Staying Alive or the Staying Alive or the Limitations of the Limitations of the

See and Avoid See and Avoid PrinciplePrinciple

CAA Safety Investigation CAA Safety Investigation UnitUnit

BackgroundBackground

Why I am presenting todayWhy I am presenting today

The USA perspective FAA AC90-48CThe USA perspective FAA AC90-48C

The Australian perspective The Australian perspective

BASI/ATSB Research ReportBASI/ATSB Research Report

Trends in New Zealand July/August Trends in New Zealand July/August

Vector 2009Vector 2009

NZ Reported Near MissesNZ Reported Near Misses

NZ Hot SpotsNZ Hot Spots

Hamilton Hamilton 1919

TaurangaTauranga 1212

Palmerston NorthPalmerston North 1111

ArdmoreArdmore 1010

ChristchurchChristchurch 9 9

ParaparaumuParaparaumu 8 8

QueenstownQueenstown 8 8

Mid Air AccidentMid Air AccidentZK-MBD and ZK-MBLZK-MBD and ZK-MBL

9 February 20069 February 2006

ZK-MBL Climbing 75kt 750ft/minZK-MBL Climbing 75kt 750ft/min

ZK-MBD Descending 75kt ZK-MBD Descending 75kt 600ft/min600ft/min

““The accident occurred due to the The accident occurred due to the pilots not being able to sight each pilots not being able to sight each other as a result of the aircraft’s other as a result of the aircraft’s inherent blind spots and position inherent blind spots and position of the sun”of the sun”

SSR RadarSSR RadarPlotPlot

Accident SiteAccident Site

ZK-MBD Main WreckageZK-MBD Main Wreckage

ZK-MBL Main WreckageZK-MBL Main Wreckage

Aircraft Blind SpotsAircraft Blind Spots

Mid Air AccidentMid Air AccidentZK-ETY and ZK-HGVZK-ETY and ZK-HGV

17 February 2008 Paraparaumu17 February 2008 Paraparaumu

ZK-HGV PPL(H) issue flight test A ZK-HGV PPL(H) issue flight test A Cat Examiner 2,674 hoursCat Examiner 2,674 hours

ZK-ETY Student pilot 25 hoursZK-ETY Student pilot 25 hours

TAIC Summary PageTAIC Summary Page

TAIC Safety Recommendation TAIC Safety Recommendation 5.1.25.1.2

ZK-ETY Main WreckageZK-ETY Main Wreckage

ZK-ETY Tail SectionZK-ETY Tail Section

ZK-ETY Roof DamageZK-ETY Roof Damage

ZK-ETYZK-ETYEngineEngine

ZK- HGV Placemakers ZK- HGV Placemakers RoofRoof

ZK-HGV Main WreckageZK-HGV Main Wreckage

What the CAA Rule SaysWhat the CAA Rule Says

91.229 Right-of-way rules91.229 Right-of-way rules

(a) (a) Right-of-Way: Right-of-Way: A pilot of an A pilot of an aircraft –aircraft –

(1) must, when weather conditions (1) must, when weather conditions permit, regardless of whether the flight permit, regardless of whether the flight is performed under IFR or under VFR, is performed under IFR or under VFR, maintain a visual lookout so as to see maintain a visual lookout so as to see and avoid other aircraft; and and avoid other aircraft; and

What the Advisory What the Advisory Circulars SayCirculars Say

AC61-3 AC61-5AC61-3 AC61-5

Lookout:Lookout:

Demonstrate an adequate lookout (both on the Demonstrate an adequate lookout (both on the ground and in the air).ground and in the air).

Maintain an adequate level of situational Maintain an adequate level of situational awareness by ensuring compliance with the awareness by ensuring compliance with the minimum VMC requirements for VFR flight and minimum VMC requirements for VFR flight and building a mental picture of the relative building a mental picture of the relative position of traffic, which may potentially affect position of traffic, which may potentially affect the flight.the flight.

What the Flight Test What the Flight Test Guides Advise for Guides Advise for RPL/PPL/CPLRPL/PPL/CPL

Assessment CriteriaAssessment Criteria

Task: Lookout (critical task)Task: Lookout (critical task)

Objective:Objective:

To determine that the candidate;To determine that the candidate;

(a)(a)Maintains a good lookout both on the ground and in Maintains a good lookout both on the ground and in the air for collision avoidance and separation from the air for collision avoidance and separation from other aircraft (other aircraft (critical elementcritical element).).

(b)(b)remains in VMC to comply with Visual Flight Rules remains in VMC to comply with Visual Flight Rules ((critical elementcritical element).).

(c)(c)Maintains situational awareness (Maintains situational awareness (critical elementcritical element))

““Lookout” Lookout” ConsiderationsConsiderations

FAA AC 90-48C gives eight key points:FAA AC 90-48C gives eight key points:Constantly alert within field of visionConstantly alert within field of visionSpotting threatsSpotting threatsProper scanning techniqueProper scanning techniqueShort regularly spaced eye Short regularly spaced eye movementsmovementsPeripheral vision most usefulPeripheral vision most usefulVisual search at night/peripheralVisual search at night/peripheralBrightness and contrastBrightness and contrastMoving head to search around Moving head to search around obstructionsobstructions

Scan TechniqueScan Technique

Scan TechniqueScan Technique

““To See” ConsiderationsTo See” Considerations

WorkloadWorkload

Glass cockpitsGlass cockpits

Diffusion of Diffusion of responsibilityresponsibility

Cockpit VisibilityCockpit Visibility

ObstructionsObstructions

GlareGlare

Blind SpotsBlind Spots

Visual field narrowingVisual field narrowing

Threshold for AcuityThreshold for Acuity

AccommodationAccommodation

Empty field myopiaEmpty field myopia

Alerted V UnalertedAlerted V Unalerted

Target characteristicsTarget characteristics

LightsLights

““And Avoid” And Avoid” ConsiderationsConsiderations

It should not be assumed that It should not be assumed that successful action is guaranteed successful action is guaranteed once threat sightedonce threat sighted

Time required to recognise Time required to recognise threat and take evasive actionthreat and take evasive action

Evasive manoeuvre may Evasive manoeuvre may increase collision riskincrease collision risk

Time to ReactTime to React

The Instructor’s/Flight The Instructor’s/Flight Examiner’s PerspectiveExaminer’s Perspective

Devote maximum time to collision Devote maximum time to collision avoidanceavoidance

Set an exampleSet an example

Safety pilotSafety pilot

““During any flight test, direct During any flight test, direct attention to the applicant’s vigilance attention to the applicant’s vigilance of other air traffic and an adequate of other air traffic and an adequate clearance of the area before clearance of the area before performing any flight manoeuvre”performing any flight manoeuvre”

ConclusionConclusion

New Zealand trendsNew Zealand trends

Instructing/assessment of Instructing/assessment of lookout, see, and avoidlookout, see, and avoid

Self preservation of instructors Self preservation of instructors and flight examinersand flight examiners

Tools for your toolbox (handouts)Tools for your toolbox (handouts)