Flight Training - January 2012 - 37

size and complexity, requires you to read and review the emergency procedures for that particular aircraft. Just because you are proficient in a Mooney doesn’t mean you can handle an emergency in a Cessna 150.
PRACTICE. OK, you’ve read and reviewed the emergency procedures for the aircraft. Now go out and practice them! If you aren’t comfortable doing them alone, take along an instructor. The important thing is to go out and execute them. Do an entire lesson or review session of nothing but emergencies. Or, do one or two emergencies of the instructor's choosing every flight. Another option is to take a fellow pilot along for a flight, and have him present you with situations that require your intervention. For example, your friend “notices” the oil pressure dropping, and oil temperature rising. What will you do? Or maybe the lights on the instruments are gradually becoming dimmer, and radio reception is getting weaker. Present real-life situations that will help you, and your fellow pilot, think through how to handle the potential emergency. These exercises will not only keep you more proficient, they can be fun and build piloting confidence.

natural instinct to immediately react. Sometimes, this reaction can do more harm than good. While all emergencies require prompt action, it is most often prudent to think through the situation first. If you are picking up airframe ice, should you go up, or down? Your fuel is getting too low to make your destination because of unexpected headwinds. Should you land immediately in the field below, or plan to land at an airport a few miles behind you? It is usually advisable

So how did my situation turn out? Once I realized that landing without wheels was less than desirable, I informed the tower that I was executing a go-around and needed to be vectored out of the way while I attempted to resolve the problem. I ran through the emergency gear extension checklist, and the gear lowered and locked without further incident. I let the tower know that I had resolved the issue, and returned for an uneventful landing.

CURRENT PILOTS TEND TO BE MORE "AHEAD OF THE AIRPLANE" AND CAN THEREFORE IDENTIFY SITUATIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO AN EMERGENCY EARLIER IN ITS DEVELOPMENT.
to spend a few moments contemplating your best course of action prior to making a rash reaction (although, if you have flames licking at your feet in flight, I would recommend getting the aircraft on the ground immediately). By acting before we think, we can often make matters worse than the original problem that caused the reaction. Maintenance later informed me that a wire leading from the gear handle to the hydraulic gear pump had worked itself loose, causing the gear to malfunction. This drove home an important point to me. Emergencies don’t come on a schedule. They can occur at any time, usually when we least expect them. Because of this, we always need to remain vigilant, and ready to deal with whatever may come our way.
Clint Robson is an independent flight instructor living in North Carolina.

KEEP YOURSELF FIT. Let’s not forget that you are the pilot in command, and as such, are responsible for conducting the flight safely. Don’t forget before every flight to make sure that you are fit to fly. OPEN DISCUSSIONS. Ask others how they Not just physically, but mentally and would handle an emergency. Read artiemotionally as well. Use the “IM SAFE” cles. Read another pilot’s blog. Take part checklist before every flight (see box). in hangar talk. Just discussing options While it’s unlikely that you will be at your with fellow pilots can help you consider very best every single flight, know what options that maybe you hadn’t considered your limits are and respect them. When before. If you know pilots who expepossible, create personal limits that will rienced an incident or emergency, ask help you realize when you’re not at your them how they approached the situation. best. Remember that we as pilots are the If they experienced the same situation most important piece of safety equipment again, would they do anything differently? on board the aircraft, so make sure we are It is more desirable to learn from others' working at our best when flying. mistakes, than to go and make them all Like most things in life, if it is imporyourself. Use the knowledge of others to tant, it requires effort. Maintaining make you a smarter pilot. proficiency in emergency procedures is no different. However, the relatively UNDERSTAND. There is a difference small investment of time and energy between an immediate emergency and used to maintain this proficiency can pay an impending emergency. When human off huge dividends in the event of a real beings notice a problem, there is a emergency.

FLIGHT FITNESS:
THE “I’M SAFE” CHECKLIST
I—Illness Do I have an illness or any symptoms of an illness? M—Medication Have I been taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs? S—Stress Am I under psychological pressure from my job? Am I worried about financial matters, health problems, or family discord? A—Alcohol Have I been drinking within eight hours? Within 24 hours? F—Fatigue Am I tired and not adequately rested? E—Eating Am I adequately nourished?

JANUARY 2012 FLIGHT TRAINING

/ 37

Flight Training - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - January 2012