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Flight Safety. Flight Safety. An understanding of the causes of actual and potential accidents and incidents will most likely improve a pilot’s ability to operate safely.
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Flight Safety • An understanding of the causes of actual and potential accidents and incidents will most likely improve a pilot’s ability to operate safely. • Better training methods and a focus on continuing education of glider pilots will have a positive effect on reducing accidents and incidents
Flight Safety • Incorrect WEIGHT AND BALANCE has been highlighted as a particular problem affecting flight safety. • Pilots need better awareness of the importance of getting the weight and balance correct. • Apart from knowing how to make weight and balance calculations and to make proper use of them, a student needs to know other possible causes of imbalance situations. • The FAA GFH discusses problems associated with CG forward of forward limit, and with CG aft of aft limit.
Flight Safety • Look at glider accidents (fatal and non-fatal) reported to the NTSB
Major Accidents • Launch PT3 events • Intentional vs unintentional release • Mid-air collisions • Glider and Towplane collide turning final • Airplane collides with Towplane towing Glider • Two Gliders collide during cruise flight (contest) • Two Gliders collide while thermaling (contest) • ‘04-1, ‘05-0, ‘06-1, ‘07-0, ‘08-2, ‘09-0, ‘10-4
Major Accidents • Crashed Gliders • Glider crashed in mountainous terrain • Glider crashed in field • Approach and Landing • Major thrust for the past few years
Landing Accidents • Hit object on approach -- 10 • Stall/spin on approach -- 1 • Hit object on ground -- 3 • Hard landing -- 3 • Land short (undershoot) -- 0 • Land long (overshoot) -- 1 • Landing accidents have accounted for approximately 60% of the total number of accidents for decades. • WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM THIS?
Angles vs Distance Do you find it easy to judge a straight line distance – say 1,000 feet? Do you find it easy to judge an angle – say 30 degrees? Can you easily perceive when an angle changes? Can the ability to see instantly an angle which is changing help us as pilots?
Flight Safety • SPRM – Single Pilot Resource Management • Use ALL available resources to gain information • Check list usage: • Pilot • IMSAFE • Glider • Rigging (Flight Manual) • Pre-Flight (Flight Manual) • Critical Assembly Check (SSF) • Pre-Takeoff (Flight and Operations Manuals) • Landing (memory) • UNINTERRUPTED CHECKS
Scenario based training • Use realistic scenarios to enhance pilot decision making skills • Ground instruction and class room discussions during primary and recurrent training • Flight instruction during primary and recurrent training
Generate Scenarios • Start by generating a scenario • 2-3 sentences that set the stage • A single event per scenario • Make it plausible • Pictures or videos can augment the text • The list a set of discussion points • What factors influence the pilot's decision • What options does the pilot have • How should the pilot prioritize those options
Flight Safety • Don’t be rushed • Don’t assume • Structured uninterrupted preparation