Minnesota Wing Aircrew Training: Tasks P2020, P2023, P2024

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Minnesota Wing Aircrew Training Tasks P-2020,
P-2023, P-2024

• Weather Effects on Scanning
• Wake Turbulence
• High Altitude and Terrain Considerations

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Weather
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Weather

• The most important aspect of weather is its
  impact on flight conditions
• Safety is paramount
• Navigation Visual verses Instruments
• Effects on Search
• Prevailing visibility
• Search visibility
• Search patterns and altitudes
• Information National Weather Service, Flight
  Service Stations, Pilot Reports

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Reduced Visibility

• Under almost all circumstances, VFR daytime
  flight requires
• At least three miles visibility
• When clouds cover more than one-half the sky,
  cloud bases must be no lower than 1,000 ft. AGL
• Search aircraft must usually remain at least 500
  ft. below the cloud deck
• There are exceptions ask your PIC

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Reduced Visibility

• Fog
• Haze
• Snow
• White out
• Blowing dust
• Affected by sun angle and direction
• Aircrew must increase vigilance during these
  conditions

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Turbulence

• Can reduce scanning effectiveness
• Increases fatigue
• Interferes with scan
• Plan flights around high terrain carefully
• Wind currents on the downwind side can be very
  strong
• Ridges and peaks should be cleared by at least
  2000 feet

Flight Path
2000 ft.
Wind
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Flight Precautions

• Each member of the aircrew must be vigilant
  during all phases of flight
• Assign each an area to watch
• Characterize visibility in the search area to
  establish the proper scanning range
• May be different than assumed
• Visibility conditions or turbulence may increase
  fatigue

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• QUESTIONS?

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Wind Shear- Appears as a change in wind
direction and/or speed within a very short
distance in the atmosphere

• Thunderstorms
• Fronts - wind shear may advance as far as 15 nm
• Air flow around obstacles

Windward
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Wind Shear

• Two potentially hazardous situations, dangerous
  mainly during landing
• Tailwind turns calm or to a headwind
• Headwind turns calm or to a tailwind
• Pilot must adjust quickly

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Wake turbulence

• Caused by aircraft moving through the air
  generating lift (proportional to weight)
• Settle 500 to 800 feet below the flight path
• Drift out slowly (5 mph) on the ground
• Takeoff before, land after other aircraft

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Wake turbulence
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Weather ThunderstormsRemain clear of
thunderstorm activity by at least 20 miles
Cumulus Stage
Mature Stage
Dissipating Stage
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High Altitude and Terrain Considerations
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Atmospheric Pressure

• A barometer is used to register changes in
  pressure measured in inches of mercury
• Standard sea-level pressure and temperature
• 29.92 inches of mercury
• 59 degrees F (15 degrees C)
• A change of 1000 feet in elevation makes a change
  of about one inch
• To correct for local elevation, set altimeter to
  latest reading (ATIS/AWOS/ASOS/FSS) or enter
  field elevation

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• Density Altitude
• Three factors
• Pressure
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Altitude and pressure combined to determine
  pressure altitude
• Add non-standard temperature to get density
  altitude
• Pilots calculate (next slides) or can get on ASOS
• Affects takeoff, climb, true air speed

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Flight Computer

• Circular slide rule
• Density altitude
• Nautical to statute miles
• True airspeed
• Other stuff

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Aircraft Performance

• Density altitude and aircraft weight have a
  tremendous effect on aircraft performance
• Both must be accurately calculated, especially
  for mountain flying missions

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Pressure vs. Performance

• As altitude increases pressure decreases this
  decrease can have a pronounced effect on flight
• Engine (hp) and prop are less efficient
• Take off distance, climb rate, and landing
  distance effected
• Take off distance almost doubles with a 5000 foot
  elevation increase
• Rate of climb slows with higher elevation
• Landing distance increases with higher elevation
• Higher Humidity, Heat or Height result in reduced
  aircraft performance

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Effects of Density Altitude
Takeoff Roll at Sea Level
Takeoff Roll at 5,000 ft Density Altitude
Climb at LOWER Density Altitude
Climb at HIGHER Density Altitude
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Strategies

• Dont fly at high elevation during the hottest
  part of the day
• Carefully calculate DA and weight
• Reduce load
• Less fuel
• Crew of three instead of four
• Less baggage
• Remember High to Low, Look out Below (update
  altimeter setting hourly)
• If you fly in the mountains, take the Mountain
  Fury Course

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Flight Near Mountainous Terrain
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Flight Near Mountainous Terrain
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Flight Near Mountainous Terrain
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Dehydration

• The loss of water through the skin, lungs and
  kidneys never ceases
• Loss increases as the humidity drops with
  increasing altitude
• Symptoms are dryness of the tissues and resulting
  irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
• Minimize intake of coffee, tea, cola or cocoa
  since they contain caffeine and other chemicals
• Strategies
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Increase air flow (vents and windows)
• If the search objective allows, reduce
  temperature by climbing to higher altitude

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Effects of Altitude on Crew Member Performance

• Ear Block
• Congestion around the Eustachian tube makes
  pressure equalization difficult
• Can produce severe pain and a loss of hearing
  that can last from several hours to several days
  (can rupture eardrum)
• Sinus Block
• Sinus congestion makes pressure equalization
  difficult, particularly during descent
• Can produce severe pain
• Hypoxia (Lack of oxygen to the brain)
• Loss of night vision as low as 5,000 feet
• For most people altitudes above 12,000 feet
  result in a loss of judgment , coordination,
  memory, and alertness
• Normally not a concern for non-mountainous CAP
  operations (usually below 12,000 MSL)
• Body has no built-in warning system against
  hypoxia

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Strategies

• Ear Block
• Yawn, swallow, tense muscles in throat
• Valsalva maneuver
• Sinus Block
• Dont fly if youre not well
• Medication usually not effective and has side
  effects
• Hypoxia
• Avoid smoking, alcohol and depressants
• Supplemental oxygen