Collision Avoidance Procedures Soaring Safety Foundation Flight Instructor

Collision Avoidance Procedures Soaring Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic Rich Carlson

Sharing Airspace

Regulations FAR 91. 113 (b) Regardless of … IFR or VFR … all pilots will observe “See and Avoid” procedures Advisory Circular 90 -48 C Pilots role in collision avoidance AIM Section 4 -4 -13 (d) Describes effective scanning techniques

See and Avoid Basic Concept Look outside and avoid running into other aircraft!

See and Avoid Advantages Uses Mark I human eyeball Low regulatory overhead Limitations Pilot must recognize hazard and take action

Mark I Eyeball Supplement Page 8

Problems Physiological issues Blind spot Empty Field Myopia Physical obstructions Seat location Canopy rails Instruments

Visual Scanning Peripheral vision detects motion Foveal vision identifies objects Proper scanning procedures Use multiple sectors (10 deg) Stop in each sector for a second or 2 Focus on distant object

Known Hazardous Areas General areas Near VOR’s In and around Class D, C, and B airspace Near victor airways Within 5 miles and 3000 ft of an airport

Known Hazardous Areas Glider Specific Thermals Start/Finish Gate Turnpoints Ridge line Others

Aircraft Markings Anti-collision markings A study by the OSTIV TSP found that high visibility color (Safety Orange) reduced the visibility of a glider Highly reflective ‘mirror’ tape did a much better job

Visual Perception The blocks on the lower left mark the danger area for the speeds quoted, when aircraft are on a collision course. This danger area is based on the recognition and reaction time shown in the table on the lower right. From AC 90 -48 C

Reaction time in seconds

Visual Perception Move back 12 feet from this illustration. From that position the silhouettes represent a T-33 aircraft as it would appear to you from the distances indicated in the table on the left. The time required to cover these distances is given in seconds for a combined speed of 360 and 600 mph. From AC 90 -48 C

Is a collision imminent?

Position Reporting Where am I Where are you Aids to position reporting GPS distance/bearing Altitude Known ground reference

Electronic Aids Radio’s Transponders Operation limitations Glider only codes Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast (ADS-B) FLARM US FAA

Portable Collision Avoidance Boxes PCAS - XRX PCAS - MRX http: //www. zaonflight. com/

New Technology

Situational Awareness What’s happening now What’s going to happen next What’s going to happen soon What’s he going to do

12 Action Items from Jim Short’s “Airspace in the New Century” Prominent posting of airline arrival/departure routes and expected altitudes Post NOTAMs for meets and contests Define local areas that are relatively safe Voluntarily avoid high risk areas Increase our personal vigilance at critical altitudes Consider a Mode C transponder Supplement Page 7

Summary Remember – most mid-airs and near mid- airs occur during the day, in VFR conditions, close to an airport See and Avoid procedures need to be taught