Mid
Air Collisions Why?
Why accidents happen it's a good question to
answer and also difficult to respond, why, and what happen. So, sometimes we
already know what happened, but the only question is why it happened again. There
was a midair collision between two aircraft yesterday Thursday October 23, 2014
at the Frederick Municipal Airport, according to the federal agencies a Cirrus
SR22 aircraft and a R44 helicopter collided in Mid Air, near the Frederick
Municipal Airport in Maryland.
So, commonly Aviation Accidents categorize mid
airs as one of the two types, associated and non-associated.
Associated Mid Air Collisions are when two
aircraft were flying in each other’s vicinity and knew it.
Non Associated Mid Air Collisions are and occur
when an airplane who is not intentionally flying in each other’s vicinity and
neither knows the other is there. Where was each aircraft hypothetical to be? Who had the right of way? And who could have
seen who?
This type of investigation to resolve, and also
to investigate, has a first priority to analyses, usually aircraft accident
investigators focus on Air Traffic Control records and the radar data, also
probably the Flight Data Recorders and Cockpit Voice Recorders if either aircraft
was so equipped, regularly witnesses is a good key too, but the only difficult witnesses
see the aftermath of the collision.
That is why I want to share again something I
wrote on my Safety Blog few months ago, something regarding Mid Air Collisions,
think about it this for a moment and read again my all post to avoid this type
of accidents.
Midair Collision Avoidance
Recent studies of midair collisions involving
aircraft by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that:
Most of the aircraft involved in collisions are
engaged in recreational flying, not on any type of flight plan.
Most midair collisions occur in VFR
weather conditions during weekend daylight hours.
The vast majority of accidents
occurred at or near uncontrolled airports and at altitudes below 1000 feet.
Pilots of all experience levels were
involved in midair collisions, from pilots on their first solo ride, to 20,000-hour veterans.
Flight instructors were on board the
aircraft 37 percent of the accidents in the study.
Most collisions occur in daylight
with visibility greater than 3 miles.
1.
Practice the "see and avoid" concept at all times regardless
of whether the operation is conducted under Instrument (IFR) or Visual (VFR)
Flight Rules.
2. Under
IFR control, don't always count on ATC to keep you away from other
aircraft. They're human, and can make
mistakes.
3.
Understand the limitations of your eyes and use proper visual scanning
techniques. Remember, if another
aircraft appears to have no relative motion, but is increasing in size, it is
likely to be on a collision course with you.
4.
Execute appropriate clearing procedures before all climbs, descents,
turns, training maneuvers, or aerobatics.
5. Be
aware of the type airspace in which you intend to operate in and comply with
the applicable rules.
6.
Adhere to the necessary communications requirements.
7. Traffic advisories should be requested and
used when available to assist the pilot’s own visual scanning -- advisories in
no way lessen the pilot’s obligation to see and avoid.
8. If not practical to initiate radio contact
for traffic information, at least monitor the appropriate frequency.
9. Make frequent position reports along your
route and AT UNCONTROLLED AIRPORTS BROADCAST YOUR POSITION AND INTENTIONS ON
COMMON TRAFFIC ADVISORY FREQUENCY (CTAF).
10. Make your aircraft as visible as possible -
turn on exterior lights below 10,000 MSL and landing lights when operating
within 10 miles of any airport, in conditions of reduced visibility, where any
bird activity is expected or under special VFR clearance.
11. If
the aircraft is equipped with a transponder, turn it on and adjust it to reply
on both Mode 3/A and Mode C (if installed).
Transponders substantially increase the capability of radar to see all
aircraft and the MODE C feature enables the controller to quickly determine
where potential traffic conflicts exist.
Even VFR pilots who are not in contact with ATC will be afforded greater
protection from IFR aircraft receiving traffic advisories.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR
PART 91.413, WHILE IN CONTROLLED AIRSPACE, EACH PILOT OPERATING AN AIRCRAFT
EQUIPPED WITH AN OPERABLE ATC TRANSPONDER MAINTAINED SHALL OPERATE THE
TRANSPONDER, INCLUDING MODE C IF INSTALLED, ON THE APPROPRIATE MODE OR AS
ASSIGNED BY ATC. IN CLASS G AIRSPACE,
THE TRANSPONDER SHOULD BE OPERATING WHILE AIRBORNE UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED
BY ATC.
12. ABOVE ALL, AVOID COMPLACENCY
Promoting Aviation Safety is the key.
