Monthly Archives: February 2015

Managing Risk While Flying – The PAVE and I’M SAFE Checklists

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Yesterday, I wrote about Single Pilot Resource Management, one of the first things that I anticipate will be discussed in my upcoming stage check. There are six aspects of SRM, they are task management, automation management, risk management, aeronautical decision making, situational awareness, and controlled flight into terrain awareness. Today, I wanted to review more closely Risk Management, and specifically the PAVE and I’M SAFE Checklists

The FAA and my flight school are big on risk management, and they rightly should be. Many aircraft accidents happen because pilots do not identify risks and are caught off-guard by something that could have been anticipated. The FAA recognizes that two pilots with the same certification might have different levels of experience and comfort, and even though they have the same rights to fly, they should have different personal minimum standards. The PAVE checklist addresses personal minimums.

The I’M SAFE checklist addresses the personal minimums of the pilot. Are you sick, medicated, stressed out, under the influence of alcohol, fatigued or tired, and have you eaten recently. If you are worked up about something, running on zero sleep, starving because you haven’t eaten all day, or sick, you shouldn’t fly. Everytime, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Single Pilot Resource Management ~ The 6 Components You Must Remember

dont-worry-ive-got-this-meme-the-officeIn my upcoming presolo stage check, one of the first topics I know I will be tested on is Single-Pilot Resource Management. After all, I’m going to have to do this when I solo, so I better know what it is. This is the art and science of managing your resources – all by yourself. Resources can be onboard the aircraft and from outside sources. There are six components of SRM. They are:

Task Management
Automation Management
Risk Management
Aeronautical Decision Making
Situational Awareness
Controlled Flight into Terrain Awareness

riskmanagementSituational Awareness is taking into consideration all factors such as traffic, weather, fuel state, aircraft mechanical condition, and my own fatigue level that may have an impact on the successful completion of the flight. When I’m flying around, whether it’s local or cross country, I’ve got to manage all the technology in the aircraft as well as radio and navigation tasks. I need to be able to manage risk and make accurate and timely decisions. Sometimes in order to make decisions, I will need to gather information and analyze it. I also need to know what to do in an emergency, such as a radio failure or an engine failure. There might not be one best correct answer as to what to do in a particular situation – or there might be. I’ve got to analyze each situation in light of my experience level, personal minimums, and current physical and mental condition.

In life, I have gotten overwhelmed at a number of stressful situations. If I’m overwhelmed when I’m flying, I could panic and completely and totally forget what to do. I might make the wrong decision or a careless mistake that could put my life or the lives of other innocent people on the ground at risk. Flying is serious business. I’ve got to take it seriously and remain cool as a cucumber and calm under pressure, just as any professional badass pilot would do.

Tomorrow night I will talk more about Risk Management, including the PAVE checklist and the I’M SAFE checklist. So much to remember.

 

Criminal Law vs. Civil Law : Do You Know the Difference?

A lot of times in child abuse and molestation cases, people contact a lawyer without really knowing what kind of lawyer they need, or really what their goal is. In the United States, there are two types of law: Civil and Criminal. They are very different systems of justice, and if you have been harmed, it is important to understand them. The criminal justice system seeks to punish a perpetrator, usually by jail or prison time, but possibly also by probation or community service. A civil lawsuit is much different. It seeks to recover monetary compensation for the victim. Criminal cases are filed by the government, and usually start when the victim reports the crime (calling 911 or filing a police report). Civil cases are filed by a private party, typically by their attorney. Estey Bomberger has made an infographic explaining the core differences between these two types of law. It is below. For more information, visit http://www.childmolestationvictims.com/.

The Differences Between Civil and Criminal Law
The Differences Between Civil and Criminal Law – A resource by the team at ChildMolestationVictim.com

Private Pilot Pre-Solo Stage Check Study Notes

Private Pilot Pre-Solo Stage Check Study Notes

My pre-solo stage check is a week from Monday, and I’ve been studying lots. Here are more questions… and the correct answers.

1. Which Aircraft Has The Right of Way?

A. A Rotorcraft
B. An Aircraft In Distress
C. An Airship

2. Which Best Describes Density Altitude?

A. Pressure Altitude Corrected For Non-Standard Temperature
B. Your Actual Height Above Sea-Level
C. What You Would Read When Your Altimeter Is Set To 29.92

3. How Long Are TAFs Usually Valid For?

A. 48 Hours
B. 8 Hours
C. 24 Hours

Notes: TAF is used as a weather forecast over an area, airport or station predicting and telling the meteorological conditions, such as winds, precipitations, storms, clouds, temperature. The TAF has a valid period of 24 hours and it is updated every 24hours or daily. Therefore, the Information display on the TAF is longer and bigger than the METAR info.

4. What Should You Squawk If You Lose Radio Communications?

A. 7500
B. 7700
C. 7600

5. Which Is NOT a Type of Class E Airspace?

A. Off-Shore
B. WAC (World Aeronautical Chart)
C. Surface

6. Define The Following METAR: KGNV 101439Z 15010G17KT 10SM OVC011 23/21 A2979

A. Metar for the gainesville airport on the 10th at 1439z winds 150 at 10 gusting to 17 with 10sm of visibility. Overcast at 1,100. temp 23 dewpoint 21 altimeter 29.79
B. Metar for the gainesville airport on the 10th at 1439z winds 010 at 15 gusting to 17 with 10sm of visibility. Overcast at 1,100. temp 23 dewpoint 21 altimeter 29.79
C. Metar for the gainesville airport on the 10th at 1439z winds 150 at 10 gusting to 17 with 10sm of visibility. Overcast at 11,000. temp 23 dewpoint 21 altimeter 29.79

7. Which is NOT a Characteristic of an Aft CG?

A. Lower Stall Speed
B. Higher Cruise Speed
C. More Stable

8. What is VOR an Acronym For?

A. Vertical Orientation Route
B. Very High Frequency Omni-Range
C. Victor and Obstacle Readings

9. When Do You NOT Need a Mode C Transponder?

A. Above Class C Airspace
B. Below Class C Airspace
C. Inside Class C Airspace

10. What is Calibrated Airspeed (CAS)?

A. Indicated Airspeed Corrected For Installation and Instrument Error
B. The Actual Speed of Your Aircraft Through The Air
C. The Airspeed Read Directly Off The Indicator

February 2nd Flying Lesson Recap :: Instrument Training with Foggles

I had a flying lesson this morning, this time in N172LK, and we did another hour of simulated instrument training. Winds were calm, visibility great, and I did an Alpha North departure out of CRQ and my instructor John and I flew 68 miles up to Long Beach. I wore “foggles” so I couldn’t see what was going on outside, and flew the plane just based on instruments.  I found the Torrance airport on the GPS and then flew in the direction it told me to go, maintaining altitude at 2,500 feet the whole way. I did better this time, than on my last instrument training flight down to Coronado. Today was fun, I got a flying lesson and a history lesson too, and they both sort of involved Leonardo Dicaprio movies. Maybe I’m stretching a little bit.

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We entered the port and flew over to where the Queen Mary was. That’s the ocean liner next to the white golf ball looking thing. It is very similar in design and appearance to the RMS Titanic. The movie Titanic was not filmed on the Queen Mary, but the Queen Mary has been the location of several Titanic conventions. After flying over it,  and then reading up about it, I definitely want to drive Caroline and Ava up there for a day trip one day and check it out.

The white golf ball looking thing – the dome – used to be a hangar for the Spruce Goose, which was Howard Hughes’ giant boat airplane – the largest airplane ever built. The Spruce Goose only flew once, on November 2, 1947. So much history though – it’s fascinating! I saw the Aviator back when it was in theatres in 2004, but at the time I didn’t really know who Howard Hughes was, and I wasn’t interested in aviation too much then either. I definitely need to watch that movie again. One of these days I will.

The flight back went smoothly – it was interesting hearing the So Cal Approach radio – it was very very busy, and almost constant chatter. When we came back to land, I kept my foggles on until we were just 2 miles from the CRQ runway. There was a lot of traffic coming and going, and in the downwind leg the ATC had me do a left 360 turn three times, and then extend my base about 5 miles down. Somehow I managed to stay high, and had to sideslip the plane to get us down to the runway. The landing wasn’t too bad, and the lesson ended on a good note. I’m only a few more lessons away from my pre solo stage check with David.