Communications when in difficulties

[facthunter]

My post doesn't recommend that you don't make them, (radio calls),but if you only have a short time to get the plane on the ground, some pilots who are not good at R/T (Most RAAus pilots, let's face it) may overconcentrate on the call and their performance on the very vital action of doing a good landing in somewhat perilous and unfamiliar circumstances will be compromised.

 

You have all heard the advice. Aviate, Navigate Communicate which means fly the thing, point the thing, (so it goes where you want it, longer term) and talk to someone (in that order. It's an instruction to prioritize your actions. Do the most important actions first and in that order, but at all times aviate because if you don't do that nothing good happens.

 

The assistance will only come after a reasonable period of time ( IF at ALL) depending on your ability to pinpoint exactly where you are, and communicate it.. The person you are talking to may request further information/clarification ( most likely will do that) putting further pressure on the pilot who is already extremely busy. ( believe it if you haven't done it for real).

 

If you are on fire and upside down no-one will be able to help you in time, most likely. So my advice was to prioritise the need to do a first class job of putting it down without injury and be able to exit the aircraft quickly, even if it is damaged.

 

Some people regularly land off aerodrome, so none of these "requirements" should be regarded as such, universally. Situations vary and the pilot has to "manage" his/her situation as it confronts them.

 

Human factors, which I am a strong advocate of ( Done properly and applied properly) would ensure you use ALL means of aid and assistance from all available sources that might be effective. If a pilot should have contacted ATC and had the time. and means to do so but didn't for whatever reason, that would not be good airmanship.

 

Flying into cloud is a good example of this, especially where you are in radar coverage. Nev

 

 

[kaz3g]

...You have all heard the advice. Aviate, Navigate Communicate which means fly the thing, point the thing, (so it goes where you want it, longer term) and talk to someone (in that order. It's an instruction to prioritize your actions. Do the most important actions first and in that order, but at all times aviate because if you don't do that nothing good happens.

Hi Nev

 

Totally good advice. In a situation such as an EFATO, get the aircraft and its passengers on the ground in the best circumstances possible and worry about everything else second.

 

If the failure occurs at altitude then it should be possible to get a MAYDAY call out while flying the aircraft and doing all the other checks and preparations. Likewise, where there is a need for a precautionary landing in circumstances where the same level of urgency may not exist such as low fuel or deteriorating weather there should generally be sufficient time to communicate a PAN before committing.

 

I accept there is a big difference between a precautionary outlanding into big, flat paddocks in the Wimmera compared to a forced landing into the sparsley populated of the Upper Gascoyne, for example. But, given the chance, I'd make the call in either situation.

 

kaz

 

 

[Guest Howard Hughes]

The person you are talking to may request further information/clarification ( most likely will do that) putting further pressure on the pilot who is already extremely busy. ( believe it if you haven't done it for real).

The few times I have had to make a PAN Call, I have not been asked for additional information, but have been asked something like "when able please advise what assistance you require", or words to that effect. I can only guess at the workload in a single engine aircraft during an EFATO, but any information you can pass (even if only brief) surely has to help your situation.

 

"Who are you saying has a "she'l be right mate "attitude. I hope you are not referring to me. Nev

Not directed at anyone, more a broad statement about what I have seen and experienced in aviation, even amongst so called 'professionals'.

Cheers,

 

Mark (aka HH).

 

 

[gareth lacey]

guys, safety ,safety , safety

 

 

[David Isaac]

guys, safety ,safety , safety

An interpretation please.

 

 

[Guest pookemon]

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.

 

That's what I've been taught - and I'd think that's what we're all taught. It's all very well to make a Mayday/PanPan call - but what good is it if you don't get down safely? Other than it'll make it quicker for someone to find your body?

 

It's not always skill that can determine whether a landing is one you walk away from or not. You could be that guy that landed on the Hudson - but if you're flying an RAA aircraft, and the paddocks around you are water logged, with the roads being lined with trees/powerlines - then skill will only go so far. During winter my Instructor said - "If you have to land in a paddock - you can pick the smoothest paddock in the area - but you will still end up on your roof".

 

If you concentrate on getting on the ground safely - then you can communicate. And if you have enough time while on descent - then that's just a bonus.

 

 

[gareth lacey]

im still learning about radio calls and find that tower is very helpful(archerfield) say again almost every time on first 2 0r 3 circuits but am coming to grips with it now (7th circuit today) but in the event of a pan pan i hope i have time to comunicate

 

gareth cheers