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Issue 163
May 2021

 

GET THERE IT-IS
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NOTE: I’m firstly a Recreational Pilot. I have had some wonderful experiences as a pilot and in recent years as an RAAus Senior Flying Instructor. I’m sharing my experiences. Content can be of my own or in part may be from other sources. Do not use my content for flight instruction. Please consult a qualified flight instructor in your area.
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Who can honestly say in their flying that they haven't made one mistake since they were granted their licence or pilots certificate? Come on be honest. We have all flaunted the rules that were given to us when we trained and yet at times we slip up and find ourselves in a precarious situation...quite often life or death in fact. I admit my mistakes and error of judgement. So why do we do this...even if rarely/? Bring in the human condition...that's you and me. Several years ago, I was at a nearby airfield having my aircraft autopilot reconfigured. The flight to the technician was marginal weather but for my skill set doable. It was within my personal minimums.

The work completed and the days weather was indicative of a "stay the night" situation. As i watched the weather front slowly pass, I could see clear sky behind and at that time another aircraft took off and I watched as he flew direct to my home airport. So why not follow him? We watched on Flight-radar and he levelled off at 3000ft which was higher than the forecast ceiling (2500). What could possibly go wrong?

He did what I planned to do, I really didn't want to spend a night way and so I did the unforgivable I let him "lead' me home! ... get there it-is was now in full play. I prepared my aircraft, took off and climbed over the same hills he had just flown over. Some patches of cloud were around but not sufficient to cause me a problem. Famous last words !!

As I climbed over the hills the cloud was patchy, a little foggy but in my mind "safe" I had clear visibility below and sufficient clear ahead. It was very similar to the weather I'd encountered on my way to the technician in the morning. Then in the blink of an eye I was totally surrounded by foggy/cloud. It came from nowhere . My immediate reaction turn back. But that was no longer an escape route. I was trapped. All the human factors training I had done flashed before my eyes. I had broken the cardinal rule...avoid get there IT-IS.

But I remembered my rookie training and acknowledged that panic is the killer in most of these unexpected situations. I can tell you your heart beats rapidly and your training kicks in. But do not panic. think. Remember AVIATE...NAVIGATE...COMMUNICATE...and in that order of priority. In other words, keep flying the aircraft.

OK - settle. Keep your wings level...you only have 179 seconds to live I remember...watch this old but sound video  https://youtu.be/b7t4IR-3mSo  A spiral turn will get you.

Ah ha..a light-bulb moment. The new auto pilot has a built in "wings level" function. so, turn that on. Now I can’t turn. I knew that the cloud ceiling forecast at 2500ft so I maintained airspeed ... don't stall', and kept climbing. Sure, enough I popped out on top to a clear blue sky. Yay I say. The rest of the trip was uneventful and totally safe. BUT what happened?


Simple. the aircraft which departed before me and from whom I stupidly took the lead from, departed the airport did a circular climbing turn to 3000ft, had clear sky and was totally safe. My get there IT-IS mode ensured that I did a straight ahead climb to clear the hills and of course found myself trapped in a blank.

Why would I tell you this story. I hope that the next time you encounter the need to follow another aircraft, if you dont respect and follow forecasts, if you think getting home is more important than staying safely on the ground, then think again and again and again and stay safe.Good decision making is the hallmark of a great pilot. I was not great on that day.


Till next time...fly safe and ....  

REMEMBER:  Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself

Cheers

 Ian McDonald

PS - do you have any questions or points of interest you'd like me to discuss or investigate. Drop me a note.
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