Mid Air Collisions Why?

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.