Avoiding Mid-Air Collisions and ¡Conspicuity
One of the key risk areas for General Aviation (GA) is mid-air collisions. In the EASA Member States (MSs), there are an average of 6 fatal collisions every year — tragically leading to the loss of 13 lives every year.
The goal is for every pilot and passenger to land safety after every flight to #flyanotherday. Whenever you take to the sky, it is important to "Be Seen and Be Aware".
This is the topic that we cover in Sunny Swift Issue 41. You are encouraged to share it in your flying club and with your fellow pilots.
"Be Seen" by getting ADS-L compatible equipped
The first part of avoiding mid-air collisions is to be equipped with ADS-L every time you take to the skies. Regardless of how you fly, in an aircraft, glider, balloon, paraglider or anything else, being electronically conspicuous to everyone else in the air is vital. This is a foundation that unlocks something broader called ¡Conspicuity. It is like removing an invisibility cloak to help keep you and everyone on board your aircraft as safe as possible.
How can you do that?
You can "Be Seen" by becoming ADS-L equipped. This is an affordable, interoperable Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based system that provides both privacy & security.
These are the three types of ADS-L technology that we use in GA:
EASA partners with the aviation community to show a commitment to ¡Conspicuity implementation
ADS-L is the key to making ¡Conspicuity a reality. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has partnered with industry and user associations to launch the ADS-L Coalition. It is a partnership where participants commit to taking ownership of the ADS-L and supporting its further development to enhance situational awareness for everyone, whether in the air or on the ground.
Other reasons why ¡Conspicuity is a good thing
As GA pilots, whether we like it or not, we have to share the airspace with an increasing number of other air vehicles, particularly drones that are providing more and more vital services to our society, such as Search and Rescue (SAR), healthcare deliveries (blood and medicines), aerial work support, and cargo deliveries.
Drones will mostly operate in airspace called U-space, and ¡Conspicuity makes it easier to safely share airspace with drones.
ADS-L also provides a link for getting weather and other useful information to improve pilot awareness. It could also provide for an enhanced Flight Information Service (FIS) and quicker SAR support if something does go wrong.
"Be Aware" by using pilot tools and visual techniques effectively
Once you are equipped with the right equipment to "Be Seen", it is important to "Be Aware" of where your aircraft is and where other aircraft and other air traffic are in relation to your planned route.
Depending on how busy the airspace is, there can be quite a lot of things to think about. This is where modern technology can really help you to fly safely. At the top level, you might choose to equip your aircraft with ADS-L technology: either when you are buying a new aircraft that offers such an option or by upgrading your existing aircraft avionics. This is where the EASA ADS-L Coalition will help you to make informed buying choices.
Obviously, there is quite a lot of cost involved in integrated avionics, and upgrades are not so cheap. This is where having a tablet or mobile device that is charged and operating a modern flight application can really support you providing great information to help maintain situational awareness by knowing where other aircraft are. Such applications do all sorts of other things as well, including flight planning, weather, and many more.
The importance of visual techniques (also known as "looking out of the window")
Many pilots have already experienced the benefits of upgraded avionics or have been using a mobile device to help situational awareness. However, those things do have limitations and downsides. Firstly, not everyone is going to have the right equipment, so they cannot "Be Seen" on a device. Secondly, once you have a device with lots of amazing information on the screen, it becomes harder to tear your eyes away from the device and look out of the window to maintain full situational awareness.
The skill of using your equipment while also using effective visual scan techniques takes time and effort to master. Keep practicing and asking yourself how effective your scanning is after every flight.
"Be Seen and Be Aware" to Fly Another Day
Do not become a statistic in the EASA Annual Safety Review, you owe it to your loved ones to give yourself the best chance to enjoy a safe flight every time you go flying. You can do this in three easy steps:
- Equip your aircraft with the right device so that you can "Be Seen".
- Use pilot tools and equipment coupled with effective visual scanning techniques to "Be Aware".
- Finally, when you plan and then perform every flight, create Key Decision Points (KDPs) where you switch from your automatic, rapid system 1 brain to the more deliberate system 2 brain — then you are less likely to miss something that might become a serious hazard.
For more information on the topic of avoiding mid-air collision, you can go to Sunny Swift Issue 22 or the EASA GA Community Network on Sunny Swift Issue 22.