NAVIGATION
Is the app connected to the net for planning?
would have alerted the pilot about the RA(T) he infringed, and hopefully would have avoided the infringement and subsequent Airprox, it’s important to realise that it isn’t a substitute for a proper check, it merely lists the upgraded airspace on any day – for example for Royal Flights – and any temporary restrictions such as an airshow or Red Arrows display. Just as an example as to why it isn’t a substitute for a Notam check, a one-day parachute drop event would certainly be Notam'd, but not be listed on the freephone number because no airspace change is involved. For flying, the discipline of integrating GPS use with traditional VFR navigation needs to be learned, so that switching between the two is relatively seamless. Don't fly on the basis of 'GPS never fails for me', because what you really mean is 'GPS never failed in the past for me', and you are flying now, not in the past. Even if GPS satellites keep transmitting unjammed signals 365/24/7, tablets do overheat and shut down; they can run down quickly, and for traditional GPS users, alternators can fail and warning red lights not be noticed, leading to lack of panel electronics later in the flight. Long before considering any particular flight for preflight planning, there’s a little bit of ‘Threat and Error Management
‘Even if GPS keeps transmitting 365/24/7, tablets do overheat and shut down, and can also rundown'
(TEM)’ to bring into play — always a good thing for converting future regretful hindsight into current intelligent foresight. Two things come quickly to mind, both based on recent infringements which left two pilots with undergoing expensive and time-consuming processes they could have so easily avoided. Firstly, what about carrying an official paper chart (that you can reach) in the cockpit…? It might feel good to sit in the bar and pontificate that no regulation specifies a paper chart, and anyway, the information can be up to a year old, can't it? Well, for one thing, it’s a great safety net. In a recent different infringement a pilot had relied on a GPS, and even printed out a chart of the route, 'just in case'. Sadly, not only did the GPS shutdown
in flight, weather forced the aircraft well off the intended route, beyond the pilot’s pre-printed (fairly narrow) route. It was an expensive way of saving about £16 on a paper chart as back-up. What it actually cost was a navigation flight test with the CAA Staff Examiner to restore his suspended licence. As an aside, an early call to alert 121.5 or his service provider to his developing situation would have been great airmanship and no doubt saved the day. While on the subject of paper charts going quickly out of date, that’s true if you don't realise that you can receive email updates during its validity period to update the chart yourself using NATS’ VFR Chart Newsletter & Update Service (
www.nats-uk.ead-it.com). So if a glider winch site opens up or closes down, either of which might amend your intended route, an email can inform you with plenty of notice to update your chart.
SUMMER 2019 CLUED UP 11
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
