LT Andrew LightC130 Pilot Examiner

LT Andrew LightC130 Pilot Examiner

USCG Aviation Training Center (detached)

Clearwater, Florida

USCG Aviation Training Center (detached)

Clearwater, Florida

COAST GUARD EXPERIENCE

C-130 Instructor Pilot ~ 1900 Hours (Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii & C-130 Standardization Team)

Assistant Operations Officer USCG Group Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

Naval Flight Training (Pensacola, FL & Corpus Christi, TX)

Deck Force (Seaman) USCG Cutter Dauntless, Galveston, Texas

COAST GUARD EXPERIENCE

C-130 Instructor Pilot ~ 1900 Hours (Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii & C-130 Standardization Team)

Assistant Operations Officer USCG Group Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

Naval Flight Training (Pensacola, FL & Corpus Christi, TX)

Deck Force (Seaman) USCG Cutter Dauntless, Galveston, Texas

CIVILIAN EXPERIENCE

B.S. Airway Science – University of Central Texas

Flight Instructor (CFI / CFII) for Central Texas College ~ 700 Hours

CIVILIAN EXPERIENCE

B.S. Airway Science – University of Central Texas

Flight Instructor (CFI / CFII) for Central Texas College ~ 700 Hours

US ARMY EXPERIENCE

MOS 93B – Enlisted Aerial Observer ~ 600 Hours in OH-58A/C Kiowa

Light Aircraft Ditching

Argentine Air Force C-130

Fuel starvation

References

•USCG C130 Flight Manual

• Internet

• National Search & Rescue Manual

• AIM

References

•USCG C130 Flight Manual

• Internet

• National Search & Rescue Manual

• AIM

Pre-ditching ConsiderationsPre-ditching Considerations

FAA Flight PlanForm 7233-1 (8-82)

                                                                           

• Filing a flight plan - $0

• Activating a flight plan - $0

• Knowing that someone is looking for you after you crash…

$$ Priceless $$

Victor AirwaysVictor Airways

$100 hamburger

Route

$100 hamburger

Route

IFR

– I

fol

low

roa

dsIF

R –

I f

ollo

w r

oadsVFR

Dire

ct

VFR

Dire

ct

Flight following Radar services

IFR flight plan ELT / EPIRB

Life raft

Food & water Survival gear

Altitude SATCOM or HF

Flight following Radar services

IFR flight plan ELT / EPIRB

Life raft

Food & water Survival gear

Altitude SATCOM or HF

                                             

If you can’t afford a raft one may be appointed…

Personal EPIRB

Handheld

VHF-AM

radio

Satellite phone

406 mHz EPIRB406 mHz EPIRB

Life raftLife raft

Happy to be alive!Happy to be alive!

See anything??????See anything??????

Person in the water wearing a personal flotation device as seen from 500 ft altitude.

Person in the water wearing a personal flotation device as seen from 500 ft altitude.

56 degrees F

Florida Water Temps

32 41 50 59 68 77 32 41 50 59 68 77

22

44

66

Flight suitFlight suitA

DC o

r Sh

orty

AD

C or

Shor

ty

Estimated Time To Loss Of Useful Consciousness

1 hour1 hour

<4 hours<4 hours

32 41 50 59 68

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Water Temp( F)

Sur

viva

l Tim

e (h

ours

) Death from hypothermia highly probable

Death from hypothermia highly probable

Death from hypothermia improbable

Average

Water Chill Without Anti-exposure SuitWater Chill Without Anti-exposure Suit

4 hours in 57 water

• Make mayday call

• Ditch near a surface vessel

• Determine your ditch heading

• Depressurize the aircraft (if applicable)

• Place survival equipment in accessible location

• Configure – gear up, flaps as required

• Fasten/lock seat belts

• Unlatch/jettison doors

• Make mayday call

• Ditch near a surface vessel

• Determine your ditch heading

• Depressurize the aircraft (if applicable)

• Place survival equipment in accessible location

• Configure – gear up, flaps as required

• Fasten/lock seat belts

• Unlatch/jettison doors

Wind streaks

Flaps may impede your exit from a high wing aircraft. They will allow slower landing speeds.

SPEED – with powerBest Glide – until with ~ 100 feet of the surface

5 – 10 knots above power-off stall speed

SPEED – without power Increase speed – trade airspeed for altitude if required

SPEED – multiengine with engine outUse small amount of power and increase speed slightly to increase handling

Use less flap setting

Wind Speed Heading 0 kts

land parallel to swell

15 kts

compromise

30 kts

land into the wind

50+ kts

Wind Speed Heading 0 kts

land parallel to swell

15 kts

compromise

30 kts

land into the wind

50+ kts

Ditching – 15 knot wind (single swell)Ditching – 15 knot wind (single swell)

15 knot wind (double swell)15 knot wind (double swell)

Double swell system –

30 knot wind

High wind options (50+ knots)

Best optio

n

Best optio

n

Next best

option

Next best

option High wind

option

High wind option

Wings level

10 Nose up attitude

100 FPM rate of descent

http://naval.com/heavy-seas/3

Ditch parallel to the major swell

Land on top of the swell or in the trough

Use 5 to 10 knots above power-off stall for touchdown

Level wings relative to the sea surface (not the horizon)

Remove crab angle prior to touch down

Avoid the face of the swell

Use soft field landing technique

Ditch parallel to the major swell

Land on top of the swell or in the trough

Use 5 to 10 knots above power-off stall for touchdown

Level wings relative to the sea surface (not the horizon)

Remove crab angle prior to touch down

Avoid the face of the swell

Use soft field landing technique

Egress the aircraft quickly

Avoid the temptation to reenter the aircraft

Typical post ditching position for aircraft –

Training OptionsTraining Options

Train yourself:

1. Practice egressing your aircraft blindfolded

2. Practice unlatching the seat belt & opening the door with one hand

3. Seek egress training through commercially procure sources (your insurance company can help here)

4. Practice identifying wind and swell direction

5. Create your own personal ditching checklist

Train yourself:

1. Practice egressing your aircraft blindfolded

2. Practice unlatching the seat belt & opening the door with one hand

3. Seek egress training through commercially procure sources (your insurance company can help here)

4. Practice identifying wind and swell direction

5. Create your own personal ditching checklist

• Always file & open a flight plan

• Use ATC services

• Altitude is your friend

• Prepare ahead of time

• Know your aircraft

• Practice skills that can save your life

• Always file & open a flight plan

• Use ATC services

• Altitude is your friend

• Prepare ahead of time

• Know your aircraft

• Practice skills that can save your life

Summary Summary

Questions or comments regarding this presentation should be forwarded to:

LT Andrew Light

Email: alight@asclearwater.uscg.milEmail: alight@asclearwater.uscg.mil