The two issues on the most wanted list of the NTSB 2014. First is, Address Unique Characteristics of Helicopter Operations. Second, General Aviation: Identify and Communicate Hazardous Weather. I am more concerned with the general aviation side of the issues. As history dictates about two thirds of all general aviation accidents occur in instrument meteorological conditions and the majority of these are fatal.
In the technological advanced cockpit today, pilots have weather radar screens that they can use to their advantage, air traffic controllers, and meteorologists. With all this technology in the cockpit some pilots may gain a false sense of confidence while truly not understanding all the automation. This may cause a pilot to make an unsafe judgement unknowingly into adverse weather conditions. Air traffic controllers, depending on how busy they may become during their shift, are not required to inform pilots of adverse weather they encounter. However, Air traffic control has informed me of extreme precipitation ahead of my flight path during the summer months in Michigan.
The National Transportation Safety Board has classified weather issues into three categories. First, pilot training and operations. Second, the creation of weather information and advisories. Finally, collection and dissemination of weather information. Communication is the flow of information from one person to another and our first line of defense is us, the general aviation pilot. The National Transpiration Safety Board is currently trying to implement a plan so that it standardizes the use of weather in the aviation industry. This will happen by general aviation pilots and air traffic controllers being able to provide real time weather prior to and during flight using cameras. I absolutely believe that this should be a hot topic in the industry, having weather available to you at the touch of a finger is an awesome asset for general aviation pilots to utilize.
As a student pilot you normally do not fly in low visibility conditions with your instructor. Your instructor sets limitations in your logbook, what airport you can land at, and ceiling requirements. As you progress in your training you then set your own personal minimums. With the use of automation and synthetic vision I could see how some general aviation pilots may try to cheat just a little.
Honestly, you can never be prepared enough for the forecast conditions you may encounter. Every time you take a flight in an airplane you are taking a risk even if it is a short flight to and from the airport of intended use. Weather conditions constantly change and no flight is ever the same, this is why flying is so intriguing to me. Both of the issues that the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, create jobs in the aviation industry. Pilots with higher flight time may be interested to join the airline in a teaching position for the younger officer who has not encountered some the weather phenomenon that the experienced pilot has. Both of these issues open up teaching opportunities of high time pilots with experience to the inexperienced pilot through knowledge, safety seminars, and flying with them. I believe that weather is something that is a substantial issue to all pilots and staffing of meteorologists is a must. Spending the money on this sole issue is an absolute guarantee to improve the level of safety in the general aviation industry
Reduced ATP Minimums
10 years ago
Good point about ATC not being required to inform the pilots about weather...this is something that I think we often forget. Additionally, even if they are willing to give the pilot weather information, the weather information that ATC has access to is often not very accurate. One time I was flying with my husband and the weather was looking rough. We asked ATC is there were any holes ahead and he asked us if our weather radar was working. I said "yes". He said "Then use it. It'll give you more information than we can.". Lesson learned.
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ReplyDeleteScott ConklinJanuary 29, 2014 at 6:28 AM
ReplyDeleteSince when is ATC not required to give you weather information, many untrained pilots would say when asked? I think many pilots feel ATC is there to serve them personally and forget they exist to keep separation of aircraft. Your ATC comment is a great point, pilots need to do there own preflight and in flight checking of weather and decide how to manage the flight accordingly.
I definitely agree that some low-time pilots who are setting their own limits may "cheat" a little bit. I remember making some decisions that were probably not the best if something went wrong. I am very low hours, with only 54 hours at the time of my check ride.
ReplyDeleteI genuinely believe that these pilots are making decisions based on an overconfidence error or lack of knowledge. How do we control this, that is the question.