Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being good pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 01.30.06

After a fire in the cockpit, most pilots’ greatest fear is a mid-air collision.  To reduce the possibility of hitting another airplane in flight, consider the following:

Most collisions happen in good weather in the vicinity of airports. In fact, a large number take place on the final approach course, within 500 feet of the ground.

In most cases of collision, a faster airplane overtakes a slower airplane at a small angle.
Collisions where a low-wing airplane descends into a high-wing design (where both are in the other’s blind spot) represent a large percentage of collisions.

It’s common also that one airplane involved in the collision is crewed by a pilot “under the hood” and an instructor providing instrument dual. The student has restricted vision, and the CFII allows him/herself to spend too much time monitoring the student.

NOTE: Instructors, your primary responsibility in visual conditions remains always to SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRPLANES. Even instruction must be secondary to this role.

Minimizing collision risk

To minimize the risk of a mid-air collision:

1. Recognize the high-risk areas, especially airport traffic patterns and heavily-traveled airways or intersections.
2. Minimize cockpit visibility restrictions. Clean the windshield before flight. Keep charts, handheld radios, etc. off the glareshield as much as possible. Block the sun with visors only to the extent needed to increase (not reduce) your field of vision.
3. Get familiar with the airplane so you don’t have a lot of “head down” time in flight (programming the GPS, reading checklists, looking for dials and switches, etc.).
4. Plan your time so you have few remaining tasks (other than basic control and scanning for traffic) in high-risk areas.
5. Make concise and correct radio calls on advisory frequencies so others know your position.
6. Turn on your landing light in high-risk areas, so others can see you.

Aero-tip of the day: Take active steps to avoid mid-air collisions.

FMI: Aero-Tips