Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)

ADM: a systematic approach to the mental process used to determine the best course of action in response to a given set of circumstances. Risk Management Dangerous Tendencies Hazardous Attitudes Human Error Risk management is the part of the decision-making process that relies on situational awareness, problem recognition, and good judgment to reduce risks associated with … [Read more…]

Aeromedical

Hypoxia: A condition where not enough oxygen is being circulated in the bloodstream. 4 types of hypoxia: Hypoxic Hypemic Stagnant Histoxic As altitude increases, the amount of available oxygen decreases. Hypoxia can be expected to occur at higher altitudes above 10,000 ft MSL and it can result in unconsciousness Symptoms: headache, decreased reaction time, euphoria, … [Read more…]

Performance charts

Pressure Altitude is the height above the standard datum plane. Standard datum plane is the atmosphere pressure level that would exist at mean sea level on a standard day (it correspond to indicated altitude when altimeter is set to 29.92) Density Altitude is the pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. Aircraft performance is reduced under … [Read more…]

Weight and Balance

Datum is an imaginary plane that we use as a starting point for our measurements, we need to be able to measure distances from this plane in terms of inches. (where the engine sits) Station is a location where we place things, it exist at fixed distances from a datum plane (where the pilot and … [Read more…]

Night Flight

Preflight Considerations: avoid bright white lights for at least 30 minutes prior to flight Requirements: lighted position lights aircraft has to be clearly illuminated aircraft has lighted position light aircraft is in an area that is marked by obstruction lights aircraft must have lighted anti collision lights   Check for all those lights in addition … [Read more…]

GPS

Global Positioning System The GPS is broken in 3 segments: Space segment cloud of satellite orbiting the earth Control segment consist of network of control station updating the satellite User segment Each GPS satellite orbit the planet twice a day at an altitude of 10900 miles. To locate the GPS must know how far away from … [Read more…]

VOR Navigation

VOR Four course radio range VOR: Very High Frequency Omni Range It emits 360 radials nav radios drive indicators on the panel the indicator is called OBI: Omni Bearing Indicator, it has many  components, like OBS: Omni Bearing Selector, the needle in the center is a CDI: Course Deviation Indicator it represents the course line … [Read more…]

Soft Field Take Off

Configure aircraft (flaps) Keep rolling Keep weight off of nose wheel Rotate into ground effect Accelerate in ground effect Climb out at Vx (until obstacles cleared) Reduce pitch climb out at Vy

VFR Minimums

VFR requirement depends on the airspace. Class B: tracked on radar so no clouds separation requirements. Clear of clouds. 3 miles visibility. Class A: none Class C, D & E (10,000ft MSL or less): visibility 3SM, 500ft below 1000ft above, 2000ft horizontal Class E (10,000ft MSL or more): visibility 5SM, 1000ft below, 1000ft above, 1SM horizontal … [Read more…]

Atmospheric Instability

Stability – tendency of the atmosphere to encourage or resits vertical movement Lifting Forces: Airmass Movements (fronts) Geography wind blowing air up a mountain Surface heating The lifting just start the movement and the atmosphere stability tend to continue the movement once the initial force is gone. When volume of air is lifted it expand … [Read more…]