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Risks and Danger for Helicopter Pilots: Mast Bumping
This is the second of a series of articles on the typical dangers for helicopter pilots. In this series, we will explore the risks involved with takeoff and landing, weather, approaches and night flying.
Powering Your Ultralight: A New Engine Case Study
The ultralight community is one of companies, builders and flyers who combine non-certified equipment with best practice build techniques to meet ultralight aircraft requirements. Innovation has always been part of the community. It is enhanced by the sharing of information to improve the best practices, whether this is better build techniques or a more reliable engine.
How NAV CANADA Communicates Impacts to System Capacity
Ensuring Canada’s air traffic control towers and flight service stations are appropriately staffed is a highly important, shared responsibility throughout NAV CANADA. However, in the event a situation occurs which may impact system capacity, such as the unplanned absence of an air traffic controller or flight service specialist, NAV CANADA has procedures in place to safely manage the impact and to ensure critical information is shared, within the established communication channels, with all impacted users.
Mental Health and Crew Resource Management
A study of healthcare avoidance among Canadian pilots (Patel et al., 2023) found that for 72% of respondents, consulting a doctor was a source of concern, which could result in a postponement of medical visits or simply a decision not to consult professionals. In other words, asking for help when your livelihood depends on a medical certificate is easier said than done. In the context of a safety management system, this point needs to be raised, and team resource management courses would, in my opinion, be an excellent forum for tackling the subject.
Threshold Concepts
In aviation, threshold concepts are fundamental ideas that, once understood, transform a student’s perspective and approach to learning. It can also be a way of looking at something that allows deep understanding of something in the world (Mossley, 2017).
Common Problems and Essential Questions for Automation in Aviation
In the years ahead, automation—and, indeed, autonomy—will continue to enhance crew resource management, precision navigation and efficient performance, especially in long-duration flights. However, when these systems fail, are designed poorly or are operated incorrectly, the results can be disastrous. As autopilots continue to become more pervasive and capable, it’s helpful for pilots and manufacturers alike to consider the most common problems for automation-related accidents.
Civil Aviation Documents Issues Recently
Civil Aviation Safety Alerts and Advisories circulars issued within the last 60 days.
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TSB Report A23P0091—Collision with terrain
Float-equipped De Havilland DHC-2 Mk. I (Beaver), conducting a visual flight rules repositioning flight, aircraft experienced an uncommanded yaw and roll. (See PDF for condensed version)
TSB Report A24O0048—Tail rotor strike during ground handling
Aerospatiale AS350 BA helicopter, conducting a series of flights to various hunting camps. (See PDF for condensed version)
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Aviation Safety Letter
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ISSN: 0709-8103
TP 185E