FAA Safety Briefing — March/April 2020

D E PA R T M E N T S 2 Jumpseat: an executive policy perspective The FAA safety policy voice of non-commercial general aviation 3 ATIS: GA news and current events 5 Aeromedical Advisory: a checkup on all things aeromedical 6 Condition Inspection: a look at specific medical conditions 15 Checklist: FAA resources and safety reminders 34 Drone Debrief: drone safety roundup 36 Nuts, Bolts, and Electrons: GA maintenance issues 37 Angle of Attack: GA safety strategies Straight From Steve Meet FAA Administrator Steve Dickson 38 Vertically Speaking: safety issues for rotorcraft pilots 39 Flight Forum: letters from the Safety Briefing mailbag 40 Postflight: an editor’s perspective Inside back cover FAA Faces: FAA employee profile What is WTIC? Making Weather Mind The Gap Understanding Technology and Information in the Latency Issues With In-Cockpit

8 16

Cockpit Work for You Weather Imagery Will You Make Good Decisions About Bad Weather? The FAA’s Weather Research Program Has Answers Operation ICICLE New FAA Program Tackles Aircraft Icing Omnipresence The Gift of Being and “Seeing” Elsewhere ADAPTing to ADS-B How Non-Equipped Operators Can Request Access to ADS-B Rule Airspace Roll of Honor 2019’s Master Pilot and Master Mechanic Award Winners March /April 2020 1

JUMPSEAT RICK DOMINGO, FLIGHT STANDARDS SERVICE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

HOW'S THE WEATHER?

Everybody talks about the weather, but water contents) as well as non-icing nobody does anything about it. conditions (glaciated environments — Mark Twain and clear air).

We’ll take a look at the FAA’s Heavy rain is falling as I write this weather camera program, which is column. Since I would strongly prefer wildly popular in Alaska. One of to be doing things outside, the late our most popular magazine alum - American humorist Mark Twain’s nae, Sabrina Woods, makes a return famous lament quickly comes to mind. appearance with her intriguingly titled If you are a VFR-only pilot, you may be “Mind the Gap” piece on … well, I’ll let especially in sync with these senti - you discover the subject as you read.

ments. But even if you are instrument Meet the New Administrator rated, it’s not possible (and certainly Weather Technology in the Cock - not safe) to fly in all weather condi - pit (WTIC) program. As you will Last but definitely not least, we are delighted to feature an interview with tions. Conditions that are at or below learn, this NextGen weather research minimums can keep you grounded, endeavor is working on ways to the FAA’s new Administrator, Steve Dickson. Administrator Dickson as can widespread convective activity ensure that cockpit and portable or icing conditions. Those of us in weather displays convey critical has quickly become known around the FAA for his weekly “Straight maintenance/airworthiness occupa - weather information more effec - tions may sometimes have the benefit tively. The magazine team also takes from Steve” video messages, and he received a great introduction to GA of a roof, but not always. In short, a look at how the WTIC program is inclement weather can, and does, affect working with researchers at the FAA’s issues when he hosted a GA Safety Roundtable late last year.

anyone and everyone in aviation. William J. Hughes Technical Center, Even with all of today’s whiz-bang the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical technology, there’s not a lot that we Institute (CAMI), and academia can do to stop rain, ice, turbulence, (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univer - THERE’S NOT A LOT THAT WE or other conditions adverse to GA sity and the Partnership to Enhance activity. But there is now an aston - General Aviation Safety, Accessibility, CAN DO TO STOP RAIN, ICE, ishing variety of tools and technolo - and Sustainability (PEGASAS)).

TURBULENCE, OR OTHER gies that aviators can use to avoid or Winter may be waning, but aircraft work safely around a wide range of icing can occur at any time of year CONDITIONS ADVERSE TO UMC — “unfriendly meteorological if the conditions are right. Given GA ACTIVITY. BUT THERE IS conditions.” Thanks to the unstinting how dangerous inflight icing can be, work of weather researchers, tools another article covers a field program NOW AN ASTONISHING we can’t even imagine are already in called In-Cloud ICing and Large- VARIETY OF TOOLS AND the works. drop Experiment (ICICLE). ICICLE, which started in early 2019, saw TECHNOLOGIES THAT WTIC, ICICLE, and More the FAA working with the National With that backdrop in mind, and AVIATORS CAN USE TO AVOID Research Council of Canada (NRC) as the spring flying season gets GA and Environment and Climate OR WORK SAFELY AROUND airplanes and pilots moving again, Change Canada (ECCC). This team the FAA Safety Briefing team thought used research aircraft to compile UMC — “UNFRIENDLY it would be a great time for a fresh new, high-quality measurements METEOROLOGICAL look at some of these developments covering a broad spectrum of icing in weather awareness. We’ll start conditions (freezing drizzle, freezing CONDITIONS.” off with an overview of the FAA’s rain, “small drop” icing, high liquid 2 FAA Safety Briefing

ATIS GA NEWS AND CURRENT EVENTS

AVIATION NEWS ROUNDUP

New FAA Video Series Aims to • Public ADS-B Performance Report Reduce Runway Incursions (PAPR) information and purpose (Section 4.3.2.5.6) While high-profile runway safety incidents involving commercial (part • ADS-B performance requirements 121) aircraft make the headlines, during aerobatic flight (Section safety data shows that general avia - 4.3.2.6.2) tion (GA) pilots are involved in a vast • Inoperative ADS-B procedures majority of these events. One of the (Section 4.3.4.2) including a new common contributing factors to these section on the ADS-B Deviation pilot errors is a lack of awareness or Authorization Preflight Tool misunderstanding of local runway (ADAPT) (Section 4.3.5) and taxiway configurations.

• Flight planning and ICAO flight To help reduce the occurrence of plan codes (Section 4.4) wrong surface incidents, runway incur - sions, and other high-risk events at U.S.

• Privacy ICAO Address (PIA) pro - airports, the FAA has developed the gram (Section 4.4.5) “From the Flight Deck” YouTube video • Call sign mismatch (Section 4.6.2) series that is targeted to GA audiences.

Each 4-5 minute video will focus on The AC also provides a helpful approach, landing, and taxi scenarios overview of the ADS-B system archi - at selected U.S. airports. The videos tecture, the various forms of available FAA.gov/go/FromTheFlightDeck will feature high definition footage equipment, broadcast services avail - Revised AC Provides Important along with professional graphics, able to ADS-B users, and operational Details for ADS-B Operations animations, runway diagrams, and considerations with regard to equip - narration to help identify and illustrate On December 30, 2019, the FAA ment performance requirements and airfield hazards and hotspots. published its latest revision to Advi - airspace restrictions. In addition, five All “From the Flight Deck” videos sory Circular (AC) 90-114 (Revision appendices in the AC cover ADS-B are available at FAA.gov/go/FromThe B), Automatic Dependent Surveil - In-Trail Procedure operations, Cockpit FlightDeck and hosted on the FAA lance-Broadcast Operations, which Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) YouTube Channel (@FAANews). provides comprehensive guidance on Assisted Visual Separation (CAVS) The first season of 10 airport videos ADS-B operations in the National operations, aircraft qualification and features large and small mixed-use Airspace System (NAS) in accordance maintenance associated with ADS-B airports with a variety of traffic types, with ADS-B regulations (14 CFR In operations, definitions, and relevant including Bedford, Mass., (KBED), sections 91.225 and 91.227). Of note regulations and reading material.

Boeing Field, Wash., (KBFI), Boise, in this revision is the clarification of To access AC 90-114B, go to Idaho (KBOI), Long Island Mac certain operational policies: go.usa.gov/xd375 .

Arthur, N.Y. (KISP), Lincoln, Neb., • Aircraft that are exempt from Important Charter Guidance for (KLNK), Kansas City, Mo., (KMKC), 91.225 (Section 3.2) Pilots and Passengers Philadelphia, Pa., (KPHL), Sonoma, • ADS-B Out operations during Calif., (KSTS) and Teterboro, N.J. Today, booking a charter flight can formation flying activities (Section be as easy as tapping a few buttons on (KTEB). New locations will be released 4.3.1) throughout the year. Subscribe to the your mobile device. But that doesn’t • Owner/operator responsibilities mean the flight is legal or safe.

FAA YouTube channel to see the full to maintain compliance with series and get notified about new loca - If you pay for a charter flight, you are regulatory requirements (Section entitled to a higher level of safety than tions (youtube.com/FAAnews).

4.3.2.5.1) is required from a free flight from a March /April 2020 3 ATIS friend. Among other things, pilots who transport paying passengers must have the required qualifications and training, are subject to random drug and alcohol testing, and the aircraft used must be maintained to the high standards that the FAA’s charter regula - tions require.

The FAA sent a letter about this issue to a company called Blackbird Air, which created a web-based app that connects passengers with pilots.

The letter emphasizes an FAA policy about the requirements for pilots who are paid to fly passengers. The pol - icy states that in addition to holding the required commercial or airline transport pilot certificate, pilots who are paid to fly passengers must also be employed by the company operating the flight. That company must hold a Safety organization is to provide the lanyard. The FAA's Aerospace Human certificate issued under 14 CFR part safest, most efficient aerospace system Factors Research Division has a small 119, or the pilots themselves must hold in the world through a data-driven, number of cards available for distribu - a part 119 certificate.

risk-based, systems approach for tion; however, larger organizations may Any pilot who provides charter standards, certification, and oversight. choose to print cards for their AMTs, flights without complying with the part Above is a snapshot of our aviation supervisors and managers, and proce - 119 certificate requirement is violating environment. dure writers.

the regulations — even if they possess Printing specifications are Procedure Following Cards a commercial or airline transport pilot available in the PDF download at Available for Printing certificate. Federal courts have upheld HumanFactorsInfo.com — just follow the FAA’s determination.

Before-and-After Procedure Following the Training and Tools link in the left For more information on safe air Task Cards are tools to help improve margin and scroll down to download charter operations, as well as a current safety culture in the aviation main - the three card types.

listing of FAA-licensed charter provid - tenance field. These cards remind ers, go to bit.ly/SafeCharterOps.

maintenance personnel of important steps to complete before, during, and 2019 Aviation Statistics after performing tasks. The cards are The mission of the FAA’s Aviation laminated and designed to hang from a SAFETY ENHANCEMENT TOPICS Please visit bit.ly/GAFactSheets for more information on these and other topics.

MARCH APRIL Pilot Proficiency and WINGS Stabilized Approach How proficiency training Maintaining a stabilized programs, like WINGS, can approach and landing is a help improve flight safety. great way to avoid a loss of control situation.

4 FAA Safety Briefing

AEROMEDICAL ADVISORY MICHAEL BERRY, M.D., FEDERAL AIR SURGEON

NEW INSULIN-TREATED DIABETES MELLITUS POLICY FOR PILOTS

As my office works to implement sig - protocols via the Federal Register nificant changes to our insulin-treated on November 7, 2019. We designed diabetes mellitus (ITDM) protocol, let the protocols to ensure that the pilot me take this opportunity to provide remains in good control and avoids an overview. incapacitation, subtle or overt. Both Not long after the Wright Brothers low and high blood sugar (hypo- and first flew, the need for airman physical hyperglycemia, respectively) are standards became apparent. Early U.S. associated with cognitive impair - Army pilot candidates included those ment that can cause poor decision The advent of new technology like continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) played a role in the FAA’s new policy.

medically disqualified for infantry making, slowed reaction time, and or cavalry. This was unsuccessful an inattention to detail, among other as shown by the British during the predecessors determined that technol - problems. The use of CGM allows the first year of WWI: two-percent of ogy had matured sufficiently to allow pilot to closely monitor blood sugar aviation losses were due to enemy special issuance of medical certificates irrespective of workload and ambient action, eight-percent to mechanical for ITDM at the Class III level. The conditions (turbulence, emergen - issues, and ninety-percent medical new protocol is an option for Class cies, etc.) and take corrective action in all phases of flight. In addition, a issues. Sixty-percent of the losses III medical certificates (although they had physical deficits. Once medical can also use the prior protocol). It has predictive function allows the pilot to take action to prevent blood sugar standards were in place, the accidents no effect on pilots using BasicMed or secondary to medical causes dropped sport pilot privileges. excursions outside the desired range rather than merely reacting to them, to twenty-percent after one year and You may also know that Canada twelve-percent the following year. and the United Kingdom (UK) both as is the case with finger-stick blood sugar testing. We have already begun Early civilian aeromedical standards allowed use of insulin by commer - closely mirrored those of the U.S. cial pilots some years ago. The U.S. to review cases under this protocol and will grant a special issuance when Army. Just as today, the medical stan - couldn’t follow suit right away because dards for commercial pilots were more both countries, to mitigate risk, it is safe to do so. This is a win for the professional pilot community and it rigorous than for a private pilot, which imposed limitations not feasible here balances public safety and an individ - in the United States. For instance, also maintains safety in the National Airspace System.

ual’s freedom to fly. Through today’s they limit use of the medical certifi - Special Issuance Medical Certificate cate to two-pilot operations, require process, provisions for appropriate specific training for the non-diabetic Dr. Michael Berry received an M.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, evaluation and risk mitigation allow us pilot, and require informing other and a master’s in preventive medicine from Ohio to routinely evaluate and issue for con - crewmember(s) of the ITDM condi - State University. He is certified by the American ditions that were once cause for auto - tion. Recent improvements in CGM Board of Preventive Medicine in aerospace medi - matic disqualification. This change is a (continuous glucose monitoring) cine. He served as an FAA senior aviation medical testament to ongoing improvements in technology are sufficient that the FAA examiner and vice-president of Preventive and Aerospace Medicine Consultants for 25 years before treatment and diagnostic tools. can now favorably consider special joining the FAA. He also served as both a U.S. Air Thanks to specific improvements issuance for Class I and II medical Force and NASA flight surgeon.

in the management of ITDM and certificates for some individuals with - through consultation with prominent out the need for these restrictions. My LEARN MORE clinical specialists in diabetes, we have expectation is that our special issu - determined that some applicants with ance will provide a template for other ITDM can now be favorably consid - International Civil Aviation Organiza - Federal Register notice on new ITDM ered for either a Class I or II medical tion (ICAO) member states including protocol go.usa.gov/xdr3D certificate under 14 CFR part 67. As Canada and the UK.

you may be aware, in 1996 one of my We announced the new ITDM March /April 2020 5

CONDITION INSPECTION LEO M. HATTRUP, M.D.

SPATIAL DISORIENTATION

that he possibly experienced spatial adhere to personal limitations, ideally disorientation resulting in the leans or beginning with the preflight planning a graveyard spiral. and continuing throughout the flight.

The second accident involved a Nobody — but nobody — is Cessna 340 pilot who actually had the immune to the impact of spatial aircraft towed to the takeoff runway. disorientation. So please take the time Why? He was concerned about hitting to reacquaint yourself with spatial a parked aircraft or a hangar due to disorientation and human factors on a the reduced visibility. As the Cessna regular basis. Maintain instrument pro - impacted the ground shortly after ficiency. Debrief your flights looking In this weather technology-themed the departure end of the runway, the for areas to improve. Finally, determine issue, let’s look at a relevant topic all review team believes the pilot may your go/no-go points for all phases of pilots must understand: spatial dis - have experienced the somatogravic flight early in the planning process.

orientation. Spatial disorientation, or illusion (a sensation of climbing due to Consider these resources: "Spatial-D" occurs when a pilot cannot acceleration).

• Pilot Safety Brochures determine their position, location, and The lack of CRM and ADM both bit.ly/PilotSafety motion relative to their environment. clearly contributed to these accidents.

• Spatial Disorientation – Visual The General Aviation Joint Steering It is easy to criticize and say “I would Illusions Committee (GAJSC), a joint industry/ never do that.” But, is that accurate?

go.usa.gov/xdrab government organization, recently For the most part, pilots are different reviewed two weather related accidents. from the general population. Many • Aeronautical Information Manual In each case, the pilot was instrument are so-called “Type A,” exhibiting both (AIM), Chapter 8 rated (but with uncertain proficiency) the determination and effort required bit.ly/AIMChp8 and the aircraft was equipped for to earn pilot certificates and ratings • Instrument Flying Handbook, instrument flight. The report does not as well as the “I can handle it” confi - Chapter 3 identify any mechanical issues and dence that can arise from successfully go.usa.gov/xdraQ neither pilot had a known medical completing those important mile - • Helicopter Flying Handbook, deficiency. In both accidents, spatial stones (e.g., first solo, first instrument Chapters 12 and 13 disorientation was quite possible. All cross-country, etc.). Unfortunately, this go.usa.gov/xdraE and known circumstances also indicate that same self-assurance can result in over - go.usa.gov/xdram the pilots ignored basic tenets of ADM confidence and poor decision making.

(aeronautical decision-making) and All of us are prone to continue a course • FAA Glider Flying Handbook, CRM (crew resource management). of action once begun, even if the situ - Chapter 13 The first accident involved a pilot ation deteriorates from that expected.

go.usa.gov/xdraV who flew his Bonanza into an area This tendency is termed “plan continu - • Spatial-D Fact Sheet of low instrument meteorological ation bias.” Along with pressure to per - bit.ly/SETopics conditions (IMC). He made multiple form (e.g., if passengers are present), 360s (looking for better weather?) and it can also impair the pilot’s ability to chose to scud run at less than 600 feet assess the actual risk of a situation and Leo M. Hattrup, M.D., received a bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University, a master’s in public AGL. There is no record of an official lead to disregarding important infor - health from Harvard University, and a doctorate or unofficial weather brief, nor did he mation such as cues suggesting spatial from Vanderbilt University. He is retired from the contact ATC for assistance. The final disorientation. In fact, a 2004 study by U.S. Air Force in which he spent the majority of his event was probably an accelerated NASA determined that “plan contin - career in aerospace medicine. He is board certified in stall near the ground (the flight path uation bias” was causal in 9 of the 19 aerospace and occupational medicine. He is a certif - icated flight instructor and enjoys flying airplanes, was 45 degrees pitch down through air carrier accidents reviewed. The helicopters, and gliders.

the trees). These maneuvers suggest solution, of course, is to establish and 6 FAA Safety Briefing

SUN ' N FUN AEROSPACE EXPO

FAA SAFETY CENTER FORUMS

March 31 – April 5, 2020

08:30 a.m. - 09:45 a.m. 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. 2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Most Common Cause of Fatal Future of Airman Testing and Backup Navigation The Future of Flight Service Simulators and Safety Accidents - Loss of Control the Designee Program During GPS Outages Tuesday Ed Verville Robert Reckert Joe Daniele Marci Veronie Vince Massimini MARCH 31 FAA Designated Pilot Examiner FAAAFS-600 Leidos Flight Service Senior VP Avemco MITRE WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK3 AFS098457 AFS098436 AFS098440 AFS098443 AFS098977 Runway Safety Discussions: Summer is the Best Time for Understanding Class E Wilderness Survival PT 1 Wilderness Survival PT 2 "The Good, The Bad, and Flying, But Am I Ready? Airspace for UAS The Ugly" Wednesday Noel Kirby & Mike Millard Mike Millard Ian Johnson Kevin Morris APRIL 1 Aimee McCormick FAA AFS-830 FAA AFS-830 FAA Aviation Weather Branch FAA AFS-850 FAA Office of Runway Safety WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK2 WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK3 AFS098445 AFS098446 AFS098464 AFS098447 AFS098821 Threat and Error Straight Talk About What Would You Do in These Meet the FAA TFRs Management Aviation Safety Maintenance Situations?

Thursday Mike Millard LTC Mitchell Walrod Patrick Hempen John & Martha King FAA Leadership APRIL 2 FAA Accident Invest. Director King Schools FAA AFS-830 NORAD AMT: MT-IA WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK2 WINGS: BK3 AFS098452 AFS098454 AFS098455 AFS098822 AUVSI Trusted Operator FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Secrets Only Pilots Know Program (TOP) for Drone and STEM-AVSED About Airports Operators Wright Brothers Master Pilot Awards Ceremony Friday Tom Slater APRIL 3 Jenny Rancourt Presented by FAA VIP FAASTeam Rep James Brough Cert. Manager AUVSI (10:30 - 12:00) WINGS: BK3 FAA STEM AVSED Office (08:30 - 9:00) AFS098458 Single Pilot IFR PT 1 Single Pilot IFR PT 2 The Future of Flight Service Recreational Drone Flying NOTAMS Saturday Jeff Edwards Jeff Edwards Joe Daniele Kevin Morris Grag Garmon APRIL 4 AvSafe, LLC AvSafe, LLC Leidos Flight Service FAA AFS-850 FAA ATO WINGS: BK2 WINGS: BK2 WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK3 WINGS: BK3 AFS098459 AFS0984560 AFS098461 AFS098823 AFS098462 Sunday Forums Closed - Exhibits Open Find WINGS programs in your area all year long at: www.faasafety.gov APRIL 5 Appropriate AMT / WINGS credit will apply FAA Forum & FAA Exhibit Hall Opens Daily at 08:30 a.m. Schedule is to events by using the associated subject to change; for updates check the QR code to the right or go to: #AFS098XXX listed in each box. bit.ly/FAAForums2020 To register for these events go to: bit.ly/2S5csQ2 March /April 2020 7

Making Weather Technology

WHAT IS

and Information in the

Cockpit Work for You

By Ian Johnson and Gary Pokodner

WTIC?

he human brain is an amazing organ, but most of us has five general aviation, four commercial, and one heli - are still limited in terms of how much information copter flight simulation devices. Having such equipment we can truly absorb, process, and retain at any given makes it efficient to conduct studies that use a variety of T time. With all kinds of information coming at us repeatable operational scenarios with a large number of from various sources, it’s easy for humans to succumb to volunteer pilots.

errors in perception.

VFR into IMC That’s why the FAA’s Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) NextGen Weather Research program is working to One of the main goals of WTIC research is to recommend determine how to ensure that weather information pre - a set of minimum performance recommendations for sented in today’s cockpit, whether on portable or installed weather displays. For instance, WTIC researchers are look - displays, conveys vital weather information more effec - ing for ways to highlight changing weather conditions in tively. The WTIC program works closely with the William order to improve pilot recognition of such developments.

J. Hughes Technical Center cockpit simulator facility which VFR pilots should know that flying into instrument meteo - rological conditions (IMC) can lead to a potentially serious situation, and few pilots intend to cross that line.

In reality, the transition from visual meteorological conditions (VMC) into IMC can be fairly rapid, or grad - ual and subtle. So anything that noti - fies the pilot of impending changes in visibility could be lifesaving.

Early research in this area focused on METAR symbology, with color changes to indicate the change from VFR to IFR. Researchers using dis - plays currently on the market quickly found that there is wide variety in how different manufacturers pres - ent this information. Consequently, pilots who voluntarily participated in WTIC research sometimes missed changes in METAR symbology and continued their flight into IMC when they should have been consid - ering changing course or diverting to an alternate airport. The study also revealed wide variance in pilot perceptions and suggested that the industry needs to find more salient ways of presenting a change to Ian Johnson and Gary Pokodner help pilots see the dangers of weather encounters with the WILD simulator at Sun ‘n Fun.

8 FAA Safety Briefing Ian Johnson with the WILD simulator.

visibility conditions. In short, these results point to gaps in Some flight training device manufacturers are now incor - porating the WILD concept to help pilots understand the displays and the need for depictions to be more consistent, salient, intuitive, and effective across platforms. gap between cockpit weather graphics and out-the-window conditions, and improve pilots’ ability to detect and avoid What You See … hazardous weather events. The WTIC program has also been briefing pilots on simple triangulation techniques and Another significant issue that WTIC research identified methods for rough estimations of distance that have been was that pilots do not fully understand the capabilities and shown to be significantly more accurate than “guessing” limitations of Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) distance to clouds, IMC, or other hazards.

graphic displays.

Read on for more information about WTIC!

NEXRAD is a great, long-range strategic planning tool that should be used to avoid hazardous weather areas, such Ian Johnson is an engineering psychologist and human factors researcher in the as lines of thunderstorms. The mistake pilots often make is FAA’s NextGen Aviation Weather Division’s Weather Technology in the Cockpit assuming that NEXRAD depictions are presented in real (WTIC) program. He has master’s degrees in human factors in aviation systems time, when in fact processing and transmission time can and aviation/aerospace safety systems from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univer - result in the image being up to 20 minutes old by the time sity. He also holds a pilot certificate for single and multi-engine airplanes.

it is displayed on a cockpit device. This lag is significant because thunderstorm cells can form and move far more Gary Pokodner is the program manager in the FAA’s NextGen Aviation Weather quickly than your display may indicate.

Division’s Weather Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) program. He worked in design, reliability, development, testing, and acquisition of avionics at Aeronau - To address image latency, the WTIC program is working tical Radio, Incorporated (ARINC) for 25 years before joining the FAA in 2011 to with researchers from the Partnership to Enhance General work on aviation weather research.

Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability (PEGA - SAS), an FAA-sponsored Center of Excellence for General LEARN MORE Aviation. PEGASAS has developed a table-top training device, the Weather Information Latency Demonstrator FAA’s WTIC Program (WILD), which can adjust latency for any specified time bit.ly/FAAWTIC interval to demonstrate the difference between the NEX - RAD imagery and what the pilot sees out the window.

NTSB Safety Alert – In-Cockpit NEXRAD Mosaic Imagery WTIC researchers used the WILD to examine how bit.ly/NTSBAlert latencies affect a GA pilot’s weather decision-making.

Among other things, they found that few pilots can accurately judge distances to clouds or to IMC conditions.

March /April 2020 9

The FAA’s Weather

Will You Make Good

Research Program

Has Answers

Decisions About

By Jennifer Caron

Bad Weather?

hich type of weather data would you rather have WTIC is one of two research programs in the FAA’s Next in the cockpit? Do you want weather data that Generation (NextGen) Aviation Weather Division. Along is valid at the current time, includes a forecast, with the Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP), the W but is not completely accurate? Or, would you WTIC program seeks to enhance aviation safety by minimiz - rather have a weather display that’s picture perfect, but any - ing the impact of adverse weather on flights operating within where from 15 to 20 minutes old? Of these, which would the National Airspace System.

you use to make a good decision to avoid bad weather? Let’s take a look at how the WTIC program is identifying These are the kinds of questions that the FAA’s Weather solutions to help improve your knowledge and interpreta - Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) program examines to tion of the weather conditions ahead. We’ll also talk about find the most effective ways to present weather information recommendations the WTIC program has made to industry in the cockpit so pilots can consistently and accurately inter - on how to deliver weather in a format that’s not only man - pret that information, understand its limitations, and use it ageable, but is easy to understand.

effectively to avoid adverse weather.

10 FAA Safety Briefing The Challenge According to a 2005 safety study by the National Transpor - tation Safety Board (NTSB), “errors in decision-making, such as plan continuation errors or incorrect assessments of weather-related risk, may be made by pilots who are either unfamiliar with the [weather conditions prevailing in an area in general, or over a long period of time], who lack total and/or recent experience identifying marginal weather conditions, or who lack experience getting or read - ing weather reports.” The Solution Granted, pilots are not meteorologists. However, a pilot does need to know how weather may impact his/her flight, the capabilities and limitations of the airplane, and his/ Ian Johnson and Gary Pokodner with the WILD simulator.

her personal minimums. This is where the FAA’s WTIC program comes in. “We need to find a better way to teach advance,” says Johnson.

pilots the weather, and determine areas where pilots have To address these concerns, WTIC sponsored two areas a weakness,” says Ian Johnson, an engineering psycholo - of weather training development. They reached out to the gist and human factors researcher in the WTIC program.

National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) to develop One of WTIC’s main objectives is to uncover gaps in pilot a training course aimed at improving weather knowledge training, as well as gauge the pilots’ understanding and and interpretation. WTIC assisted NAFI in creating a course interpretation of cockpit weather sources (e.g., SIGMETs) to help flight instructors improve their ability to teach and weather products (e.g., METARs).

aviation weather to pilots; specifically, in areas where pilots In 2015, the WTIC program reached out to Embry-Rid - demonstrated a weakness, as was noted from the results of dle Aeronautical University (ERAU) for help in addressing the ERAU study. A second course was created to help pilots gaps in pilot weather training. In response, ERAU devel - enhance weather decision making during flight.

oped 95 weather-related, multiple choice questions to You can find both courses online, and they’re free. Flight assess GA pilots’ knowledge of aviation weather concepts instructors, visit bit.ly/WxNAFI. Pilots, go to FAASafety.gov and principles, where to obtain the aviation weather prod - and enter ALC-521: Enhancing Wx Knowledge and Training ucts, and how to interpret the aviation weather products in the search bar. Be sure to register or log in to your account (e.g., forecasts, observations, etc.). The sample of pilots to receive WINGS credit for the course.

evaluated included pilots of all ages and genders, with a variety of flight time, whose certificates and/or ratings NEXRAD Images — Delayed, Not Live ranged from student pilots, to private and commercial WTIC further found that many GA pilots do not under - pilots, with and without an instrument rating.

stand that in-cockpit weather displays are latent — not It was no surprise that instrument rated commercial presented in real-time. The only source for real-time, radar pilots had the highest scores, but their scores were not sig - imagery is an airborne weather radar in your cockpit.

nificantly higher than private pilots either with or without Unless you have this equipment, data-linked cockpit gad - an instrument rating. Student pilots had the lowest levels of gets will always show delayed images.

aviation weather knowledge.

Just for example, Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) Overall, pilots scored higher on weather sources (e.g., mosaic images can be delayed anywhere from 15 to 20 SIGMETs, surface charts, and upper level charts), but lower minutes . It is not a five minute delay , as is commonly (50-percent or less, which means they failed) on interpre - thought. Also, remember that the time stamp on the dis - tation of weather products (e.g., radar, AIRMETs, satellite play reflects a delay from ground radar, in addition to the data, METARs, and PIREPs).

“The takeaway from these results is that GA pilots

What you see out the window

struggle to interpret weather products, which places them

is real, what you see on the

at a greater risk of flying directly into hazardous weather,”

display is delayed. Don’t fly your

Johnson explains. “It was clear that GA pilots need more training on basic principles of weather phenomena and

aircraft solely based on your

weather product interpretation to diagnose bad weather in NEXRAD display.

March /April 2020 11 time it takes to create the graphic, and the time delay in EAA AirVenture 2019. If you want to try your skill at nav - reaching your cockpit display. For more, read the NTSB’s igating hazardous weather in the safety of a WILD simu - lator, stop by the FAA Safety Hangar at AirVenture 2020 safety alert at bit.ly/NTSBAlert.

“What you see out the window is real, what you see on the and at the FAA Safety Hangar at the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo 2020.

display is delayed,” Johnson explains. “Don’t fly the airplane solely based on what you see on that data-linked display.” Meanwhile, here are some online — free! — courses that can teach you more about the limitations of weather Cockpit displays of data-linked weather, like NEXRAD, are meant to be used for strategic planning to help fly a displays in the cockpit.

wide berth around a line of thunderstorms that can be 100 or more miles ahead. Unfortunately, some pilots make the 1. Latency Training Module | bit.ly/LatencyTrain mistake of trying to navigate through perceived "holes" in the storms which could disappear entirely by the time the airplane actually arrives, resulting in an aircraft getting dangerously close to adverse weather.

Results from Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) reports and a small ERAU study showed that 33- to 50-per - cent of the time pilots thought the weather on their route and at their destination was better than it really was.

"Weather is not linear, it is dynamic,” explains Gary Pokodner, the WTIC program manager. “You can’t forecast growth and decay. A new thunderstorm cell can pop up behind the one a pilot is watching, and this can happen in 2. Visibility Training Module | bit.ly/VisTrain a matter of minutes. Don’t cut corners or shoot gaps, just steer clear.” Wild, Wild Simulated Weather To help GA pilots understand how easy it is to misread in-cockpit weather information, WTIC worked with the Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessi - bility and Sustainability (PEGASAS), which is a group of universities on a research grant from the FAA. Together they developed the Weather Information Latency Demon - strator, or WILD.

WILD is a desktop simulator designed to teach pilots about the effects of latency, how to better spot weather 3. NEXRAD Training Module | bit.ly/NEXRADTrain change color cues on the display, and to observe the potential differences between cockpit NEXRAD imagery and out-the-window conditions. In the WILD simula - tion, pilots fly a scenario with a thunderstorm ahead of the aircraft. Many pilots who tried it thought they could watch the storm and anticipate where it would be in 5-10 minutes. They were surprised when the virtual flight took them straight into a new thunderstorm cell or low visibility.

Pilots using WILD have thus been able to learn more about the dangers of latency and poor visibility and make better weather avoidance decisions.

WTIC is transitioning its findings from the WILD to flight simulator providers, as well as data-linked weather Conditions Ahead manufacturers. They are recommending better ways for WTIC continues work on a wide range of projects. First is manufacturers to format displays and add industry-wide the FAA’s “Shark Tank” project. The winner of the Shark consistency to weather change color schemes. Thanks to Tank competition suggested using Automatic Dependent Mindstar Aviation, pilots had an opportunity to fly the Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) reports to get turbulence WILD capabilities in the Pilot Proficiency Center during 12 FAA Safety Briefing information. This revolutionary idea was picked up by WTIC for research at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and is showing great promise in providing accurate turbulence observations. To find out more, read the “Shark Tank – FAA Style” sidebar.

WTIC also has two activities related to visibility determi - nation. First, is the WeatherXplore app. It is an augmented reality training aid where you can use your phone or tablet to connect with links to aviation weather web content and training modules. It’s available now as a prototype. Visit the Apple Store or Google Play to download it for free. The sec - ond visibility project is the triangulation method for estimat - ing distances. It applies the slant-range technique of using reference points on the aircraft, and points on the ground, to judge distance. In lab tests, pilots learned this technique Have you heard of the reality TV show called Shark Tank?

easily, and it resulted in statistically significant improvements It’s where promising entrepreneurs pitch their innovations to a over their current methods, which basically involves just panel of successful captains of industry (the Sharks) for that one guessing to estimate distances.

chance to get an investment deal that will turn their dreams into a WTIC has completed the process to “null out” the latency money-making reality.

in NEXRAD by using forecast information from models The FAA “took a bite” out of the show’s concept to promote and it works. A demonstration plan has been created to see and encourage innovation at the agency level. FAA employees how well pilots understand the information and use it. The submitted over 65 ideas, with five finalists chosen to pitch their FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) will run the innovations to the FAA ‘Sharks,’ a group of executives represent - demonstration in the next few months.

ing several divisions and offices agency-wide, in a live video Intrigued? Stay tuned; we’ll keep you posted on the large teleconference held on December 7, 2017. The winner, Matthew portfolio of WTIC projects to help you make good decisions Thompson, pitched a groundbreaking idea that could potentially about bad weather.

increase the number of aircraft providing turbulence observations by over 100 times compared to PIREPs.

Jennifer Caron is FAA Safety Briefing ’s copy editor and quality assurance lead.

Matthew, an FAA air traffic employee from Atlanta, proposed She is a certified technical writer-editor in aviation safety and flight standards.

using the vast amount of data points (e.g., vertical speed and altitude) that controllers receive from an aircraft’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system as a means to model certain aspects of flight. He envisioned using ADS-B vertical LEARN MORE field rate data to detect turbulence.

Matthew’s revolutionary idea was picked up by the Weather FAA’s WTIC Program Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) program as a project for the bit.ly/FAAWTIC researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research National Weather Service, Pilot’s Guide for Aviation Weather (NCAR), and it turns out that his winning idea is showing great bit.ly/NWSAvWx promise in providing accurate turbulence observations. What’s most promising is that the turbulence observations resulting from Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge bit.ly/PHAKCh13 Matthew’s idea can ultimately be input into models that will sig - nificantly enhance forecast tools such as the Graphical Turbulence NTSB Safety Study: Risk Factors Associated with Weather- Guidance (GTG), and a turbulence real-time product called GTG Related GA Accidents Nowcast (GTG-N) that gives you short-term forecast grids, modified bit.ly/NTSBWxStudy on a point-by-point basis, to provide better conformity with the latest turbulence observations.

Stay tuned to faa.gov for updates and more about this cutting-edge initiative that could one day make all our turbulence forecasting dreams come true.

March /April 2020 13 14 FAA Safety Briefing

SUSAN K. PARSON CHECKLIST

CROWDSOURCING WEATHER CONDITIONS

A New Take on PIREPs

If you shop online, you’ve proba - goes on: cloud bases, tops, and layers; Caveat Emptor (Buyer — and Flyer bly scrolled through at least a few flight visibility; precipitation; visibility — Beware!)

product reviews before clicking the restrictions (e.g., haze, smoke, and There is a dark side to online shopping buy link that delivers the purchase dust), actual winds and temperatures reviews, so it pays to look for “verified to your doorstep in a few days’ time. aloft; and hazardous conditions (e.g., purchase” indications. PIREPs are During the last Christmas shopping thunderstorms, icing, turbulence, far less likely to be fabricated in the season, crowdsourced customer wind shear).

crowdsourced weather world, but you reviews were more valuable to me still need to read with a critical eye.

It’s a Two-Way Street than breathless product informa - Few pilots are professional meteorol - tion drafted by advertising agencies. In aviation, as in shopping, crowd - ogists, so the ability to properly assess sourcing only works when there is an Wave-offs saved me money and and relay weather conditions is likely frustration, and glowing reports actual crowd offering information. If to be inconsistent. A new or low-time you are a PIREP consumer, please be a guided my better selections. Because pilot may have a tendency to overesti - I benefit so much from fellow shop - PIREP provider as well.

mate, and what a B-787 pilot reports as The PIREP format is printed on pers’ experience, I reciprocate by “light chop” will be far more intense for contributing my own reviews. many of the most popular kneeboards, a C-150 pilot.

so you don’t need to memorize a thing.

You probably know where I’m going To refine your own reporting skills, here. When browsing aviation weather You might find it helpful to think in take a look at the Aeronautical Infor - terms of who , when , where , and what .

sources to determine whether you mation Manual and FAA Advisory can safely fly, official information in In any case, please write the following Circular 00-45H, Aviation Weather sentence on your kneeboard in large METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, Services . Above all, just remember that and other products is important. You bold print: INFORMATION IS MORE those who use PIREPS — an eager IMPORTANT THAN FORMAT OR can also count on its integrity. Still, no audience that includes fellow pilots, matter how hard weather forecasters PHRASEOLOGY! Hazardous weather ATC, Flight Service, and the National information is important, but so is work to get it right, Mother Nature has Weather Service — will appreciate a way of changing things up. Conse - data on favorable conditions, especially anything you can offer, and the more if you find them in the context of a quently, there is no substitute for also the better.

getting “real world” and near real time gloomy forecast.

The traditional method for making reports from those who have flown LEARN MORE before you. a PIREP is to tell ATC or Flight Service that you have a pilot report and let You can probably think of times you “How to Be a Weather Wingman,” March/ have benefited from the crowdsourced them tell you when they are ready to April 2018 FAA Safety Briefing copy your information. These days, weather more commonly known as https://adobe.ly/2FBn459 PIREPs (pilot weather reports). Icing though, you can also use tablet and smartphone friendly PIREP submis - can be notoriously difficult to forecast. FAA Form 7110-2 bit.ly/USChartSup Icing may be under-reported because sion tools. Some have auto-populated values based on user preferences or few aircraft are equipped for flight into ADDS Registration known icing (FIKI) conditions; there - GPS data. Another option is the FAA’s www.aviationweather.gov/user/register electronic PIREP submission tool at fore, there will be no or few PIREPs FAA InFO 14011: Electronic Submission in those areas. If and when PIREPs the NWS Aviation Weather Center of Pilot Weather Reports Digital Data Service (ADDS) website.

do exist, they can help determine the go.usa.gov/xnVcW accuracy of a forecast or, alternatively, Registered users ( see Learn More ) can electronically submit PIREPs for if the path is clear.

For questions on PIREP procedures Need to know when you’ll be on instant graphical display and nation - 9-AWA-ATO-SYSOPS-FS@faa.gov wide distribution.

top of an overcast layer? PIREPs are the best source. The list of useful items March /April 2020 15

Understanding Latency Issues

with In-Cockpit Weather Imagery

By Dr. Sabrina Woods

was very fortunate to be stationed in England for several get through it. He never reported in again. The aircraft years while on active duty. Living abroad often brings wreckage was found about 450 feet from a residential about wonderful new experiences and at times, new structure, minus the left wing, vertical stabilizer, rudder, I challenges to overcome. I distinctly remember exploring and the right wingtip fuel tank. Those parts were located the open-air markets as a treat; learning to drive on the 200 feet from the main wreckage. The pilot and his family opposite side of the road (and car) was a trial. Sunday roast were fatally injured.

and tea times were a delight, while 140-plus days a year of rain could be a mood dampener. London’s West End was a must do, football (aka soccer) was king … and then there was the Tube.

The Tube, which is a 156-year-old, predominantly underground transit railway system connects all of London Photo courtesy of the NTSB.

and several outlying cities. Due to changes in the shape and heights of the trains themselves, significant horizon - tal and vertical gaps now exist between the cars and some of the older legacy platforms when certain trains arrive for boarding. The technology got better, but it introduced new, unforeseeable hazards into the system that had to be accounted for. Instead of trying to find some one-size-fits- all device to fill the ever-changing gap distances, someone chose a " Mind the Gap !" announcement to advise passen - gers of the risk of getting hurt. It resonates with domestic A section of the left wing from a Cherokee Six that suffered an inflight breakup and international passengers alike and no one ever forgets due to a weather encounter.

it. Indeed, the phrase has almost become synonymous with the London Underground, and with London herself.

The phrase also makes me think of a problem very near Post-accident examination of the left wing spar showed and dear to my heart: the continuing issue of GA accidents that the wing failed in positive overload. Conditions at the and incidents related to unintended flight into instrument time of the accident indicated the potential for heavy rain meteorological conditions (IMC). showers, thunderstorms, winds in excess of 45 knots, clear air turbulence, and low-level wind shear. The pilot had a Shooting the Gap GPS unit with a current subscription for Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) and likely used this information for A Piper Cherokee Six was on a cross-country flight when flight planning and diversion purposes. The problem is the pilot flew into an area of heavy rain showers. The that at the time of the accident, the depiction in the cockpit IFR-qualified pilot informed an air traffic controller would most likely have displayed weather conditions that that he was in “bad” weather and was going to try to 16 FAA Safety Briefing existed a couple of minutes earlier. By the time the pilot See page 12-22 of the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical arrived, the gap he was shooting for had firmly closed. Knowledge (go.usa.gov/xd42t) for more details on thun - The owner’s manual for the GPS unit in this accident derstorm hazards.

stated that “NEXRAD data is not real-time” and in fact, According to WTIC researchers, cockpit displays of data- NEXRAD data can be as much as 20 minutes older than the linked weather are meant to be used for strategic planning, age indicated on the cockpit display. This time difference with the goal of helping pilots keep a respectful distance can be significant, especially if a pilot is using it to navigate away from thunderstorms. It is also critical for pilots to through inclement weather that can change quickly, signifi - assess these big-picture weather issues before takeoff. Regard - cantly, and without notice. less of how technologically advanced weather forecasting and depiction applications have become, they are still best Gap Analysis used as a planning tool, and not as an in-the-soup fire-fight - ing tool. By then, the damage has been The term “gap analysis” in research done and the odds of it ending well are typically means comparing the actual not good.

performance of something to its poten - tial or desired performance. But for me, Betting Your Life “gap analysis” is the very real concern that pilots are unaware that the weather So why do we keep going? Why do we depicted on displays in GA cockpits end up in situations that, viewed from might not reflect what is actually going afar (and from the safety of the ground), on outside, and that pilots are navigat - we know we shouldn’t? It’s because ing based on that displayed information we humans have an innate desire to unknowingly. continue pursuing an endeavor simply My counterparts in the FAA’s Weather because we’ve already invested money, Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) effort, or time in it. This is in spite of NextGen weather research program the fact that the pursuit might lead us work hard to incorporate weather and into danger or worse. We do it because human performance research into the we have a very real, almost tangible standards and guidance documents that understanding of what we have already improve pilot decision making. One of invested, and we value it very strongly the biggest issues they are tackling is — definitely more than the unknown keeping pilots informed about the inherent lag in weather change in course!

dissemination and application depictions. In other words, if a pilot chooses to divert or abort a Information presented in the cockpit is delayed because flight due to weather, he or she knows for sure that there the National Weather Service needs upwards of five to 15 will be wasted time, probably a significant loss of money, minutes to create a mosaic of precipitation from NEX - and possibly the disappointment of not reaching the RAD radars and render the data as a graphic. It can take intended destination. If, on the other hand, the pilot con - five more minutes for the graphic to reach the cockpit. A tinues to fly, a successful outcome remains to be seen and is timestamp on the image may only refer to the most recent thus the “unknown” in this equation. In the end, the risk of data contributing to the mosaic image and might not diverting the aircraft feels higher than proceeding into that include the delay required to develop the graphic in the unknown. We go for the gamble.

first place. If GA pilots are unaware of that key discrepancy, This desire gets compounded if we have ever done this the consequences can be fatal. The display may result in a sort of thing before and gotten away with it. Each time we dangerously false sense of existing conditions, especially have a successful outcome, our risk-aversion needle slips a when the aircraft is already headed for inclement weather. little further into the “eh, what could possibly go wrong?” Approaching pilots might think there is a gap they can category, despite the fact that the hazard does not change.

scoot through, only to discover — too late — that the gap I call this whole phenomenon the human factors version is long gone. The result can be inadvertent entry into IMC of Betting on the Come. We don’t have what we need at the conditions. moment but we hope that when the time arrives, we will Note : another risk in shooting a gap is that if you get what we want! It’s a dangerous gamble, especially when get “too close” to a storm, you can hit severe turbulence. weather is involved. Weather is the house and, just as in a FAA guidance recommends 20 miles as the minimum casino, the house always wins.

safe distance from a convective storm to avoid the risk of severe turbulence, which for GA can also be fatal.

March /April 2020 17 is telling you with other pieces of information inside and outside the cockpit. One great (and cheap) tool is the Pilot Weather Report (PIREP). Passing pertinent info back and forth among your fellow flyers about “how it really looks out there” is indispensable (and did I mention cheap?!).

Photo courtesy of Garmin.

Recognize that if you are out flying, it probably means you have somewhere to go. It also means you are already biased to want to continue on your journey despite evi - dence indicating it might not be the best idea. This is the very definition of get-there-itis. To combat these natural tendencies, build a plan and stick to the plan. A good plan should have a Plan B (and possibly C) in it. Determine and adhere to your personal minimums. Respect the limitations of technology, Mind the Gap!, and navigate well away from weather.

Mind the Gap!

Here’s what I want you to remember: The weather infor - Dr. Sabrina Woods is a guest writer for the FAA Safety Briefing. She is a human LEARN MORE mation you access and use as a pilot might not always be factors analyst for the Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention. She spent exactly as it seems. Just like the London Underground, 12 years as an aircraft maintenance officer and an aviation mishap investigator Air Safety Institute Case Study “Time Lapse” in the Air Force.

the technology has gotten better. But in so doing, it has youtu.be/83uvKWJS2os introduced new, unforeseeable hazards into the system that have to be accounted for. Over-relying on your gadgets and NTSB Safety Alert on In-Cockpit NEXRAD Mosaic Imagery gizmos and failing to appreciate their limitations might bit.ly/NexradMosaic get you caught up in a bad situation. So, avoiding the bad Into the WILD — Pilots get Weather Wakeup Call is a matter of actively working to reconcile what your app faa.gov/nextgen/library/wild

Do You Know Where Rule Airspace is?

FL 600 CLASS A ADS-B 1090 ES Required 18,000 MSL

|

2,500 AGL ADS-B Not Required CLASS E 10,000 MSL and above ADS-B Required

|

CONUS Only CLASS E ADS-B CLASS B Required CLASS C 10,000 MSL 3,000 MSL ADS-B ADS-B Required Required 12NM From 10,000 MSL 10,000 MSL Mode C Veil Coastline Surface Surface ADS-B Required 30NM Gulf of Mexico 10,000 MSL Surface Key AGL Above Ground Level FL Flight Level MSL Mean Sea Level NM Nautical Miles 18 FAA Safety Briefing Produced by FAA Communications • 2020-AJM-004

NEW FAA PROGRAM TACKLES AIRCRAFT ICING

By Marilyn Pearson

inter in the United States can produce some Through ICICLE, the FAA will support development of both of the riskiest weather for aviation, including terminal and national-scale icing products. Data collected freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and sleet. But from ICICLE will help develop and validate weather tools W these dangerous weather conditions were ideal to identify icing conditions a pilot might encounter, both for the FAA’s In-Cloud ICing and Large-drop Experiment in terminal area and en route environments. By improving (ICICLE) campaign. ICICLE seeks to collect in-flight data weather tools and model forecasts, the FAA hopes to reduce in some of the most challenging North American icing aircraft icing-related accidents and fatalities.

conditions. Two FAA projects administered the ICICLE campaign: ICICLE is part of the FAA’s Aviation Weather Research the Inflight Icing program (that supports research for the Program, whose research aims to minimize the impact of en route domain), and the Terminal Area Icing Weather weather on aircraft in the National Airspace System (NAS). Information for NextGen (TAIWIN) research project (that Some members of the ICICLE team after a flight in mid-February 2019.

March /April 2020 19 supports development and testing of new capabilities for the terminal area domain). Stephanie DiVito, FAA lead for both TAIWIN and ICICLE, notes that “Identifying these complex icing environments and forecasting them can be difficult.

But for those who need to stay out of icing or certain types of icing, knowing where it does and does not exist is critical to safe operations.”

By improving weather tools and

model forecasts, the FAA hopes

Convair in the snow.

to reduce aircraft icing-related

accidents and fatalities.

typical flight day, at about midnight before the flight, the on-duty forecaster began an in-depth analysis of current Frosty Flying and forecasted weather for the day. Partnering universities From January through March 2019, the National Research nearby often released weather balloons to further analyze the cloud structure. Then in the early morning hours, Council of Canada (NRC), in collaboration with the FAA and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), flew scientists and Convair-580 crew members began work on the flight planning. The research team used the forecasts to a Convair-580 twin-engine research aircraft into forecasted icing conditions in and throughout Rockford, Illinois and plan the timeline, flight route, and altitudes needed for the flight crew to capture the in-cloud and surrounding ice- neighboring states. Scientists and engineers from the ECCC, the NRC, the FAA, and the National Center for Atmospheric prone conditions. The airplane was equipped with special instruments to measure the range of particle sizes and Research (NCAR), worked to collect extensive environmen - tal measurements using multiple onboard instruments. concentration of both droplets and ice crystals through - out the takeoff, en route, and landing phases of the flights.

Forecasters monitored the weather throughout the program, both for short and long term planning. On a Onboard cloud and precipitation radars allowed the scien - tists to characterize clouds above, below, and ahead of the aircraft. Because the size and concentration of liquid drops and particles influence the impact of icing on an aircraft, measuring these fields was key. The flight program targeted a broad spectrum of icing conditions.

Ben Bernstein, ICICLE science lead and primary opera - tions director, helped identify and forecast icing conditions and guide the aircraft into and out of these conditions.

“This flight program targeted a broad spectrum of icing conditions, including supercooled large drops, and focused on challenging transitions in icing that are critical to providing essential icing information to the flying public,” Bernstein explained.

To enhance safety and allow for sampling at low alti - tudes, ICICLE teams operated over relatively flat terrain.

The crew flew profiles that allowed capture of the entire vertical structure, from near the surface to above cloud top.

Missed approaches captured sub-cloud and near surface conditions. Although air traffic volume limited access to favorable icing conditions in close proximity to cities like Chicago, light traffic in most areas of the domain enabled valuable 24-hour sampling.

It Takes a Team NCAR was a critical partner in the research. During ICI - CLE, NCAR’s expertise in terminal area and in-flight icing conditions supported daily forecasting of weather condi - Convair side-window icing indicative of supercooled large droplet SLD environment.

20 FAA Safety Briefing Runback icing on Convair wing during flight.

Convair windshield iced up in flight.

Ice accretion on Convair cockpit window.

tions, flight operations, and initial analyses of icing weather everyone focused on our mission,” says DiVito. “ICICLE tools under evaluation. A team of forecasters monitored the was a major success, and we have collected a remarkable weather outlook and provided guidance on the best areas dataset that will help us continue to meet the FAA’s mission to find icing conditions. NCAR staff also monitored real- of improving safety in the NAS.” time data from satellite, radar, and ground-based instru - So what are the next steps for ICICLE? Although the mentation to help direct the aircraft once it was in flight.

team is still processing and analyzing the vast amount Other scientists supporting the program came from orga - of data that was collected, the FAA expects to publish an nizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric ICICLE science and operations plan, along with a detailed Administration Earth System Research Laboratory, NASA scientific article describing the program, deployment, and Langley Research Center, the Desert Research Institute, data collected, sometime later this year. Be on the lookout Meteo-France, the UK Met Office, Deutscher Wetterd - in a future issue for more on this important program .

ienst (the German meteorological office), and universities including Valparaiso, Northern Illinois, Illinois-Urbana Marilyn Pearson is an aviation safety inspector in the FAA’s General Aviation and Commercial Division.

Champaign, and Iowa State.

“There’s been a lot of collaboration on this project, with March /April 2020 21

OMNIPRESENCE

The Gift of Being and “Seeing” Elsewhere

By James Williams mnipresence is a neat trick if you can pull it off. as Alaska, are just the beginning. There is also the need to Officially defined as the state of being widespread get images back to a central server in a timely manner and or constantly encountered, it basically means being at a reasonable cost. Fortunately, some of these challenges O everywhere at the same time. Think how handy that diminished as technology improved and cameras became would be to pilots! Sadly, such abilities have always been the more resilient.

province of more divine beings. This inherent limitation has You are Here led to a dangerous trend — the “let’s just take a look” flight.

We’ve all done it. “It doesn’t look that bad here, I’ll just The current WCAM program has 230 Alaska camera sites turn around if it gets worse.” At best, this approach is and 178 sites hosted by NAV Canada, Canada’s civil air nav - expensive and time-consuming. At worst, it is dangerous and igation services provider. Each site offers between two and potentially deadly. We’ve all been burned by a bad forecast four camera views that show current conditions, a compara - or a lack of real-time data, not just at the destination but at tive Clear-Day image, and a 6-hour loop of previous images points along the way. The good news is that modern technol - to show trends. These cameras are consolidated and available ogy in the form of carefully-placed weather cameras brings to view at: avcams.faa.gov .

the benefits of omnipresence to everyone.

A 2012 FAA study concluded that the WCAM program had coincided with and contributed to a 53-percent decrease What is a Weather Camera?

in the weather-related aviation accident rate in Alaska. No The FAA’s weather camera program started about two surprise there; omnipresence that allows pilots to “see” the decades ago in Alaska as a way to give pilots “eyes on” mete - actual weather and how it is trending at critical points on orological information in areas too remote for more tradi - a flight path is powerful. Given this success, you may be tional observation. The Alaska Weather Camera (WCAM) wondering why these cameras aren’t being used outside of program goal was to stop the “go-out–and-take-a–look” Alaska. There’s a plan for that.

flights by placing cameras in mountain passes, and remote Where to?

or unattended airports, so pilots could “see” the weather conditions before takeoff.

With encouragement from a 2013 National Transportation Given the widespread availability of low-cost but Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation, there are plans high-quality cameras nowadays, this description skims over to expand the WCAM program beyond Alaska. First up: the very real challenges of making the program work as Hawaii. While the Hawaiian climate is very different from intended. The logistics of installing, powering, and main - Alaska, the Aloha State experiences the same rapidly chang - taining these cameras, especially in an area as unforgiving ing weather that makes weather cameras so useful. The FAA 22 FAA Safety Briefing An example of a weather camera site.

has identified 23 critical sites and has devised technical solu - those images into its weather camera website for all aviators tions for those installations. The agency has also gathered to use as a part of their flight and operational decision mak - some of the necessary funding to begin the rollout of Hawaii ing. The FAA hopes this partnership will provide a template weather cameras and expects to complete the process over for other state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and the next two years. municipalities to follow in the future.

The FAA also hopes to establish more agency-owned sys - tems. The agency has identified 170 possible weather camera

Modern technology in the form

sites in the continental United States, typically in mountain

of carefully-placed weather

passes with known controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) haz - ards. However, the partnership avenue allows the WCAM

cameras brings the benefits of

program to grow faster than FAA resources alone would omnipresence to everyone.

permit. The hope is that the minimal technical requirements for weather camera equipment will allow for a plethora of Wondering about the lower 48 states? The FAA is working non-FAA cameras to be added to the system. If you know a with organizations like state level departments of transpor - location that might benefit from a weather camera, talk to tation and municipal governments to integrate the images your state DOT representatives to see if they might be inter - from their existing camera systems. For example, the agency ested in supporting and/or partnering with the FAA.

has recently signed a Cost Reimbursable Agreement with The Road Ahead the Colorado state Division of Aeronautics to transfer its technical solutions, and to assist them with the installation Going forward, several innovations hold promise for of robust and capable camera facilities at 13 of their moun - the WCAM program. First are a host of improvements to tain-top Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) the WCAM website. You can already see some of these facilities. Upon completion, the FAA wishes to integrate March /April 2020 23 In another potential advance, the FAA is working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on an algorithm to use edge detection to determine visibility from the camera images. The algorithm, Visibility Estimation through Image Analytics (VEIA), works by learning landmarks with known distances and comparing current images to ideal ones. In that way, it estimates visibility the same way humans do.

Validating VEIA results against Automated Surface Observ - ing Systems (ASOS) readings found VEIA to be more than 90-percent accurate in detecting low visibility.

The FAA is working with state

and municipal governments to

host images and video feeds

from their existing camera

systems. Another idea is to

expand by leveraging existing

traffic cameras.

Finally, the FAA is considering new weather observing systems to fill gaps in current airport METAR coverage. New systems would have lower installation and operation costs while adding weather cameras. Combining low cost weather observation with cameras not only helps the WCAM pro - gram, but also supports the National Weather Service with general forecasts.

New camera technology would also be a valuable weather tool for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations in the National Airspace System. UAS seldom operate from airports, often in remote areas without traditional weather reporting systems. Additionally, boundary layer forecasts are not provided by the National Weather Service, further supporting the benefits of weather cameras.

Thanks to the weather camera program, omnipresence is within reach. A diagram of a modernized weather station that includes cameras.

improvements in the new site: avcamsplus.faa.gov . It adds James Williams is FAA Safety Briefing’s associate editor and photo editor. He is also a pilot and ground instructor.

mobile device support, more map layers, graphical icons for METARs/TAFs/PIREPs, airport information docu - ments, and a search function. More functions are on the horizon. These include route-based data acquisition, more weather data sets, the ability to develop and save favorites and flight routes, and a graphical user interface (GUI) for dispatchers and flight followers.

There are also a number of hardware improvements.

New camera technology allows for higher resolution images with 360 degree views, which allows for larger individual images and enables users to pan, tilt, and zoom within the image. The new camera systems under consid - eration will have higher resolutions and will possess night vision (starlight) capability.

24 FAA Safety Briefing An image of the weather cameras available in Alaska in early 2020.

A screenshot of the new AV CAMS Plus website showing the enhanced layout of the camera site integrated into the map which allows faster movement between camera sites.

March /April 2020 25

STRAIGHT

STEVE

FROM

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson chats with William and Mikayla Moore, two Aviation Career Education (ACE) Academy participants, during a recent “Straight From Steve” video segment.

Meet FAA Administrator Steve Dickson | By SusanK. Parson “It’s all about the people” is the way Steve Dickson sum - Professional Flight Path marizes his approach to his challenging new job as FAA During a recent General Aviation Roundtable event, lead - Administrator.

ers of the major GA organizations got their own opportu - FAA employees have quickly learned that he practices nity to hear straight from Steve about his approach to this what he preaches. Shortly after he took office, Steve — as he important sector of the aviation community. He acknowl - is universally known in the agency — instituted a weekly edged to this audience that his aviation background in the “Straight from Steve” video message to let FAA employees U.S. Air Force and in the air carrier environment didn’t know first-hand what he’s seeing, hearing, thinking, and include a lot of GA. But as he stressed both then and doing as he does the job. He warmly engages FAA employ - again to the FAA Safety Briefing team, he recognized the ees that he spots on his metrorail commute to work, regu - wide-ranging importance of this vital sector and he is eager larly grabs a cup of coffee in the employee cafeteria, and is to learn.

happy to chat with colleagues in the corridors. When the In that connection, Steve fondly remembers his first FAA Safety Briefing team interviewed him recently, Steve powered GA flight experience. “I was at the U.S. Air Force shared a story about talking airplanes with an employee Academy,” he recalls, “and I had done soaring during my who mentioned having a collection of airplane models.

first year. Over the summer, though, a neighbor who was a They stopped by for a look and, Steve offered to take a selfie retired Pan Am captain took me from Orlando to Cedar Key so the employee could “prove” that the FAA Administrator in his Mooney. I was really impressed by what we could do had personally paid a visit.

26 FAA Safety Briefing in a small plane.” Steve also remembers enjoying the sports- also enjoying the history-rich museums and monuments in car-like style and performance of the Mooney. the Washington metropolitan area. “There is just so much to see and do here,” he notes, “and I’m glad to have the opportu - He loved the experience but, as anyone who went to a service academy will understand, Uncle Sam’s demands on nity to work at the FAA and to live in this area.” So there you have it — straight from Steve!

his time didn’t allow him to pursue GA flying. Instead, Steve went on to solo in the T-37 before moving to military aircraft including the T-41, the T-38 jet trainer, and the F-15. Susan K. Parson (susan.parson@faa.gov) is editor of FAA Safety Briefing and a Special Assistant in the FAA’s Flight Standards Service. She is a general aviation pilot and flight instructor.

Steve is excited to bring his

broad aviation experience in line

operations and management to

the FAA’s front office.

After leaving the Air Force, Steve found a professional avi - ation home at Delta Airlines, first as a flight engineer on the venerable B-727. His distinguished air carrier career even - tually took him into the “front office” of practically every aircraft type in the fleet: B-757/B-767, B-737, and the A-320.

Steve also spent time in Delta’s executive front office, serving as senior vice president of Flight Operations. In that role, he was responsible for the carrier’s global safety and operational performance, as well as pilot training, crew scheduling, and regulatory compliance.

People Are Our Strength Steve is excited to bring his broad aviation experience in line operations and management to the FAA’s front office.

As a people person, he advocates greater interdependence as a key to greater safety. “We need to have our people working across all lines of business, looking for opportuni - ties to improve, and best practices that we can apply in new ways.” He is also interested in finding new ways to recruit, train, and mentor the workforce of the future. Steve sum - marizes his role as providing overall vision, reprioritizing as needed, and helping the team stay focused on execution of the FAA’s core mission — safety.

“Safety is obviously our top priority,” he stresses, “and I also think we can make better use of data and processes to raise the bar.” Steve is especially interested in seeing the transition of raw data to information that can be used to enhance safety, and in finding strategic opportunities to apply some of the best practices in the air carrier world to GA. He is quick to recognize that the diversity in GA requires adapting and scaling such approaches. “I’ve spent time in Europe, and while they have lots of glider clubs, they don’t have the kind of GA activity that we do. We have to find ways to increase safety without limiting freedom or discouraging innovation.” Though Steve doesn’t have a lot of spare time in his new role, we did ask what he likes to do in his off-duty hours. “I love spending time with family, including my two grandchil - dren — all still in Atlanta.” As an avid reader of history, he is March /April 2020 27

How Non-Equipped Operators Can Request

Access to ADS-B Rule Airspace

By Tom Hoffmann

do not meet the performance or equipage requirements ot ADS-B? If you’re based in, or frequently tran - sit airspace that requires a transponder, there’s a for ADS-B Out, pilots can access the new ADS-B Devi - ation Authorization Preflight Tool (ADAPT) online at good chance you had your aircraft outfitted with G Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast Out faa.gov/go/adapt.

Before you use the ADAPT tool, though, here are a few technology to comply with the January 1, 2020 mandate.

However, for some aircraft owners on the outer fringe of important factors to consider: ADS-B Out rule airspace, or in more remote areas with • Aircraft must be equipped with an operational transpo n - predominantly Class G airspace, the decision to equip was der and operational altitude encoder (e.g., Mode C).

not quite as clear-cut. The question that comes up now for those who did not equip with ADS-B Out is — can I still • Requests must be submitted no earlier than 24 hours access “rule” airspace as defined in 14 CFR 91.225? The before your intended departure time.

answer is ... it depends.

• Requests must be submitted no later than one hour The FAA anticipated the need to allow some operators not before your intended departure time.

equipped with ADS-B Out, or those with systems that don’t meet the performance requirements, to access rule airspace You must use the online ADAPT tool to request an on a case-by-case basis. The agency outlined the parameters authorization. Requests made via telephone or while for this deviation capability in April 2019 with a Federal inflight will not be considered.

Register policy statement ( go.usa.gov/xpdEG ). According to Figure 1 outlines the steps needed to submit preflight the policy statement, ATC will continue to provide air traffic authorization into rule airspace using ADAPT.

services to aircraft operating within its airspace, including Keep in mind that several factors determine whether a those aircraft not equipped with ADS-B Out. However, a request will be accommodated. These include Air Traffic non-equipped operator will be responsible for ensuring Control (ATC) workload, runway configurations, weather, compliance with the regulations and for obtaining authoriza - and operations into capacity-constrained airports (i.e., tion before flying.

airports operating at (85-percent capacity or greater). You To request a preflight authorization for aircraft that 28 FAA Safety Briefing Access the ADAPT Website Submit your authorization request no earlier than 24 hours before, and no later than one hour before, your intended departure time.

Enter Flight Details using the Flight Information Entry Form This step checks for alternate surveillance availability based upon your proposed route of flight and aircraft avionics equipment configuration. Please note this step does not constitute filing a flight plan.

Enter the Deviation Request and Additional Flight Details The FAA’s ADAPT Tool web page.

Provide additional details describing the nature of your deviation request. You must verify your information is should never assume that the agency can, or will, grant correct and accurate by selecting the verification check - authorization to operate, even for operations outside a capacity-constrained area. The only way to ensure seamless box or the request cannot be submitted.

access to ADS-B rule airspace is to equip with the appropri - ate ADS-B Out equipment.

Receive Request Status For more information on ADAPT, including an ADAPT tutorial video and frequently asked questions, please go to faa.gov/go/adapt . You can also send questions to After submitting a request, you will receive an imme - adapthelp@faa.gov .

diate automated response via the ADAPT website indicating the status of the request (Approved, Denied, Tom Hoffmann is the managing editor of FAA Safety Briefing . He is a commercial pilot and holds an A&P certificate.

Pending) followed by an official FAA email response.

When you receive an official email approval, you are LEARN MORE authorized to conduct your flight.

FAA’s ADAPT Tool web page Note: Pending requests are sent to an FAA-desig - faa.gov/go/adapt nated Air Traffic Control (ATC) representative who ADAPT Flight Info Entry Form will review the request. These personnel are available sapt.faa.gov/form.php between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm Eastern Time. All pending requests will be automatically denied 30 minutes before the proposed flight if not reviewed by the ATC representative.

Figure 1 March /April 2020 29

Roll of Honor

Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award

The FAA’s most prestigious award for pilots is the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.

It is named in honor of the first U.S. pilots, the Wright brothers, to recognize 50 years

of exemplary aviation flight experience, distinguished professionalism, and steadfast

commitment to aviation safety. In 2019, we recognized the following Master Pilots. For

more about the award, go to FAASafety.gov/Content/MasterPilot.

Robert Edison AK Kenneth Ciszek CA David Corsiglia CA Charles Nute FL Ronald Tanner FL Dwayne King AK Wade Holbrook CA Daniel Hoppy CA Norman St. Peter FL Gary Winter FL William Bohman AK Marc Wolf CA Wayne Moon CA Charles Bukoski FL Bruce Hill FL Ray Atkins AK Daniel Affourtit, Jr. CA Eddie Phipps CA Dennis DiDonna FL Clifford Hoffman FL George Frushour, Jr. AK Patrick Belanger CA Daniel Seidel CA Peter Pierpont FL James Jansa FL Harry Kieling AK Terry Blumenthal CA David Weir CA Phillip Vernon FL Robert Jones FL ——— H Craig CA Roger Hoh CA Stanley Baumwald FL Armando Lopez FL Edward Berisford AL Ralph Eschenbach CA Peter Murray CA John Bone FL David Maib FL Richard Humble CA Lloyd Rasner CA Ellinor McElroy FL Tommy Dobson AL MIchael Ebaugh FL James Gray, II AL Karen Kahn CA Robert Barry CA Paul Freeman FL Daniel McElroy FL Richard Heckman AL Charles Piper CA William Boggess CA John Grones FL Walter Miller, Jr. FL Gregory Koontz AL Michael Thornton CA John Peters CA Herbert Imhoff, Jr. FL Harley Pickett, III FL Fred Masterson, Jr. AL Dean Winslow CA Landall Ropke CA Joseph Laliberte FL Harry Shannon FL Carrol Smith AL Ross Aimer CA Frederick Schieich CA Lawrence Lasater FL Franz Zimmer FL John Hicks, Jr. AL William Brooks CA Robert Simon CA John Mazur FL Luca Bencini-Tibo FL Ricky Phillips AL Kenneth Lorell CA Rickey Utermoehlen CA Harry Palmer FL Ron Burkdoll Fl Robert Wilmeth CA Jerry Chabrian FL ——— ——— Brian Becker FL Ronald Maines AR Larry Betts CA James Baron CO Ronnie Creel FL Joseph Hunt Fl Dennis Thomas AR Dale Black CA Neal Smith CO Willam Davidson FL Richard Karl FL Maurice Way AR Victor Copeland CA General Robin Olds CO Robert Dowell FL Jose Pumares FL Frank Osborne AR Timothy Donahue CA Charles Todd CO Jeffrey Edwards FL James Kimball FL Gerald Loyd AR Edward Kovac CA Donald Sommer CO William Farnham FL John Heemsath FL Randal Warren AR Charles McLaughlin CA Thomas Broadbent CO Richard Gazda FL Otis Johnson, Jr. FL Harrell Clendenin AR Ralph Meyer CA Richard Barclay CO Mary Jane Law FL Jane Kimball FL Donis Hamilton AR Richard Throckmorton CA Robert Caldwell CO Arthur Patstone FL Daniel Kurt FL ——— James Doolittle, III CA Michael Gaston CO Kenneth Rivard, Jr. FL Melvin Woods FL Howard Ginn AZ Harry Kernahan CA Robert Sneed CO John Thomas, Jr. FL Obie Young FL James Price AZ Timothy Kramer CA Richard Socash CO Bruce Armstrong FL Craig Fordem FL William Frame AZ Carl Mauck CA Paul Taylor CO Henry DeGraaff FL Scott Charlton FL Francis Keen AZ Stephen Sullivan CA Alex Watson CO Albert Frank FL Stephen Davidson FL Thomas Rachford AZ Warren Williams CA Barry Wyttenbach CO Robert Frister FL Benjamin Musialek FL Mark Rubin AZ Daniel Chapman CA Thomas Ryan CO Wilson Grier FL Herbert Schall FL John Schmidt AZ Douglas Keep CA Michael Donnelly CO Donald Heuchan FL ——— Jack Winover AZ Stanley Dollinski CA Robert Brand CO Raul Mendez FL David Desimone GA William Bohannan, Jr. AZ Michael Marquard CA Stephen Dailey CO John Nagy, Jr. FL Duane Huff GA Barbara Harper AZ Philip Schultz CA Robert Heckendorf CO Terry Ogle FL Edmund Laird, Jr. GA Robert Wick AZ Gene Carswell CA Keith Serkes CO Ralph Saunders, Jr. FL Charles Maire, Jr. GA Robert Hayes AZ John Lichty CA ——— Ivan Young FL Thomas Shefchunas GA James Sorter AZ Orland Pritchard CA Volker Bahnermann CT Jerold Bogartz FL Jack Smithers GA Derwin Grimm, Jr. AZ Stanley Rosenthal CA John Laroche CT Thomas Cooper FL Charles Green GA Paul Swenson AZ Julie Clark CA Christian McIntyre CT Daniel McCue FL Tim Schnabel GA William Foley CT Jeffrey Kokes AZ Ernest Hunt CA Charles Glass FL Ronald Anderson GA Joseph Sottile, Jr. AZ John Litton CA ——— Shawn Knickerbocker FL James Buckley GA Thomas Warner AZ Ronald Murphy CA Richard Neil DE Robert Lindsay FL Clark Schadle GA ——— Vince Nastro CA John Chirtea DE Richard Pollak FL Anthony Stein GA Franklyn Campbell CA Jerald Bernacchi CA Lauren Wallace DE John Schedel FL William Barron, Jr. GA

30 FAA Safety Briefing

Conrad Mora GA William Gottschalk IN Richard Funkhouser MD Patrick Kessler MO Carl Larson ND John Enticknap GA Timothy Kaufman IN Joseph Gauvreau MD Kenneth Sandy, Jr. MO Harold McConnell ND Hubert Holloway, Jr. GA Dale Long IN ——— Ronald Anderson MO ——— Thomas Young GA Mike Nichols IN Lindon Christie, Jr. ME Stephen Brown MO Gary Spivey NE Keith Edgecomb GA Frank Bailey IN ——— Roger Coats MO Kent Schroeder NE James Sanford GA Lee Malambri IN Mario Pecchia MI Christopher Hope MO Thomas Skinner, Jr. NE ——— A. Schene IN Roger Salo MI Lloyd Bingham MO David Moll NE Michael Butts HI James Wright IN David Schilstra MI Chester Hartley, Jr. MO David Patton NE David Lusk HI ——— Walter Trancygier MI Larry Marshall MO Michael Sides NE Robert Blair HI James Clark KS Phillip Wade MI Stanley Mehrhoff MO ——— David Wilson HI Henry Gresham, Jr. KS John Feldvary MI Larry Stobel MO Marc Myette NH Scott Allen, Jr. HI Richard Novak KS Gareld Underwood MI Charles Cook MO Robert Pustell NH John Fisher HI Stephen Piepenbrink KS Judson Cooper MI Marvin McCanles MO Peter Eiche NH Robert Moore HI James Pitts KS Manfred Franke MI ——— Kenneth McLaughlin NH Mahlon Hamilton HI Gary Steele KS David Mccredie MI Frederick Wile MS ——— Mehran Riggi HI Richard Neuer KS Albert Schiffer MI Michael Meek MS William McCollum NJ ——— Kenneth Brock KS Mark Grant MI John Green, Sr. MS Dwight Staehler NJ Thomas Burns IA William Casey KS Robert Jordan MI William Ross MS Robert Argila NJ Roger Clark IA Orval Dale KS Dennis Pedersen MI Bruce Bullion, III MS Walter Ellis, Jr. NJ ——— John Kliewer KS Brian Van Wagnen MI ——— Philip Biazzo, Jr. NJ Duane Smith ID Darwin Steinle KS Kenneth Dannenberg MI Brian Dunlop MT Gerald Innella NJ Richard Penman MI Billy Stebbins MT Michael Meenan NJ Larry French ID Jeffrey Terrell KS Daniel Hutchison ID Nicholas Thielen KS Henry Smith MI Russell Beree MT Thomas Ritz NJ Allen Rice ID David Cochran KS Douglas Conciatu MI Dallas O'Connor MT ——— Earl Smith, III ID David Hayden KS William Downing MI Gary Martin MT Kenneth Dominy NM Don Pischner ID Clark Stewart KS David Hull MI Ted Schye MT William Wright, Jr. NM ——— Carl Price KS Jeffrey Kyff MI Richard Fox, Jr. MT Lee Otto NM Mark Bauer IL Jeffrey Peterson KS Donald Nolte MI ——— Mark Sturm NM Larry Flesner IL ——— Carl Shemwell MI Charles Causey NC Don Ice NM Frank Woodhams MI Larry Fiesner IL Ted Ogle KY Benson Causey, Jr. NC Raymond Jenkins NM James Gould IL James Drymon KY ——— Kenneth Cox NC Ralph Navar NM Thomas Kersten IL ——— Michael Gardonio MN David Culp NC Albert Lowenstein NM Michael Carlson IL Robert Johnson LA Herman Knoop MN Clarence McLean NC ——— Mark Clark IL John Randall LA Karl Vollmers MN Charlie Morris, Jr. NC Richard Moynihan NV Gregory Frister IL Larry Baker LA Richard Wasbbotten MN Thomas Primm NC William Glasser NV Milton Gray IL Ronald Jenkins LA Joesph Westermeyer MN Milton Ward NC Russell Smith NV James Rezich IL William Underhill LA Paul Krueger MN Frederick Watkins NC James Manley NV William Smith IL Jack Lenox, III LA Michael Mattson MN Maurice Deming NC Guy Willis NV Robin Blakkolb IL Michael Lewis LA Burt Ackerman MN Rene Lopez NC James McNeill NV Charles Downey IL Stephen Knapper LA Verlus Burkhart MN Theron Wright NC ——— Leslie Kimmel IL ——— Christophe Cooper MN Robert Belville NC Robert Malara NY Clyde Zellers IL Martha Dunbar MA Jeffrey Dinsmore MN John Dennis NC Donald King NY Edward Shafer IL Peter Gerstberger MA Ronald Houle MN Gary Beck NC Michael Friel NY James Miller IL Charles Case MA Gaylen Lerohl MN Jerry Gunter NC Ronald Ward NY Richard Sommer IL William Guenon, Jr. MA James Luger MN Roger Montambo NC Margaret Naumann NY Raymond Hillson IL David Margolis MA William Mavencamp, Jr. MN Larry Jenkins NC Richard Wyeroski NY ——— Jeanne Ohnemus MA Michael Creider NC Charles Burtch NY Daniel Whipple MN Craig Brown IN James Ellis MA Stephen Johnson MN Kenneth Duncan NC Norman Freed NY Richard Rowe, Jr. IN Carl England, Jr. MA Steven Schell MN Zelotes Knotts, III NC James Coward NY Edward Daugherty IN ——— ——— Ronald Schreck NC Mario Barra NY Ladean Dick IN Volney Vashaw MD Sheldon Hendricks MO James Yankaskas NC ——— Dorel Graves, Jr. IN Robert Biel MD Gary Davis MO Mark Cigal NC Jerry Donselman OH Dennis Phillips IN James Lang, Jr. MD Glenn Frister MO Jan Randle NC Ralph Leadbetter OH Douglas Eckart IN Edward Tabler MD Patrick Kesler MO Kenneth McAlear NC James May OH

March /April 2020 31

Roll of Honor

Donald Miller OH James Sheron SC Harold Moore TX Nick Owen TX James Hupman OH John Schmidt SC Denny O'Hara TX Arthur Stark TX Donald Diemer OH John Reuther SC Joe Sasser TX Edward Strong TX Wayne Williams OH Edward Simpskins SC Lyndol Askew TX ——— Alan Kettunen OH Robert Beitel SC John Couzelis TX David Baird UT Larry Zetterlind OH Raymond Petty, Sr. SC Jeffery German TX Brent Watson UT Philip Yoder OH Eddie Booth SC William Nalle TX Orin Kinghorn UT John Darst OH Charles Martin SC James O'Connell TX ——— Roger Saddler OH Robert Dickson SC John Bartholomew TX John Bland, Jr. VA Clifford Fauber OH Les Kanna SC Robert Dean TX Richard Spencer VA Herbert Haar OH ——— William Fitzgerald TX George Snyder, Jr. VA ——— James Cox SD Donald McMoy TX Van Lanier VA John Boggs OK Robert McLaughlin SD Robert Spradlin, Jr. TX John Weyrich VA Clinton Plant OK Vernon VanDerhule SD Don Bickham TX Michael Pearson VA Paul Shireman OK ——— William Carey, Jr. TX John McCombs VA Gary Coulter OK Milton Griffis TN Paul Carlton, Jr. TX Jose Soncini VA Stanley Young OK Hal Medling TN Stewart Chuber TX William McSwain VA Wayne Breeden Thomas McBroom TX ——— ——— TN Ian McDonough OR Herbert Powley TN Timothy Salaika TX James Furlong WA Harlo Provernmire OR Gregory Swierz TN Arthur Thompson TX Dale Weir WA Raymond Beverly OR Paul Mercandetti TN Thomas Adams TX Dan Wynia WA Walter Krupnak OR James Summers TN John Benham, II TX John Larson WA Barbara VanArsdale OR William Torphy TN Gary Potter TX Richard Fernalld WA Barbara Campbell OR Ben Welch TN Wayne Richey TX Eric Rairdon WA Lyndon Wilson OR Gregory Wrobel TN Theodore Burgdorf TX Randall Enyeart WA Raymond Johnson OR Joe Brown TN Don Christiansen TX Barry Halsted WA Charles Hess OR Wilbur Sensing, Jr. TN John Mathers TX Jack Huffman WA Daniel McMahon OR Arden Kunkel TN Patrick Minnahan TX Joseph Maridon WA Stephen Stowe OR Bill Colbert TN James Rice TX Paul Michael WA Robin Brooks OR Richard Haldeman TN Timothy Ruhl TX Norman Kellman WA ——— Richard Rudolph TN Richard Smith TX Clifford Miller WA Dale Clemens, Jr. PA John Seubert TN Henry Wunderlich TX Paul Myers WA John Gage PA David Thompson TN Gerald Bradley TX Roger Runion WA John Williams, III PA Thomas Walker, II TN Walter Davy TX Bob Agee WA Charles Martin PA David Swindler TN Daniel Fox TX ——— Bruce Witkop PA James Johnson TN Ted Harp TX David Finstad WI Carl Kelley PA ——— David Shuffer TX Kim Gaertner WI Alan Olson Pa John Blum TX Richard Sutton TX Keith Myers WI Arthur Rosenberg PA Shelby Casey TX Herbert Taylor TX Richard Hanusa WI Bruce Brown PA Raymond Chatelain TX Raymond Watson TX James Schneiter WI Karl Striedieck PA Terry Heffley TX James Cook TX Edward Knutson WI Charles Adams PA Bruce Lynn TX Vance Duffy TX John Willkomm WI ——— Leslie Wright WI Daniel Mahoney TX Leon Johnson TX Jorge Echegoyen PR Ronald Patton TX Paul Lasen TX Roger Fetterly WI Alberto Quadreny PR Richard Ries TX Edward Livermore, Jr. TX Thomas Cordell WI ——— Thomas Schad TX Ronald McIntosh TX ——— Lowell Powers, Jr. RI Robert Sommer TX Charles Miller TX Wesley Beicher WV Kenneth Johnson RI Steven Sorich TX Thomas Navar TX Cleveland Benedict WV Frank Sherman RI Elmo Townsend TX Jose Portela TX Vincent Collins WV ——— Curtis Farley TX John Baganz TX Peter Rork WY Robert Carson SC Dan Kenley TX Lauren Bitikofer TX Thomas Malyurek WY Cletus Funderbunk SC William Schmitt TX Thomas Butt TX Daniel McNeil SC Thomas Street TX Ann Pellegreno TX Philip Picard SC Paul Curs TX James Uselton TX

32 FAA Safety Briefing

Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award

The FAA’s most prestigious award for aircraft mechanics is the Charles Taylor Master

Mechanic Award. It is named in honor of the first aviation mechanic in powered flight, Charles Taylor, to recognize 50 years of exemplary aviation maintenance experience,

distinguished professionalism, and steadfast commitment to aviation safety. In 2019, we

recognized the following Master Mechanics. For more about the award, go to

FAASafety.gov/Content/MasterMechanic.

Thomas Hoosier AK Bruce Hill FL Duane Ayre KS Leo Sawatzki NE Billy Shannon TN Dwayne King AK Ernesto Jaramillo FL David Cochran KS Donald Witt NE James Summers TN Charles Pike AK Nasim Kahn FL Louis Gollin KS Walter Davis, Sr. NJ ——— Clifford Stockton AK James Kimball FL David Hayden KS Walter Ellis, Jr. NJ Littleton Billingsley, Jr. TX William Tinney, Jr. AK James Moreno FL Jack Williams KS John Gilbert NJ Franklin Brooks TX ——— Sergio Perez FL ——— Ronald Mittelstaedt NJ Arthur Coffman TX Robert Hemm AL Craig Peterson FL Richard King KY Larry Otter NJ Michael Horton TX Robert Robbins, Jr. AL James Porter FL ——— Louis Ramm NJ William Lester TX Peter Reed FL Samuel Blanchard MA Alan Pakcyk TX ——— Ralph Valles NJ Frank Osborne AR Mark Richter FL John Donahue MA ——— Ronald Patton TX ——— Randall Ross FL Noel Fisher MA Willie Ford NV Michael Raridon TX Peter Benedikt AZ Milford Samuel FL Charles Sawyer MA Charels Gebhardt, Jr. NV Arthur Risco TX Dominick Gallo, Jr. AZ Olan Scott FL Blake Story MA Dennis Ramaglia NV Thomas Schad TX Wayne Henderson AZ Harry Shannon FL ——— Guy Willis NV Glen Scott TX Lawrence Pederson AZ John Thomas, Jr. FL Donald Solomon MD James Wilson, Jr. NV William Smouse, Jr. TX Wayne Ross AZ Richard Weiss FL William Turnow, Jr. MD Eugene Dell'Italia NY Raymond Watson TX ——— ——— James Sorter AZ ——— Robert Malara NY Joseph Sottile, Jr. AZ Don Brown GA Glenn Williams ME Tommy Malone NY Arthur Irvine VA Benjamin Thorp, Jr. AZ James Buckley GA ——— Joseph Zych, Sr. NY ——— ——— Theobald Groesser GA Eugene Comer MI ——— Kenneth Minck VT Michael Banville CA Walter Harvey GA ——— John Hughes OH ——— Harry Barnett CA James Hoak GA Curtis Anderson MN Leroy Moore OH Gerald Locati WA Pedro Bejarano CA Anthony Stein GA Stanley Weitemier MN Earl Redmond OH Bradford Young WA Phillip Dumas CA Walter West, Jr. GA ——— ——— ——— Jeffrey Fullard CA ——— Dennis Brown MO Larry Brown OK Roland Schable WI Claude Giddley, III CA Leon Mattern GU Patrick Covey MO ——— Louis Young WI Benny Guzman CA ——— Patrick Covey MO Christopher Erickson OR Gary Kappa CA Larry Kelley HI Joseph Ilardi MO Raymond Johnson OR Kenneth Muller CA Garrick Chang HI Keldon Kener MO Steven Phillips OR Julio Perez CA John Fisher HI Walter Martin MO ——— Philip Schultz CA Mark Jernigan HI Gerasim Mayden MO Richard Chmell PA Robert Scoble Jr. CA ——— James Meyerpeter MO Jerome Cupec PA Norman Stadel CA Abe Abel ID Steven Murphy MO James DeMarr, Jr. PA Joe Zeiger CA Earl Smith, III ID James Sullivan MO Louis Detrick PA ——— ——— ——— David Donahue PA Earl Hoffman, Jr. CO Mark Bauer IL Charles Lirette MS John Penzone PA Alex Watson CO Henry Krevel IL ——— ——— ——— James Rezich IL Brian Vercoe MT Robert Beitel SC Thomas Barclay CT William Shelton IL ——— John Phillips SC Joseph Rheubeck CT Garner Williams IL Gary Beck NC ——— ——— Robert Zilinsky IL Charles Causey NC Thomas Kitterman SD Robert Csanyi NC William Carmin FL ——— ——— Little Crowell, Jr. FL Lee Chamberlain IN Darrell Hudson NC Charles Clapper TN Robert Gallagher FL Dorel Graves, Jr. IN Ricky Simmons NC Jerald Cooper TN Alfonse Hartman FL Malcolm Porter IN John Sutherland NC Michael Jolicoeur TN John Heemsath FL A. Schene IN Gregory Swift NC Arden Kunkel TN

March /April 2020 33

DRONE DEBRIEF EMANUEL CRUZ

DRONE 54, WHERE ARE YOU?!

The Road to Remote ID

its realm of responsibility. Aviation community interest has been high, with the topic at the forefront of many drone related conferences and congres - sional hearings on the status of the rule.

Rulemaking hasn’t been the only front for addressing the remote ID concept. ASTM International has been working to develop technical standards for remote ID, and expects to publish those standards in early 2020. Addi - tionally, an FAA and industry cohort will be collaborating to develop a framework for how third-party service suppliers can support the remote ID concept. Each of these is an important piece to implementing remote ID. All To adjust slightly the lines of famous service, all aircraft — unmanned or of them being worked in collaboration ‘60s singer-songwriter, Bob Dylan otherwise — must be identifiable.” with the industry and the public. But — the skies, they are a changin’. The Consistent with that idea, proposed one of the more anticipated opportuni - unmanned aircraft (UAS) commu - regulations for operations over people ties for engagement that the public has nity continues to grow. UAS regis - and night operations will not take been waiting for is the publication of trations have surpassed 1.5 million. effect until regulations for remote iden - the proposed rules for Remote ID.

Drone sightings are everywhere tification are in place. On December 31, 2019, the FAA in the news; this winter even saw Remote ID isn’t a completely new met a major milestone by issuing national coverage of alleged mysteri - concept. In 2016, Congress tasked the the Remote ID Notice of Proposed ous drone sightings across Colorado FAA to work with industry on ways Rulemaking. With the chance to and Nebraska. On the commercial to implement a remote ID concept. impact and shape a final rule, the front, the FAA has now allowed two An aviation rulemaking committee of proposal has drawn thousands of com - companies to deliver packages, in over 70 industry members developed ments. As it looks forward, the FAA limited areas, beyond visual line of recommendations for remote ID rules, will address those comments and begin sight of the pilot. The agency has also taking into account technology, secu - its efforts to publish a final rule. While proposed a rule to allow drones to rity considerations, and implementa - there is more work to do to allow this operate over people and at night. tion. This led to the formulation of the industry to flourish, publication of the While opportunities are expand - FAA’s rulemaking project in 2018 on proposed rule means we are now one ing for widespread use of drones, we remote ID. step closer toward that goal.

must be mindful of other NAS users. If you’ve ever followed a rulemaking Protecting people, whether flying or on project, you may already know the Emanuel Cruz is the manager of the Safety and Oper - ations Branch in the FAA’s UAS Integration Office.

the ground, is always a priority. Traffic heavy lift necessary to even propose a management is integral to maintain - rule. The FAA has to establish stan - LEARN MORE ing safety in the NAS. That, in turn, dards, ensure that there is a means for requires us to know what’s flying. As the public to comply with those stan - the then acting FAA administrator dards, develop the rationale for both, FAA Information Page on UAS Remote Daniel K. Elwell noted at the 2018 conduct an economic analysis, and Identification bit.ly/UASRemoteID UAS Symposium, “for this industry to coordinate across the government to flourish commercially and be of public avoid adverse impact on areas outside 34 FAA Safety Briefing March /April 2020 35

NUTS, BOLTS, AND ELECTRONS JENNIFER CARON

STAY SHARP, STAY SKILLED

Your Tools for Continued Learning

from safety presentations and online 3. FAA.gov/mechanics courses, to safety tips, references, and This link goes to an A-Z web page for regulatory resources. Check out the overall information on useful topics accredited AMT Awards Program such as maintenance schools plus where you can earn an AMT Certif - A&P test guides, licensing, certi - icate of Training in a bronze, silver, fication, regulations and technical or gold phase by completing training data, advisories and alerts, and those hours and coursework. The program all-important 337 forms.

also awards AMT Employers who Click the link for aircraft safety support their employees’ initial and alerts to get the latest ADs and Special recurrent training. Airworthiness Information Bulletins On the Maintenance Hangar page, (SAIBs). Here you can create a malfunc - you’ll also find a list of approved tion/defect report on a system com - Inspection Authorization (IA) Renewal ponent or part. If you see something, Courses. Click the ‘Toolbox’ link to see say something! Your report helps our safety tips, maintenance alerts, AMT maintenance community to spot trends training courses, and AMT events in and address emerging safety issues.

your area. Other valuable AMT resources Aviation maintenance technicians There are 175 instructor-led training include aircraft type clubs and (AMTs) work in a challenging field. activities offered in the Activities tab. aviation maintenance-related asso - Doing the job requires AMTs to not You’ll see courses on a variety of topics. ciations like the AMT Society, the only master the mechanical skills and Some courses require a small fee, but Aircraft Electronics Association knowledge needed to maintain older the majority are free of charge and offer (AEA), and the Professional Aviation aircraft, but to also learn new technical AMT credit and/or WINGS credit. To Maintenance Association (PAMA).

skills to troubleshoot, diagnose, and view the list of available courses, click These organizations offer a host of repair the composites and complex on the Activities, Courses, Seminars, information on IA renewal, career electronic equipment found in more Webinars tab on the homepage. Select opportunities, online Q&A forums, modern aircraft . Although AMTs Activities from the drop down menu. training videos, as well as many free primarily acquire job skills through a Next, select Other Activities, AMT, and webinars. AOPA also offers several combination of initial training, certi - click Perform Search. maintenance-related safety briefs and fications, and on-the-job experience, reports, as well as some high-quality recurrent training is essential. 2. Human Factors in Aviation interactive courses.

You will be happy to learn that Maintenance Aviation safety begins on the there are valuable, no-cost resources Since human factors directly cause ground and in the hangar. It is available online that AMTs can use to or contribute to many aviation important for every AMT to take a enhance their skills, knowledge, and accidents, the FAA created a web - personal interest in continued learn - proficiency. Take a look at, and take site (bit.ly/HumanFactorsMaint) to ing to improve safety, enhance your advantage of, the information in the provide a place where you can learn skills, and maintain your proficiency following websites. more about how to recognize and in today’s aviation maintenance mitigate these challenges in aviation industry.

1. FAASafety.gov maintenance. The site also has a link FAASafety.gov is a premier source to www.mxfatigue.com, another Jennifer Caron is FAA Safety Briefing’ s copy editor and quality assurance lead. She is a certified for free AMT continuing education online resource to review practical technical writer-editor in aviation safety and flight programs and recurrent training. tips about sleep and fatigue manage - standards.

On the homepage under Mainte - ment strategies.

nance Hangar, you’ll find everything 36 FAA Safety Briefing

ANGLE OF ATTACK TOM HOFFMANN

HOW'S YOUR WEATHER KNOW-HOW?

finding what weather ture, wind, and humidity) can combine resources work for to impact a flight in terms of visibility, you and knowing how turbulence, and aircraft performance.

to properly leverage This approach can help you assess the information they whether both pilot and plane are up for provide. Here are a the challenge. See this issue’s Postflight few tips. department for more.

Before your next Don’t rely too much on in-cockpit flight, make a con - weather displays. Yes, they are excellent scious effort to ensure tools to improve your weather situa - you thoroughly under - tional awareness, but the information stand the weather data they relay may not tell the whole story, at your disposal. Does no matter how sophisticated they are.

a 15-knot crosswind Bottom line: Don’t fixate on a NEX - In this weather technology-themed or 3/4 mile visibility in fog align with RAD display to the exclusion of your issue, we cite numerous examples of your personal minimums and aircraft other flight management tasks — and how advancements in technology are capabilities? If it’s been a while since that includes looking out the window.

providing pilots with access to more you last assessed your personal weather Weather displays should be used strate - gically, not tactically.

and more aviation weather data, both minimums, consider what red-flag before and during flight. That’s a good items would give you pause and how Finally, strive to continue learning about weather and get familiar with as thing. For example, pilots who have you would address them. Don’t wait opted to reap the benefits of ADS-B until you’re in the thick of it to figure many available resources as possible (see Learn More). A little extra weather In get free, graphical, near real-time out how you would handle a weather weather information in their cockpits emergency. Rerouting or diverting is know-how can go a long way towards a safe flight!

or via electronic devices. And how much easier — and less stressful — about some of today’s weather briefing when you have some wiggle room and and flight planning tools with interac - pre-decided alternates to choose from. Tom Hoffmann is the managing editor of FAA Safety Briefing . He is a commercial pilot and holds an A&P tive maps, text message updates from In reviewing weather data, always certificate.

ATC, and automated voice services consider its shelf life. Some weather where you can “Ask Alexa” for the products could be hours old when latest TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Fore - you receive them. Note the observa - LEARN MORE cast) before you head out the door. tion times in any particular report Unfortunately, despite this and/or the product validity time span Personal Minimum Checklist for increased availability of weather so you always know if you have the Weather data, Mother Nature remains a major latest and greatest versions. Com - bit.ly/PersMins contributor to general aviation fatal paring forecasts with more current accidents. Weather data is only helpful weather information is also a good “I’ve Got Weather — Now What Do I Do With It?” Mar/Apr 2015, FAA Safety if you’re able to distill it into what you way to see the “big picture” and if Briefing , page 26 really need to make sound aeronau - weather is developing as expected.

bit.ly/SBMar15 tical decisions. The good news is that Don’t overlook the value of area with a greater variety of mediums forecast discussions too. These plain GA Pilot’s Guide to Preflight Weather and methods of obtaining weather language discussions cover condi - Planning, Weather Self-Briefings, and information — many boasting unpar - tions that that will create expected Weather Decision-Making alleled fidelity and accuracy — you’re weather.

go.usa.gov/xptrr more likely to find the source that It also helps to think of how three suits your needs. The challenge is basic elements of weather (tempera - March /April 2020 37

VERTICALLY SPEAKING GENE TRAINOR

IF THE WEATHER LOOKS TRICKY, LAND AND LIVE

were related to visibility or unintended Helicopters fly/land in areas that flight in instrument meteorological frequently do not have weather sen - conditions (UIMC) and are available at sors or weather cameras. If pilots are ushst.org. forced to rely on information from a This message is getting through more distant sensor, it may not repre - to the helicopter community. FAA sent current weather conditions at the records show that about 19-percent of landing site.” the 104 U.S. fatal accidents from 2009 Until we determine better ways through 2013 were caused by UIMC, to address weather issues, the FAA icing, wind shear, or thunderstorms. recommends that pilots follow IHSF’s That number dropped to about 15-per - eight golden rules: cent for the 94 fatal accidents recorded from 2014 through 2018. 1. Always obtain an aviation forecast Every day, FAA Rotorcraft Standards UIMC is when a pilot inadver - 2. Expect conditions to be worse Branch employees review accident tently flies from visual flight rules into than forecast.

reports. One thing is clear. We could IMC, losing visual reference to terrain 3. Check actual conditions against substantially cut the accident rate if because of clouds, fog, thunderstorms, the forecast.

pilots stopped flying into bad weather. haze, or other conditions. If pilots con - This fact has not been lost on the sequently fly closer to the ground, they 4. Identify alternative routes and helicopter community. The Helicopter can encounter wires, trees, or towers.

suitable diversion airfields just in Association International (HAI) has Experts involved in the FAA case.

been promoting its Land & Live cam - Weather Technology in the Cockpit 5. Always carry enough fuel for paign since 2013. It’s a simple concept: (WTIC) program are researching unexpected situations.

land your helicopter if you face hazards ways to improve the presentation of 6. Scan the sky and horizon for that jeopardize safety. weather information in the cockpit, possible problems and note local “As pilot in command, only you weather technology and information, surface winds.

can decide if you should continue the weather-related pilot training, and flight,’’ states HAI’s Land & Live web pilots’ ability to interpret weather 7. Check weather reports while page. “Will you make the promise to information. Recommendations are flying.

always land when safety’s at stake?” expected this fall.

8. Be prepared to divert, turn The FAA Rotorcraft Standards Additional work is underway to around, or land. Make sure you Branch promotes a similar message enhance the Helicopter Emergency have an alternative course of through this column, safety forums, Medical Services (HEMS) tool action should weather conditions and meetings with industry and that runs as a desktop application.

preclude the completion of the advocacy groups. If the weather looks According to Ian Johnson, FAA flight as planned.

tricky, delay takeoff or land. WTIC human factors lead, the tool is Industry-government teams such designed for low-altitude operations In other words, don’t be afraid to land as the International Helicopter Safety and can provide information on ceil - — and live.

Foundation (IHSF) and the United ing, visibility, flight category, winds, States Helicopter Safety Team (USHST) relative humidity, and temperature.

Gene Trainor is an FAA communications specialist.

participate as well with weather-re - As Johnson notes, “WTIC looks at He was previously a technical writer for the FAA lated videos, essays, and reports at how weather information is ren - Rotorcraft Standards Branch in Fort Worth, Texas.

ihst.org and ushst.org respectively. In dered and its parameters (accuracy, September 2017, the USHST released update rate, forecast/nowcast, etc.). It 22 helicopter safety enhancements also includes identifying issues with (H-SEs) to improve safety. Four H-SEs weather sources and procedures.

38 FAA Safety Briefing

FLIGHT FORUM JENNIFER CARON (It took me back to some of my earli - est single pilot IMC days ...)

2.) You built a credible bridge between your story and FAA princi - ples and documents.

3.) You link to FAA resources that are helpful for the reader.

All of those things I mentioned above stand out to me as a pro - fessional peer — someone in the business of aviation and safety as well as writing and editing. So I'm saying these things as one "critical eye" to another. Well done.

— Mark electric trim switch and help move the Here’s a handy tip and trim wheel with my right hand. I agree some feedback from mem - Thank you very much for the with David, have maintenance take a bers of our new GA Safety detailed feedback. I am always glad look at it.

Facebook Group!

to know a particular piece has hit the — Mike mark, but you certainly went the extra Facebook.com/groups/GASafety mile by providing specifics.

Please remember that John is renting If you’re not a member, we The use of specifics in aviation is the Piper Arrow not maintaining it. No encourage you to join in on the something I learned in my very first it is absolutely not normal. If you have discussions and post relevant GA flight lesson. Starting with preflight and to ask if something is normal then it’s content that makes the National including pretty much everything else, probably not normal. Trust your judge - Airspace System (NAS) safer.

my instructor would never allow me to ment and turn in the keys anytime you get away with saying “ that looks okay.” don’t feel comfortable with something.

I was required to be quite specific about Your comfort level, if listened to, can Piping Up on Piper Predicaments what I was inspecting or doing, why I save your life.

was doing it, and what made it “okay” — Steve I had an issue today with a rented (or not). I have tried to use that tech - Piper Arrow and am wondering John's Reply: nique myself in flight instruction as it what is "normal." On the ground, builds critical thinking skills along with Thanks to all who have contributed the trim wheel turned freely and their thoughts on this problem. I've real understanding. Thank you again the electric trim worked fine. Once for the thoughtful feedback.

taken your suggestions and for - airborne, the electric trim became warded them to the maintenance ineffective and the trim wheel department for consideration.

became very difficult to turn man - Let us hear from you! Send your com - ually. Can anyone shed light on the ments, suggestions, and questions to cause and whether or not this condi - SafetyBriefing@faa.gov . You can also tion should be considered "normal?"

Single Pilot Specifics reach us on Twitter @FAASafetyBrief or — John on Facebook facebook.com/FAA.

Susan, We may edit letters for style and/or length.

Certainly not “normal.” You should Due to our publishing schedule, responses I just read "You Never Roam Alone" let the place you rented from know may not appear for several issues. While [in the FAA Safety Briefing Nov/ what you encountered. They may be we do not print anonymous letters, we will Dec 2019 issue], and I really enjoyed withhold names or send personal replies unaware of any issues.

it. But I wanted to be slightly more upon request. If you have a concern with — Bob an immediate FAA operational issue, specific.

contact your local Flight Standards Office The airflow over the elevator makes or air traffic facility.

1.) Your personal story sets the stage it harder to move in flight. I use the brilliantly and captured my attention.

March /April 2020 39

POSTFLIGHT SUSAN K. PARSON

MINING DATA FOR INFORMATION

Early bird gets the worm? I believe weather data without context distorts ing in this area most logically focuses Commander Shelby erred. There is no its meaning. on the pilot. Are you instrument evidence of avian or crawling vermicu - rated, current, and proficient?

lar lifeforms on Jouret IV. Ask, Answer, Analyze, Apply Remember that maintaining just the — Commander Data, Star Trek: The good news is that you don’t have to legal minimums may not be enough The Next Generation be a meteorologist to apply the context for proficiency and confidence. If you and analysis that transforms data into haven’t flown in IMC recently, or if information. Weather observation and you have any doubts about your profi - reporting technology have changed ciency level, get some practice with a dramatically over the years, but noth - safety pilot or dual refresher training ing has changed the fundamental ways with an instrument instructor.

that weather can affect any aviator.

So, Robert N. Buck’s Weather Flying Performance: Image courtesy of Garmin.

is still one of the “go to” resources in Like all machines, airplanes have my aviation library. Buck notes that performance limits. Even the best weather can do three things: (1) Create pilots cannot overcome such perfor - wind or turbulence; (2) Reduce ceilings mance-reducing elements as icing, and visibility; and (3) Affect aircraft high density altitude, or thunderstorm performance through conditions like activity. Weather data provides facts icing, density altitude, or convection. about likely freezing level(s), tem - The process of transforming weather peratures and density altitudes, and data into useful information requires location/likely intensity of convective asking and answering a few ques - activity. Ask yourself where these con - tions, then analyzing and applying the ditions exist in terms of your route.

responses. For example: Can you avoid them? If not, does your Thanks to tablets, apps, and pan - airplane have the required capability?

el-mounted avionics that make Wind Direction and Velocity: Since even newer airplanes may not the bridge of even the more recent For takeoff or landing, analyze these make “book” numbers, analysis and versions of Star Trek look outdated, numbers in terms of both the pilot and application means taking your cal - GA pilots now have anytime, any - the airplane. If you aren’t comfortable culations with a big grain of salt and where capability for all the weather with the crosswind component, or if adding a safety margin.

data we could possibly want. But there it is beyond the airplane’s maximum Bottom line: it may be a “data- are downsides. Data’s glossy appear - demonstrated crosswind capability, driven” world, but don’t let data drive ance easily deludes us into taking it apply that information by deciding you into trouble!

literally, rather than regarding it as whether to stay on the ground, hiring raw material that requires refinement an instructor to help scrub the rust Susan K. Parson (susan.parson@faa.gov) is editor of FAA Safety Briefing and a Special Assistant in the before we can safely use it. Second, or, if already en route, diverting. For FAA’s Flight Standards Service. She is a general the sheer volume of incoming bits and cruise, analyze and apply these num - aviation pilot and flight instructor.

bytes can complicate even the most bers in terms of effect on groundspeed determined efforts at refining data and fuel requirements.

LEARN MORE into information — that is, data placed in some level of context or analysis. Ceiling and Visibility: Here’s where critical thinking Regardless of how it is equipped, the “When the Wind Blows,” (page 18) F AA becomes, well, critical. Like the human airplane itself is not affected by the Safety Briefing — Mar/Apr 2018 bit.ly/FAASBMarApr2018 cliché that so puzzled Star Trek TNG’s presence of clouds and precipitation.

android Commander Data, taking Consequently, weather decision-mak - 40 FAA Safety Briefing

PAUL CIANCIOLO

IAN JOHNSON

Engineering Psychologist, FAA Weather Research Branch

Ian Johnson’s first inkling of a career That research, along with his 19 in aviation came as a teenager after years of industry experience (ranging an eye-opening flight in a Douglas from lead human factors engineer, DC-3. After migrating to the United technical contributor, and staff human States from Guyana, a small country factors engineer of the presidential on South America’s north Atlantic helicopter program) and his pilot - coast, he took on several jobs to pay ing expertise (mostly in single-en - for lessons toward his private pilot gine Cessna and Piper aircraft and certificate. He then enrolled at Emb - multi-engine Piper aircraft) provided ry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the perfect foundation for Ian’s current Daytona Beach, Florida, with aspira - job as an engineering psychologist in tions of becoming an airline pilot. the FAA’s Weather Research Branch.

During Ian’s second semester Ian is also the human factors lead studying aeronautical science, he and general aviation subject matter became enthralled with human factors expert in the FAA’s NextGen Weather in aviation after taking a course on Technology in the Cockpit (WTIC) the subject. He changed his plans and program.

switched his degree program so he The purpose of the WTIC pro - could dive deeper into human factors gram is to ensure that weather Ian explains that one of the most psychology. information, in any format that is important aspects of using weather Ian continued his education, available to pilots in the cockpit, is technology during flight is being cog - eventually earning not only a mas - effective. WTIC program research nizant of its capabilities and limita - ter’s degree of aeronautical science looks at how pilots interpret the tions. An especially important point: in human factors in aviation systems weather information and associates never assume that a graphical display but also a second master’s in aviation/ that information with safety risks of of “current” weather is in real time.

aerospace safety systems. The research encountering potentially hazardous In fact, there could be a 20 minute required for these advanced degrees weather conditions. For more about delay in what you are seeing due to aligned well with Ian’s new aeronauti - the program, read the article “What processing and transmission lag time.

cal career aspirations. is WTIC?” in this publication. There’s no way to safely “shoot the gap” between thunderstorm cells with this limitation.

Ian also notes that as a pilot you need to be aware of personal capabil - ities and limitations, not just those of the aircraft you are flying.

With great technology, comes great responsibility. That respon - sibility is up to you — the pilot in command — to truly understand the tools you are using in the cockpit to make safe decisions.

Paul Cianciolo is an associate editor and the social media lead for FAA Safety Briefing . He is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and a rated aircrew member and volunteer public affairs officer with Civil Air Patrol.

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