It was a phenomenal, sunny day to fly when Joe, a scholar pilot, walked from the FBO workplace to the ramp to begin preflighting his airplane. As he walked, his mobile phone rang. It was a good friend he deliberate to fulfill for lunch after the coaching flight. Joe answered the telephone and have become engrossed within the dialog, although none of it was notably necessary.
He didn’t hear the “clear prop” name from a close-by airplane, he missed the pilot beginning their engine, and his distracted ambling path took him slightly too near the turning propeller for a contented end result. Joe’s life was saved that day by Sarah, an attentive flight teacher within the operating airplane, who saved her eyes primarily exterior the cockpit whereas her scholar ran via the beginning course of. Sarah noticed the place Joe was heading in time to drag the combination and break the accident chain. Her situational consciousness and avoidance of distractions saved the day—and allowed a startled, fortunate Joe to make it to lunch that afternoon.
Eagle-eye teacher Sarah and distracted Joe on this story are literally composites of conditions I’ve witnessed from the flight deck and whereas observing the flightline. The “story” didn’t occur precisely as depicted, however that doesn’t take away from the truth that distractions could be lethal on the ramp.
Everyone knows that situational consciousness (SA) is necessary when flying. SA can be important earlier than and after a flight, as we work and transfer round our personal plane and the others on the ramp. Conditions can evolve rapidly, and your escape routes could disappear because the hazard will increase.
Ramp Distractions and Hazards
Strolling on a basic aviation ramp requires your full consideration. That telephone name or textual content in all probability isn’t necessary. The social media put up or dopamine hit from likes and feedback undoubtedly isn’t necessary. Whereas checking the newest climate and NOTAMs is necessary, the ramp is just not the place to finish this activity. All of those can wait till you might be in a secure location.
The ramp has plenty of apparent hazards, together with transferring plane and spinning propellers and tail-rotors. There are additionally tripping hazards: chocks, tie-downs, gasoline hoses, and different gear have been the downfall of pilots, passengers, and line personnel. A fall may not damage—however what you land on or fall towards might do severe harm to your head or physique.
Various pilots have briefly misplaced management of an airplane through the beginning course of. Insufficient braking or an overzealous throttle setting can result in the airplane’s unintentional rolling from its parking spot after begin. Regardless of the very best efforts of airport operators and FBOs, the ramp or parking space will not be completely degree, contributing to this drawback. Keep away from strolling in entrance of an airplane when it’s beginning or operating. When approaching most propeller-driven airplanes, it’s greatest to method from the aspect or rear to keep away from the propeller space. Approaching from the aspect may mean you can make eye contact with the pilot.
When excited about the hazard zone on a small airplane, the spinning propeller on the entrance is clear. You would possibly count on a helicopter’s massive overhead rotor to be the most important hazard on the bottom. For many helicopters, it isn’t—the tail rotor is an even bigger concern. The tail rotor is decrease and may be missed in case you are distracted by the principle rotor. When approaching a helicopter, method from the entrance to remain away from the tail rotor and keep eye contact with the pilots.
On bigger ramps, you may additionally deal with jet-powered plane. Whereas conventional jet engines don’t have propellers, they’ve their very own hazards. Massive, low engine inlets can pull individuals off their toes and into the inlet if the engine is operating at enough energy. Jet exhaust can knock you down, hurl particles, or harm different plane if the pilot is just not cautious. Noise ranges can be excessive, even at low energy. Don’t let this distract you from different hazards within the space.
Avoiding ramp distractions and hazards:
Hold your eyes on the realm and stay conscious of potential hazards, together with plane and tripping hazards.
Put your telephone or pill in your pocket or flight bag. Ignore rings, dings, and vibrations till you might be in a secure location.
Take away your earbuds so you may higher hear your environment.
When crossing close to a parked airplane, test the seats to make sure the pilot isn’t making ready to begin. Make eye contact and “get permission” earlier than strolling previous the airplane, giving loads of area from the entrance.
Don’t method a helicopter on the ramp from the rear. That is the hazard zone, and you can not see the pilot seats.
Don’t let the sights, sounds, and exercise of the ramp divert you from noticing different hazards.
Preflight Distractions
As soon as at your airplane, your preflight have to be your major focus. Preserve situational consciousness of your environment, however your consideration ought to stay on the duty at hand. Whether or not utilizing a printed guidelines or a circulate, your preflight inspection ought to observe a daily routine and constant sample for the airplane. Inconsistency is a recipe for missed steps and missed objects.
Throughout preflight is just not the time to go to with buddies, passengers, different pilots, or line personnel. Your duties require full consideration, and distractions improve the chance of lacking one thing important.
Like strolling on the ramp, keep away from non-critical communications throughout preflight. Telephone calls, texts, and social media can wait. Different communications that aren’t important to security may also wait.
In case you do get distracted by an necessary name or related dialogue, contemplate safely proceed the preflight. If following a guidelines, and you might be sure of the place you left off, you would possibly proceed from that time or a few steps again. The most secure possibility is to restart the guidelines from the start or from the beginning of the present part. If not sure, all the time return to the start.
Within the Pilot’s Seat
As soon as within the cockpit, duties reverse. You will need to now look ahead to pedestrians and keep situational consciousness whereas beginning the airplane. Guarantee nobody walks into or in entrance of your airplane. Retain management of the plane throughout startup and be able to regain it if misplaced. Be conscious of prop or jet blast to stop particles or damage.
Hold your head up and eyes exterior throughout important instances. Keep away from programming radios, navigators, or tablets whereas taxiing, particularly close to the ramp.
Conclusion
Situational consciousness and intentional avoidance of distractions are keys to a secure flight. This vigilance ought to begin upon arrival on the airport and proceed till the flying day is full. Distractions will not be price your life—or the lifetime of one other.
Fly and keep secure!
Paul Jurgens is the Chief Teacher for Multiengine and Flight Teacher Refresher programs at Sporty’s Academy. He holds a multiengine ATP certificates with a Cessna Quotation sort ranking together with industrial privileges in single-engine land and sea airplanes, gliders, and scorching air balloons. Chief Jurgens holds teacher scores for single & multiengine airplanes, instrument airplanes, & gliders. He additionally has instructing privileges in scorching air balloons by advantage of his industrial certificates.In his function as VP of Security, Safety, and Compliance for Sporty’s Academy, Chief Jurgens develops and maintains the mandatory methods to meet that function. He additionally develops materials which finally turns into part of the courseware used at Sporty’s Academy and bought via Sporty’s Pilot Store.
