Feb 2012 – Aviation forecasts are important, and pilots must always expect to meet the forecast conditions.
However, a forecast only describes what is most likely to happen, and pilots must consider other possible outcomes. This leaflet should help pilots to recognise the approach of worsening weather before they fly into it.
April 2011 – It is generally understood that most accidents are the result of the pilot’s actions, including the decisions that they make. This leaflet explains some of the factors that influence how the pilot’s decisions affect the safety and survival of the aircraft and its occupants.
Every flight requires the pilot to make decisions. Some are between two exclusive choices; the ‘go/no-go’ decision. Others require the pilot to work out a course of action from available information. The same factors affect both types of decision.
However, it is most important that the pilot is aware of the situation at all times and must be able to recognise early that a decision is necessary.
‘See-and-avoid’ is the main method used to minimise the risk of collision when flying in visual meteorological conditions. It is an integral part of a pilot’s ‘situational awareness’, in other words the skill involved in looking outside
the cockpit or flight deck and becoming aware of what is happening around the aircraft.
This Leaflet, based on ICA O Circular 213–AN /130 and a Safety leaflet produced by the UK CAA , aims to help pilots to make ‘look-out’ more effective. It should be of interest to all pilots, regardless of the type of aircraft they fly.
The priorities for safe flying are ‘Aviate, Navigate, then Communicate’. Whilst this is always true, correct standard radiotelephony phraseology makes an importan contribution to the safe and efficient operation of aircraft.
Communication errors and inapropriate use of phraseology continue to feature as contributory factors in safety -related incidents throughout Europe.
The loss of control in flight is statistically the major tpe of fatal accident in General Aviation in Europe. This video illustrates this an practical example a risky situation, leading to a loss of control.
This video is also available in French: ‘Perte de contrôle en vol à vue’.
This video was developped by the french “Institut pour l’amélioration de la sécurité aérienne” IASA in cooperation with EGAST.
