Flight Environment, Part II
Learning to operate an aircraft safely in the flight environment is essential. If we want to become a proficient, professional pilot and show this to our passengers in such a way that they feel safe flying with us. Then there are some things we need to become very good at.
Remember that when two aircraft approach each other head on at 100 KTS (not an uncommon speed) they travel over 3 miles per minute. And if visibility is 1.5 miles then you have less than 30 seconds to react before you first see the other aircraft.... if you were looking in the right direction.
As a pilot you need to be constantly aware of your aircraft and the environment you are fly in. Things as clearing turns, the right of way, low flying cruising altitudes and more are emphasized here.
Avoiding hazards
During flight turbulence can be non existent to severely dangerous. As a pilot being able to recognize where to expect and avoid turbulence is just basic airmanship which should be expected and is one of the subjects during pilot training and exams.
Wake turbulence Avoidance
Wake turbulence caused by airplanes can be really dangerous for light, no, any aircraft. There are some points to remember to keep the flight as safe as possible:
- Landing behind a large aircraft on the same runway, touchdown prior to the point the aircraft rotated
- Landing behind an aircraft which has just landed, stay above its flight path and land beyond its touchdown point
- Departing behind an aircraft than has just lifted off, plan your lift off before its lift off point (that were the vortices start), this is also valid for crossing runways
- Parallel runways, take note of the wind and see if turbulence can be blown on your runway
Wake turbulence can also be encountered in flight. Vortices of large aircraft trail behind and descend about 500' to 1000' below its flight path at a distance of about 5 NM behind the aircraft.
Structural Ice
Reports as PIREPs, SIGMETs and AIRMET provide us with information about icing areas. If you encounter ice while flying act immediately! Remove yourself from the scene, with airplane, before disaster strikes. Ice on the propeller, airframe and or induction system creates severe hazards when an airplane is not equipped to do something about it.
Aicraft icing manifests itself in different forms:
- Clear ice: very dangerous. Its heavy, glassy, adds weight and almost not detectable because its clear.
- Rime ice: sort of opaque, milky white color. Accumulates on leading edges, antenna's and changes the aerodynamics of the wing.
- Mixed ice: combination of the above.
- Frost: semi white coating forms when moist air contacts a cold (subzero) surface. Frost disturbs airflow and affects the aerodynamics.
More can be read in these articles about aircraft icing.
Carburetor Icing
Two types can develop here: fuel / throttle and induction ice. Evaporation of fuel causes a drop in temperature, when enough moisture and the temperature drops below freezing (in the carb throat) ice will form on the throat of the carb, causing a restriction. It is imperative to understand that this can happen in summer too! It all depends on temperature drop and moisture content. Throttle ice forms on the valve. Apply full carb heat when an unexpected rough running, RPM drop or MAP change (constant speed prop) sets in.
Induction Ice
Induction ice forms when flying in circumstances where ice will form on the induction system restricting the flow of air to the carburettor. Applying carb heat doesn't work here, the use of alternate air is the only solution.
