What You Should Know About Weather.

What You Should Know About Weather.

I want to talk today and post and interesting information that can either make a good review to all Pilots flying all around the world to avoid thunderstorms and turbulence. Many times you as a good and Safety Pilot you have to make decisions involving thunderstorms and turbulence flying.

In some tropical regions, thunderstorms occur year-around, for example in United States thunderstorms develop most frequently in Spring, Summer, and Fall. In the Arctic Region occasionally experience thunderstorm during Summer time.

In general, thunderstorms occur varies widely from Season to Season. Well to explain and to be more specific, thunderstorms in general are most frequently during July and August and least frequent in December and January, in to the United States.

In fact, the planet earth is unique in that its atmosphere, as Pilots when we encounter bad weather during our itinerary, sometime are affected by weather, but we need to understand what you should know about weather how can shake your flight, weather is complex and sometimes difficult to understand, our restless atmosphere is almost continuously in motion as it strives to reach stability.

You remember when we are a student pilot we receive training regarding some meteorological conceptions, and the atmosphere are classify into layers based on temperature.

So, preparation for your weather briefing before your flying is very essential to any Pilot, meteorological and aeronautical information is provided by continuous sources.

Everyone who flies no matter in what Country you are flying encounters turbulence, at some time or other. Turbulence varieties from bumpiness which can bother Crew and Passengers and also can structurally damage the aircraft or injure its passengers.

So , Aircraft reaction to turbulence varies with the difference in Wind speed in adjacent currents, size of the aircraft , wing loading , and also aircraft attitude.

All Pilots know the first rule in flying turbulence is to reduce airspeed; you need to know very clear your limitations and follow up the recommended airspeed for penetrating turbulence when you knowing where to expect a thunderstorm or turbulence.

To a respectable review and always remember Pilots: the main causes of turbulence are: Convective Currents, Obstruction to wind flow, and also Wind Shear. Turbulence also occurs in the wake of moving aircraft whenever the airfoils exert lift – Wake Turbulence.

Be alert all the time Pilots, any combination of causes may occur at one time. I'm interested in writing today on my safety blog about this important concern, regarding thunderstorms and turbulence to require and maintain a safe flight and land safely without any difficult.

I became interested in writing about this subject because when I read some information regarding incidents and accidents involved commercial aircraft, who have had problems with some of its flights.

I found it very important that we review these incidents and share and learn more about what’s going on and could be more dangerous if don’t emphasis the fatal magnitudes that could be happen .

So, I want to share this excellent information , go to the links and read the information , you will learn more about what I’m talking about it about turbulence .

Always reporting Turbulence at any time you could realize be dangerous for other crews. Pilots should report all the time locations, time (UTC or Z), intensity, weather in or near clouds, altitude, type of aircraft and when applicable, duration of turbulence.

So, duration may be based on time between two locations or over a single location, all locations should be readily identifiable, also keep in mind there are different types of turbulence, I want to refresh your memory, Light, Moderate, Severe, and Extreme.

Always remember the good and Safety Pilot is one that is a conservative Aviator and learns every day from the unexpected things that can happen in your Cockpit.

               

                                                Safe Pilots, Safe Skies. Always Fly Safely.

Source: The Aviation Herald

Accident: Hong Kong A320 at Hong Kong on Aug 30th 2013, turbulence injures 6

http://avherald.com/h?article=467ab575&opt=0  

Accident: Thai A388 at Hong Kong on Aug 30th 2013, turbulence injures 39

http://avherald.com/h?article=467ab3da&opt=0

Accident: Copa B738 near Orlando on Aug 29th 2013, turbulence injures 5

http://avherald.com/h?article=467abb2c&opt=0

Accident: Naysa AT72 at Tenerife on Aug 4th 2013, turbulence injures 2 cabin crew

http://avherald.com/h?article=46781920&opt=0

What that means Aviation Safety?

Sept. 17, 1908: First Airplane Passenger Death

What is the exact definition that a pilot needs to know what that means Aviation Safety?

The career to be a Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot or a Ground / Flight Instructor etc., is often considered to be respected and interesting profession. However, most people probably who are in this business maybe don’t see the meaning of Aviation Safety in today’s new generation , well maybe yes until and aircraft crashed. Since the Wright Brothers did the first flight until today there have been many air crashes in general and commercial aviation. I remember I was reading regarding the first fatal crash described that the first fatal airplane crash occurred on September 17, 1908. Orville Wright was flying the plane. Wright survived the crash, but his passenger, Signal Corps Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge, did not. The Wrights had been allowing passengers to fly with them since May 14, 1908.

The story is very interesting, and all the people who are dedicated and working in this profession must know more about why accidents happen and how we can prevented. So, the question is how much do we really know about Aviation Safety? The inventors of the first airplane were Orville and Wilbur Wright. On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers made the first successful testing in which a machine (aka airplane) carrying a man rose by its own power, flew naturally and at even speed, and descended without damage.

I remember asked myself when I was as a child what is an airplane how these machines flight? 

Well, I always visualized of being a pilot and I realized that dream, but the most important for me at that time and questioned some interrogations  why a plane crashed , what’s happening ? 

So, I constantly  focus on this important part of Aviation, Safety, Protection, Security good training etc., this is the most important issue that any pilot before flying his plane must know all the essential concerns about flying safe all the time, no matter how many total time you as Pilot gathering in your logbook, any pilot before flying his plane must know all the important limitations, must be well trained, must be a conservative pilot at all times if not well trained may suffer an incident or accident at any time , also my best advice to all my colleagues  is  always be prepared for the unexpected , remember that all passengers when boarding a plane trust their lives to you guys and know that these pilots are the best trained and who will take you to your destination safely, Safety is first all have a family waiting for us these passengers also too , I  am here today write  some about Aviation Safety. 

You have certainly heard that Aviation is one of the safest transports in the world. Safety begins with Team Work, Safety is our Business, keep in mind we as pilots learned lessons from Airplane Accidents, working without safety means failure learn from others mistakes; don't have others learn from you.

Remember Always  Safety! You Family is Waiting for you at Home.

Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Safety Management Systems (SMS), in General and Commercial Aviation operators can proactively identify and manage risks. Under a formal SMS, operators identify potential hazards and guarantee that a development is positioned in place to effectively manage them to prevent incidents and accidents.

So, what that mean SMS? How to applying Safety Management System to your organization?

Perhaps this should be a good titled Why to introduced and implementing SMS in to your organization?

Starting in 2009 all participant States of ICAO and all aviation service providers within those states must implement a Safety Management System that as a minimum:

ü  Identifies Safety Hazards.

ü  Make sure the implementation of corrective action necessary to maintain established safety performance.

ü  Provides continuous monitoring and regular assessment of the safety performance to prevent incidents and accidents.

ü  Seeks continuous improvement in the overall performance of the Safety Management System.

According to ICAO, an SMS is defined as “a Systematic Approach to Managing Safety including the necessary organizational structures, responsibilities, policies and procedures.”

So, what does this all mean to You? Also how to implementing?  If you are a regulator, an aircraft operator, a maintenance organization, an aircraft manufacturer, an air traffic services provider, or a certificated airport operator, the owner of a Flight Training School etc., you MUST have a Safety Management System (SMS) in place inside your group as soon as possible to implement more safety concepts. In the SMS established development you will be introduced to the basic concepts of Safety and the up-to-date approach to Safety Management to all your team inside your organization.

The Key is to be familiarized and adapted with according to the ICAO regulations, and also everyone inside your team, will learn more Safety Management Systems as applied to Aviation Operations, learn how to communicate effectively with and involve all levels to the prevention of aviation accidents in general and commercial aviation.

My only purpose with this information writing these words is to promote Safety to prevent accidents and incidents all around the world, please take your time go to the link and read and be more clear what that SMS mean to you and how your team can executing if your organization have not incorporated into your organization yet your SMS program.

Remember Safety First, Safe Pilots, Safe Skies. Safety is the Key !!!!

http://www.icao.int/safety/SafetyManagement/Documents/Doc.9859.3rd%20Edition.alltext.en.pdf

Aviation Situational Awareness

         What is Situational Awareness?                

 

Situation Awareness or (SA) is the perception of environmental elements within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning. It is also a field of study concerned with perception of the environment critical to decision-makers in complex. Situation Awareness (SA) involves being aware of what is happening around you to understand how information, events, and your own actions will impact your goals and objectives.

Deficient SA or having inadequate SA has been identified as one of the primary factors in Aviation Accidents attributed to human error.

Situational Awareness is the Key Component of a Safe Flight in all type of phases during flights, takeoff, cruise or landing. Anyway of where or what you fly, pilots will perhaps find themselves involved in acknowledged good training  to  helping GA and Airline Pilots achieve and maintain high-level Situational Awareness in the cockpit.

Always consider Where am I?" and "What's going on around me?" This develops a principal concern.

So, if we review a list of recent aircraft accidents you quickly find Situational Awareness-related aviation accidents like the American Airlines Flight 965 that crashed near Cali, Colombia, on Dec. 20, 1995.

In my personal view and interpretation some accidents related in the past are good to recall, I just want you to share with all pilots to learn many things why these accidents happen and how we can prevented in the future.

After I read and study the final reports of the accidents, I continuously like to share knowledge’s with the aviation community to learn more why accidents happened. The American Airlines final report, reported that a confusing list of way points led to an incorrect data entry, which programmed the flight management system to incentive and directed the B-757 into a mountain. Distractions and misplaced priorities prevented the crew from noticing that the FMS had changed their intended routing until it was too late to escape and avoid the accident.

Not only this accident, there are several more where Situational Awareness are involved.

Researchers have studied Situational Awareness for years in fatal accidents; we must always be alert at all times not to lose Situation Awareness.

So, we need to understand that pilot distractions, doubts, poor communications, automation-induced complacency, fatigue, etc, to avoid incidents and accidents in General and Commercial Aviation .

The key in Aviation Safety is to maintain a good training programs work severe to help all GA and Airline Pilots achieve high-level Situational Awareness and to participate their Situational Awareness tools and knowledge into the overall group of professional skills to maintain high parameters in Safety.

Tips for keep Situational Awareness.

ü  Develop a plan and assign responsibilities for handling problems and distractions.

ü  Decide Crew roles for high-workload phases of flight and follow your company SOPs.

ü  Ask contribution from all the Crew Members including your entire team flight attendants,  maintenance staff, ATC, etc.

ü  Monitor and evaluate your flight all the time, focus on continue a good CRM workload. Be a conservative pilot.

ü  Speak up when you see something bad if you think you are dropping your Situational Awareness breaking down.

    

      These clues can warn of an "Error Chain" in progress that can contribute to an accident if you don’t pay attention to identify, also there are more tips you as a Pilot can evaluate during your flights. Anybody with some flying experience can be involved in lost Situational Awareness.   

      Safe Pilots, Safe Skies. Always Fly Safely .

Dangerous Approaches / Keep on Outside / Can be Fatal if you don’t Understand.

Dangerous Approaches / Keep on Outside 

Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong

The final approach accidents have increased in the final years, according to final reports of incidents and accidents in the development of my own research into this analysis by myself, also I want to write and post here my personal view regarding why accidents happen in this final phase of the flight.

Why didn’t the Flight Crew follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)?

Why didn’t they fly their instruments? Why didn’t they hear and respond to the Ground – Proximity Warning System (GPWS). Sometimes, poor decision making in many cases caused by stress overload that resulted in the reduction of crew focus to the point that warnings were not heard, recognized.

A Human Error approach to aviation errors analysis such approaches black hole landings, since they were characterized as occurring leads pilots to fly low approaches .

In another point of my personal analyses, in the course of working with accidents similar to those in this post, I noted that many times the Pilots appeared to lack knowledge of the design criteria for the instrument approach procedures that they were conducting.

In both Standard for Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS) and the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) equivalent for Air Navigation Services – Aircraft Operations (PANS – OPS) there are severe and different limitations of which pilots must be aware. Without knowledge of the limitations, pilots may inadvertently wandering outside the protected areas and place themselves and their aircraft in danger.

I have been studied some accidents reports and also working as an Aviation Accident Investigator, when the crew are in the final phases approaching to the airport, occasionally the crew they get lost to the point that they strayed from a protected area and failed to respond properly to GPWS warnings for the last 22 seconds of the flight .

This is many times related accidents by CFIT (Controlled Flight in to Terrain).

On occasion the findings of the accidents investigation show that the flight crew Risk Factor long duty period, reduced alertness likely was involved.  

My best recommendation to all pilots do not assume that all airports in the same Country o Foreign Countries use the same design criteria, always remember that the PIC (Pilot in Command) is the only person responsible to land the aircraft safely all the time.

ICAO provides the following information in the DOC 8168, Aircraft Operations.  

A circling approach is a visual flight maneuver… After initial visual contact, the basic assumption is that the runway environment (i.e, the runway threshold or approach lighting aids or other markings identifiable with the runway) should be kept in sight while at MDA/H (Minimum Decent Altitude / Height) for circling. If visual reference is lost while circling to land from an instrument approach, the Missed Approach Specified for that particular procedure must be followed.

Flying will never be risk free, but is every pilot’s duty to mitigate the risk as well as he or she can. It is the responsibility also the every Flight Safety Department in any organization must follow and do the same.

It is the responsibility of the operator’s, operations Flight Safety Departments to express this kind of Safety Information to pilots , to avoid future accidents similar that are studied in the last accidents reports .

Always keep in mind Fly Safely all the time. Safe Pilots / Safe Skies. Accident Prevention is the Key!!!

DOC 8168.

http://dcaa.trafikstyrelsen.dk:8000/icaodocs/Doc%208168%20-%20Aircraft%20Operations/Volume%201%20Flight%20Procedures,%205th%20ed..pdf

Avoiding Loss of Control Accidents

Avoiding Loss of Control Accidents.

Aircraft Accidents it can happen to anyone, although the final report when is still on development, data from the Black Boxes recovered from mishaps of different accidents in the past.

And in my personal view is sadly, that accidents do occur on a much too-frequent basis to Pilots with a lot of knowledge and also with a lot of experience and gathered many flight hours in their logbooks .

According to a recent Accident Data Pilot Error is a cause of fatal action or decision of the Pilot that , if not caught and corrected on time , could contribute to the occurrence of an accident or incident , but I want to be  more real and want to be emphasize that the term Pilot Error does not  imply that all errors are the fault of the pilots , so as I wrote on my last comments sometimes external circumstances  are the cause , such as other possible causes .

The bad things about the statistics, is that people continue to crash and killed because we are humans and no human being  is perfect 100 % but when we talk about accidents we are referring to accidents in which the Pilot should have either maintained or regained control of the aircraft. I remember I was reading a good article on a Human Factors Book that the Pilot was found to be a broad cause / factor in 84 % of all accidents, and 90.6 % of all fatal accidents. This means that the responsibility is largely the fault of people, not the machines they fly.

The only purpose on my Safety Comment of this post is to show how a lack of knowledge, inadequate confusion and distractions has contributed to accidents.

A study of many Aviation Accidents reports indicates that an alarming number of experienced pilots, as well as inexperienced pilots were involved in accidents.

To me writing this comments to share with all the people around the world who read my safety blog and also as an experienced aviation accident investigator as well, I know we all learn from mistakes of other, yet seems many pilots must make the same costly mistakes themselves before they really learn.

Flight Safety should be our top priority to every buddy in this career, just because we as Pilots we are humans and also we need to learn from the mistakes of recent accidents.

For this reason, I like to promote aviation safety through my safety blog, and also to inspire that a Safe Pilot consistently makes good judgment all the time inside the cockpit. I want to be more precisely that a good judgment it is the ability to make an instant decision, which guarantees the safest possible continuation of the flight. Good Judgment guarantees the positive aspects of flying the freedom to walk to your aircraft, go flying, and return to your home safely all the time. All people have a family and children that are waiting for us at home .

My best advice to all Airline Pilots and Private Pilots in GA , In fact, learning all the time that a good judgment is just as much an important part of flying as learning to make good Take Off and Landings .

The Pilot in Command always has direct responsibility for the operation of his aircraft.

The exercise of good judgment is so critical to flying safely all the time.

Always be prepared to reduce the threat and learn from accidents, continually keep your mental and physical skills strong, and review to learn something new, that accidents and incidents can occur any time anywhere at any phase of the flight.

Always be prepared for the unexpected. Be alert, know your limitations and the limitations of your aircraft learn from the mistakes of others and avoid similar accidents.

Safety First!!!!  Safety is Something We Can Live With!!!!