Alaskan Off Airport Operations Guide Training Syllabus

Alaskan Off Airport Operations Guide

Training Syllabus

Foreword: This syllabus is designed to train pilots in best practices associated with airplane operations discussed in the Alaskan Off Airport Operations Guide. Pilots new to off airport operations will not likely achieve maximum airplane performance. That takes hours of practice. Successful completion of this syllabus will result in documented and consistent individual performance in short and obstructed field operations.

The time required to complete each stage is dependent on achieving performance equal to or better than the completion standards. Suggested completion times are predicated on proficient and current pilots with several years of flying experience. Other pilots may require more time to achieve proficiency.

Instructors and their students who train according to this syllabus must assess the risk associated with each training evolution described herein and be certain they are equal to the challenges those evolutions present. All the operations discussed in this syllabus should be taught and practiced at an airport runway - preferably one with a grass or gravel runway - before attempting those operations at off-airport sites.

Stage 1

Operational Risk Analysis and Pilot/Aircraft Performance Documentation Lesson 1 Objectives Pilots will assess the capabilities of their aircraft and themselves by completing an Operational Risk Analysis that will serve as a baseline for Safety Risk Management during the course of instruction. The Operational Risk Analysis will asses:

Pilot Capabilities & Experience

Aircraft Capabilities

Operational Environment

Survival and Emergency Communications Equipment

1.5 Hours Ground

Pilot History

Aircraft performance charts

Takeoff, climb, and landing performance calculations

Wind, density altitude, aircraft weight, obstacle clearance, runway composition, condition & slope compensations

Operations area discussion

Survival and Emergency Communications Equipment

Flight Plan

Off Airport Operations Training Syllabus Version - Rev 1 30 Mar 2010 Once the baseline Operational Analysis is complete, student and instructor will validate that analysis by documenting performance at an unpaved runway. Note: The flight operations for this lesson will utilize an unpaved runway of documented dimensions. Ideally the runway will be marked at 100 foot intervals for at least the first 1500 feet. Performance should be measured at maximum anticipated operating weight. This includes mission fuel, survival equipment, cargo and, additional passengers or equivalent weight; for aircraft capable of carrying more than one passenger.

1.5 - 2 Hours Flight

Short Field Takeoff and Landing Practice

Light load

Heavy load

Performance Documentation

Light load

Heavy load

.5 Hour Post Flight Pilot and Instructor will compare validation flight results with predicted performance.

Completion Standards:

Private Pilot PTS Standards for Short Field Takeoff and Landing performance.

Takeoff

Configuration per manufacturer’s recommendation

Apply and maintain crosswind correction

Vx +5 -5 until obstacle cleared

Vy +5 -5 until safe maneuvering altitude achieved

Landing

Configuration per manufacturer’s recommendation (full flaps) Apply and maintain crosswind correction

Approach speed per calculations +5 -0 not more than 1.3 Vso

Smooth touchdown at minimum controllable airspeed

Touchdown at or within 100 feet from selected point This lesson will be complete when pilots can accurately predict takeoff, climb, and landing performance while operating their aircraft at typical mission weights & configurations.

Note: It is important to document performance with typical loads and aircraft configurations. If possible, assess performance at light weight and at or near maximum gross weight. If only one assessment is made it should be made at or near maximum gross weight. Performance will be measured against predicted values and results will be documented on the forms provided.

Stage 2

Off-airport Site Selection

Lesson Objectives:

Pilots will learn how to evaluate potential off-airport landing sites while in the air and on the ground.

GPS-based wind & runway length determinations

Raw data time, speed, distance calculations

Walking and marking takeoff area.

1.5 Hours Ground

Landing site evaluation

Runway composition & condition

Approach & departure path (s)

Obstacle identification & evaluation

Runway length evaluation

Time, speed, distance chart

GPS solution

Runway wind evaluation

Crosswind chart

GPS solution

Turbulence/Wind Shear prediction

1.5 - 2 Hours Flight

Landing site evaluation

High level

Wind direction and speed

Landing area length

Approach and Departure Paths

Obstructions

Intermediate level

Landing area composition & condition

Obstructions on or immediately adjacent to landing area

Touchdown and roll out location & associated landmarks

Go-around decision point & associated landmarks

Low level

Obstructions, cuts, bumps on landing & rollout area

Touch & go for surface feel & departure path check

Landing

Approach at recommended approach speed & configuration

Roll to stop with minimum required breaking

Off Airport Operations Training Syllabus Version - Rev 1 30 Mar 2010 Exit aircraft & assess area before taxiing

Takeoff area evaluation

Walk taxi & takeoff area

Establish and mark go/no-go decision point

Establish and mark calculated takeoff point

Position aircraft at takeoff point

Takeoff

Announce go/no-go decision point

Note lift off point & compare with pre calculated point

Completion Standards:

Commercial Pilot PTS Standards for Short Field Takeoff and Landing performance.

Takeoff

Configuration per manufacturer’s recommendation

Apply and maintain crosswind correction

Vx +5 -5 until obstacle cleared

Vy +5 -5 until safe maneuvering altitude achieved

Landing

Configuration per manufacturer’s recommendation (full flaps) Apply and maintain crosswind correction

Approach speed per calculations +0 -0 and, not more than 1.3 Vso

Smooth touchdown at minimum controllable airspeed

Touchdown at or within 50 feet from selected point .5 Hour Post Flight Compare performance with previous flight. Discuss training area to be used for Stage 3 Off Airport Operations

Stage 3

Off Airport Operations

Lesson Objectives:

Pilots will identify and evaluate 3 off-airport landing sites from the air. With instructor concurrence, pilots will land and conduct a ground evaluation, marking go/no-go decision points and predicted takeoff points.

1 Hour Ground

Review of landing site evaluation techniques and procedures. Discussion of operations area.

Flight plan

2.0 Hours Flight

For each of 3 off-airport landing sites

Overfly and evaluate site

Land and document landing performance

Conduct ground reconnaissance

Position aircraft for takeoff

Takeoff and document takeoff performance

1 Hour Post Flight

Review Course & answer questions

Complete Operational Risk Analysis work sheet and compare with baseline work sheet. This will become the new baseline for operational risk assessment and performance prediction.

Completion Standards:

This lesson will be complete when the pilot is able to identify viable off-airport landing sites and safely conduct operations to and from those sites. If acceptable off-airport sites are unavailable, the instructor may choose unimproved airports in the training area. Aerial evaluation of known sites is useful even if landings are not attempted; but the training will be most valuable when landing and takeoff operations are conducted. Likewise training in the Medallion Foundation PA-18 simulator is efficacious but it must be supplemented with airplane operations at off-airport or unimproved airport sites.

My Short Field Performance

Aircraft ___________ Gross Weight ___________ Test Weight __________ Airfield ___________ Elevation ___________ Density Altitude ________ Wind Direction _______ Wind Speed _______ X Wind Component ______ Runway Composition & Condition ____________________ Slope ______________ Indicated Approach Speed ___________ Flap Setting ____________ Landing Distance _____________ Takeoff Flap Setting __________ Rotation Speed __________ Rotation Speed x .70 __________ Vx __________ Vy __________ Distance to Rotation __________ Distance to 50 feet AGL ___________