies objects • Proper scanning procedures • Use multiple sectors (10 deg) • Stop in each sector for a second or 2 • Focus on distant object

10. Known Hazardous Areas • General areas • Near VOR’s • In and around Class D, C, and B airspace • Near victor airways • Within 5 miles and 3000 ft of an airport

11. Known Hazardous Areas • Glider Specific • Thermals • Start/Finish Gate • Turnpoints • Ridge line • Others

12. Aircraft Markings • Anti-collision markings • A study by the OSTIV TSP found that high visibility color (Safety Orange) reduced the visibility of a glider • Highly reflective ‘mirror’ tape did a much better job

13. Visual Perception • The blocks on the lower left mark the danger area for the speeds quoted, when aircraft are on a collision course. This danger area is based on the recognition and reaction time shown in the table on the lower right. • From AC 90-48C

14. Reaction time in seconds

15. Visual Perception • Move back 12 feet from this illustration. From that position the silhouettes represent a T-33 aircraft as it would appear to you from the distances indicated in the table on the left. The time required to cover these distances is given in seconds for a combined speed of 360 and 600 mph. • From AC 90-48C

17. Is a collision imminent?

27. Position Reporting • Where am I • Where are you • Aids to position reporting • GPS distance/bearing • Altitude • Known ground reference

28. Electronic Aids • Radio’s • Transponders • Operation limitations • Glider only codes

29. Portable Collision Avoidance Boxes PCAS - XRX PCAS - MRX http://www.zaonflight.com/

30. Situational Awareness • What’s happening now • What’s going to happen next • What’s going to happen soon • What’s he going to do

31. 12 Action Items from Jim Short’s “Airspace in the New Century” • Prominent posting of airline arrival/departure routes and expected altitudes • Post NOTAMs for meets and contests • Define local areas that are relatively safe • Voluntarily avoid high risk areas • Increase our personal vigilance at critical altitudes • Consider a Mode C transponder Supplement Page 7

32. Summary • Remember – most mid-airs and near mid-airs occur during the day, in VFR conditions, close to an airport • See and Avoid procedures need to be taught