Stepping Through A

Typical Mission

Authored by Rich Simerson 01-Jun-2007

Updated 01-Apr-2010 (13)Modified by Lt Colonel Fred BlundellTX-129 Fort Worth Senior Squadron

For Local Training Rev 5.0 04-Jan-2014

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This Training Slide Show is a project undertaken by Lt Colonel Fred Blundell of the TX-129 Fort Worth Senior Squadron, Fort Worth, TX for local use to assist those CAP Members interested in advancing their skills. The information contained herein is for CAP Member’s personal use and is not intended to replace or be a substitute for

any of the CAP National Training Programs. Users should review the presentation’s Revision Number at the end of each file name to

ensure that they have the most current publication.

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Discuss the items you should check before leaving on a mission: Personal and aircraft items CAPF 71 State the flight time and crew duty limitations (per

the current CAPR 60-1) State the three unique entries made by a CAP pilot

on a FAA Flight Plan and where they go on the flight plan

“IMSAFE” and flight release Preflight & loading Departure

Discuss the approach and your actions upon arrival at mission base, including the general briefing

Objectives

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Discuss the six steps of ORM and the four principles involved.

Discuss the aircrew briefing. Describe the information contained in and how

to fill out the front of the CAPF 104. Discuss the items checked and actions taken

before leaving on a sortie: Release and preparation Preflight and Departure State when the ‘sterile cockpit’ rules starts and ends

Objectives

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Objectives

Discuss duties during the sortie, including: Preparations prior to entering the search area Required radio reports State when the ‘sterile cockpit’ rules starts

and ends

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Discuss your actions upon arrival back at mission base.

Describe the information contained in and how to fill out the debriefing section of the CAPF 104.

Discuss the aircrew debriefing. Discuss your actions upon arrival back home,

including: What to do with the aircraft What to do if you observe signs of post-traumatic

stress When the mission is officially over for you and your

crew

Objectives

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What’s the Rush?

Why do we go to so much trouble to train mission aircrew members and encourage members to spend the time it takes to stay proficient?

Time is such a critical factor in missing person or aircraft crash searches

Treat every minute after you been alerted as critical to the survival chances of the victims

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Survival Rates

Of the 29% who survive a crash, 60% will be injured: 81% will die if not located within 24

hours 94% will die if not located within 48

hours Of those 40% uninjured in the crash:

50% will die if not located within 72 hours

Survival chances diminish rapidly after 72 hours

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Response Times

Average time from the aircraft being reported missing to AFRCC notification: 15.6 hours if no flight plan was filed 3.9 hours if a VFR flight plan was filed 1.1 hours if an IFR flight plan was filed

Average time from the aircraft being reported missing (LKP) to CAP locating and recovering: 62.6 hours if no flight plan was filed 18.2 hours if a VFR flight plan was

filed 11.5 hours if an IFR flight plan was

filed

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What’s the Rush?

What do these statistics tell us? We must take each mission seriously! Strive to do everything better, smarter

and faster! Training, practice and pre-planning help us

accomplish these goals Also tells us, as pilots, to always file a

flight plan

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Leaving Home Base

Proper uniforms per CAPM 39-1 Required credentials Current charts for the entire trip (gridded,

if you have them) Personal supplies and money Equipment such as cell phone and

flashlights (including spare batteries) Charts and maps

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Leaving Home Base

Check the Weight and balance, CO monitor & Fire Extinguisher status, fuel reserve and management plan, Discrepancy Log

Tie-downs, chocks, Pitot cover and engine plugs

Equipment such as fuel tester, survival kit, binoculars, sick sacks, and cleaning supplies

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Leaving Home Base Obtain briefing and file FAA Flight Plan Complete “Inbound” 104 and get

released by FRO

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Leaving Home Base“IMSAFE”

Illness Medicatio

n Stress Alcohol Fatigue Emotion

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FRO ChecklistCAP FRO CHECKLIST QUESTIONS 

1. Are PIC(s) qualified to fly the CAP aircraft for the type of flight proposed (consult the Ops-Qual FRO Report)?  Does the PIC(s) possess the appropriate pilot currency for the flight?

2. Are all aircraft occupants CAP members? If not, have applicable procedures been followed for non-CAP members, including CAPF 9 if applicable?

3. Is the correct mission symbol selected?

4. Is the route of flight complete, and does the PIC have permission to fly to destinations outside the wing? Does permission exist for all landings at every airport IAW CAPR 60-1?

5. Will a flight plan be filed (required for over 50 nm)? If not, what is the estimated landing time? Unless an FAA flight plan is filed and activated, the FRO is responsible for initiating missing aircraft procedures two hours after the estimated landing time if not notified the flight was safely concluded.

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Pre-flight begins even before you even get to the

aircraft!

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Pre-flight begins even before you even get to the

aircraft!

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Preflight Check the aircraft: Pre-flight (e.g., CAPF 71,

CAP Aircraft Inspection Checklist) Check the date and starting Tach & Hobbs times

to ensure you won't exceed: mid-cycle oil change (40-60 hours, not to

exceed four months) 100-hour/Annual 24-month Transponder inspection, Pitot-

Static system inspection, Altimeter calibration, & ELT inspection/Battery replacement date

30-day VOR check for IFR flight Check the AD compliance list Fill in the CAP flight log

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Preflight Check the Discrepancy Log; ensure no

discrepancy makes the aircraft unsafe for flight or reduces your ability to accomplish the mission

Verify any outstanding discrepancies during your aircraft preflight. If new discrepancies are discovered, log them and ensure the aircraft is still airworthy and mission ready

During loading, ensure that all supplies and equipment correspond to what you used in your Weight & Balance

Windshield and windows are clean, and that the chocks, tie-downs, and Pitot tube covers/engine plugs are stowed

Check and test special equipment

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Preflight

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Preflight

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Preflight

Check parking area for obstacles, arrange for marshaller or wing-walker

The mission pilot will perform the passenger briefing and review the emergency egress procedure. The pilot should also brief the crew on the fuel management plan and assumptions, and assign responsibility for inquiring about fuel status once an hour.

The pilot will review the taxi plan and taxiway diagram, and assign crew responsibilities for taxi

Once everyone is settled in, organize the cockpit and review the "Engine Fire on Start" procedure

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Departure

Always use the checklists; use the challenge/response method

Seat belts and shoulder harness (always <1000 AGL)

Collision avoidance! An increasing number of taxi mishaps are the number one trend in CAP. Investigations reveal that pilots are: straying from designated taxi routes, not allowing adequate clearance, not considering the tail and wings during turns, taxiing too fast for conditions, taxiing with obscured visibility, distracted by cockpit duties, and not using other crewmembers to ensure clearance.

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Departure

Taxi rules: Taxi no faster than a slow walk when within

10 feet of obstacles Maintain at least 50' behind light single-

engine aircraft, 100' behind small multi-engine and jet aircraft, and 500' behind heavies and taxiing helicopters

Go over the crew assignments for takeoff and departure and make sure each crewmember knows in which direction they should be looking during each.

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Departure

Remind the crew that midair collisions are most likely to occur in daylight VFR conditions within five miles of an airport at or below 3,000’ AGL! This means that most midair collisions occur in or near the traffic pattern. Since the pilot has only one set of eyes, this (and aircraft design) leaves several 'blind spots' that the observer and scanner must cover -- particularly between your 4 and 8 o'clock positions.

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Departure Be sure and include the DF unit's Alarm light

self-test in your scan during startup. The light should blink for several seconds; if it doesn't your unit may be inoperative.

Ensure that the DF, Audio Panel and FM radio are set up properly. If possible, perform an FM radio check. Select your initial VOR radial(s) and GPS setting (e.g., destination or flight plan).

Obtain ATIS and Clearance (read back all clearances and hold-short instructions). Then verify the crosswind limitation. Set up the navigational instruments (e.g., VOR radials and GPS destination, entry points and waypoints)

Once you begin taxiing, check your brakes

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Departure Sterile cockpit rules are now in effect Keep the checklist close at hand, open to Emergency

Procedures Check for landing aircraft before taking the active At takeoff, start the Observer Log with the time and

Hobbs for "Wheels Up“ The FAA's "operation lights on" encourages pilots to

keep aircraft lights on when operating within 10 miles of an airport, or wherever flocks of birds may be expected

While departing the airport environs practice collision avoidance and maintain the sterile cockpit until well clear of traffic and obstacles. The pilot should use shallow S-turns and lift a wing before turns to check for traffic. The crew must keep each other appraised of conflicting aircraft and obstacles

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Arrival AtMission Base

Obtain ATIS (or AWOS) as soon as possible. May be able to contact mission base on FM radio.

Review taxi plan/airport taxi diagram and make crew assignments for approach, landing and taxi

Make sure each crewmember knows in which direction they should be looking during each. Remind the crew that midair collisions are most likely to occur in daylight VFR conditions within five miles of an airport at or below 3,000’ AGL! This means that most midair collisions occur in the traffic pattern, with over half occurring on final approach

Sterile cockpit rules are now in effect

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Arrival at BaseBasic Airport

Traffic Pattern

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Arrival atMission Base

Practice collision avoidance by turning the aircraft exterior lights on when within 10 miles of the airport. The pilot should use shallow S-turns and lift a wing before turns to check for traffic. Read back all clearances and hold-short instructions

Defer after-landing checks until clear Log and report "Wheels Down" Watch for Marshallers and follow their

directions, signal Ignition Switch OFF (hold keys out the window) so they can chock

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Arrival atMission Base in Style

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Arrival AtMission Base

Secure the aircraft: Avionics/Control lock, Master Switch OFF Tie-downs, chocks, Pitot tube cover and engine

plugs Close windows, Fuel Selector Switch in 'Right' or

'Left,' and Parking Brake OFF; remove personal items and special equipment; lock the doors and baggage compartment.

Arrival AtMission Base

Oil & fuel, clean windows and leading edges

Close FAA flight plan, call FRO Check aircrew and aircraft into the

mission Complete “Inbound” 104 Get sortie assignment Determine food and lodging

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General Briefing

Mission Objective And Status

Safety And Hazards Mission Base Procedures Weather Frequencies

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Operational RiskManagement

Accomplish the mission with the least possible risk.

More than common sense, more than just a safety program.

Educated (informed) risk versus taking a gamble.

Part of the CAP culture.

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ORM – Six Steps

Identify the hazards Assess the risks Analyze risk control

measures Make control decisions Implement risk controls Supervise and review

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ORM Principles

Accept no unnecessary risks. Make risk decisions at the appropriate level. Accept risk when the benefits outweigh the

costs. Integrate ORM into CAP practices, procedures,

and planning at all levels.

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ORM and the Aircrew

Acknowledge risks in order to deal with them. Each crewmember is responsible to look for

risks. Don’t ignore risks; if you can’t eliminate or

reduce the risk, tell someone. PIC has ultimate authority and responsibility

to deal with risks during the sortie. PIC has the responsibility to inform his or her

crew of the risks involved, and to listen to and address their concerns.

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Aircrew Briefing

Sortie Objectives

Weather

Altitudes

Duties

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CAPF 104Page 1 of 4

- Flight Plan- Briefing Form

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CAPF 104Page 2 of 4

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CAPF 104

Page 3 of 4

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Preparing To LeaveOn A Sortie

Check in with briefing officer Check in with air operations Present 104 to flight line supervisor Pilot pre-flights aircraft Observer checks mission

equipment and supplies Review flight time and duty

limitations Final restroom visit

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Preparing To LeaveOn A Sortie

Pilot’s briefing: Seat belts and shoulder harness, no smoking Emergency egress procedure Fuel management plan and assumptions Taxi plan/diagram, crew assignments Startup and Taxi emergency procedures When sterile cockpit rules are in effect

When more than one flight is accomplished by the same crew during the day, subsequent briefings are not required to be so detailed but must, at a minimum, highlight differences and changes from the original briefing

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Preparing To LeaveOn A Sortie

If this is the first sortie of the day the observer will perform an FM radio check with mission base; you may also perform a DF functional check if this is an ELT search. Other special equipment should also be tested before the first sortie.

Enter sortie settings into the GPS (destination or flight plan, entry points and waypoints)

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Taxi Mishaps

Becoming a bigger problem each year (#1 trend in CAP)

Pilots are: straying from designated taxi routes not allowing adequate clearance and not

considering the tail and wings during turns taxiing too fast for conditions and taxiing

with obscured visibility distracted by cockpit duties not using other crewmembers to ensure

clearance

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Taxi Mishaps(Continued)

Strategies: Thorough planning and preparation

eliminates distractions Crew assignments for taxi Treat taxiing with the seriousness it

deserves Sterile cockpit rules

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Taxi and Departure

The sterile cockpit rules begin at this time Startup, taxi and departure were covered

earlier If there are flight line Marshallers, they will

expect you to turn on your rotating beacon and signal the impending engine start before starting the engine. You are also expected to signal (e.g., turn on your pulse light or flash your taxi/landing light) before beginning to taxi.

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Taxi and Departure(Continued)

Observer begins Observer Log with time and Hobbs, reports “Wheels Up”

Takeoff, climb and departure were covered earlier Once clear of the airport/controlled airspace

environs the crew settles into the transit phase

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During the Sortie

Depending on circumstances (e.g., the airspace is still congested or multiple obstacles are present) the sterile cockpit rules are normally suspended at this time. The aircrew maintains situational awareness at all times during the flight

Double-check navigational settings that will be used in the search area, review search area terrain and obstacles, review methods to reduce crew fatigue during the search or to combat high altitude effects.

Update in-flight weather, file PIREPs, periodically check navigational equipment against each other to detect abnormalities or failures

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During the Sortie(Continued)

The pilot should stabilize the aircraft at the assigned search heading, altitude and airspeed at least two miles before you enter the search area, and turn sufficient aircraft exterior lights on to maximize visibility (so others can "see and avoid")

Observer logs and reports “Entering the Search Area,” primary duty is now Scanner

Periodic “Ops Normal” reports, Observer asks about fuel status and altimeter setting at least hourly

Scanner and observer logs, sketches

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During the Sortie(Continued)

During the actual search or assessment, the aircrew must be completely honest with each other concerning their own condition and other factors affecting search effectiveness. If you missed something, or think you saw something, say so. If you have a question, ask.

If target spotted notify mission base immediately; begin recovery ASAP

Mission commander monitors for fatigue, ensures crew drinks enough fluids, schedules breaks

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Return to Base

When the aircraft completes its mission and leaves the search area, the observer notes the time and the Hobbs reading and reports "Leaving the Search Area“

Double-check heading and altitude with what was assigned for transit to the next search area or return to base.

Reorganize the cockpit in preparation for approach and landing.

Approach, landing and arrival were covered earlier

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Return to Base(Continued)

Check back in and take a break Drawings or markings made on charts or

maps should be transferred onto the CAPF 104 or attached to it

Make sure everything is clear and legible The two most common entries overlooked

when completing the CAP flight plan (front side of the CAPF 104) are "ATD" (actual time of departure) and "Actual LDG Time."

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CAPF 104Page 4 of 4

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Debriefing

Note both Positive and Negative results Use the reverse of CAPF 104 Used to determine how effective the search was:

Weather — shadows, visibility, snow cover Terrain — open, flat, mountainous, rough Ground Cover — barren, forest, scrub, sparse,

dense Other information — hazards, changes from plan

Used to calculate the “probability of detection” that is used for subsequent search planning

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Debriefing(Continued)

Complete the de-briefing sections of the CAPF 104

Discuss items on the 104 Assemble attachments Report to debriefer Be TOTALLY HONEST during the debriefing

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Debriefing(Continued)

Crew comments about effectiveness Crew remarks of SAR effectiveness Times (and Hobbs readings) Sketches and attachments Be TOTALLY HONEST during the

debriefing

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End of the Mission

Turn in equipment and supplies Settle fuel, food and lodging bills Plan the trip home Fill out “Outbound” CAPF 104 Check weather and file FAA Flight Plan Check out with mission staff, obtain

flight release

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The Trip Home

Maintain crew discipline and continue to use mission procedures and checklists

SAR personnel can experience post-traumatic stress, so look for signs (refer to CAPR 60-5)

Once on the ground, secure the aircraft and ready it for its next mission

Close FAA Flight Plan Complete the “Outbound” 104 Ensure ability to complete CAPF 108 Once everyone is at home, call mission base

with Hobbs from the ‘Outbound’ 104

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Local Drillsand

Exercises

Easy Inexpensive Very Efficient Very

Worthwhile Fun

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Questions?ALWAYS THINK

SAFETY!