Some more confined techniques...

[PhotoFlyer]

What technique/method do you use or teach to develop a plan to enter/exit a confined area? Also applies to pinnacles, so no need to discriminate on the pointy confined areas...

 

I'll post mine once I get this bandage off my finger. For now, it is too difficult to type.

Edited February 13, 2007 by PhotoFlyer

[brushfire21]

Are you asking about the techniques used to pass the PPL/CPL PTS components on the checkride, or techniques used after the checkride is long gone?

 

I have seen several techniques today, and for my checkride I am expected to do the standard high/low recon to satisfy the DPE. But in the real world, the high/low recon is not always done or is heavily modified from my understanding.

[PhotoFlyer]

Asking for both!

 

I think you meant DPE, not DME...

[StuandJoy]

I'm sure you have already heard this one but here goes. I was taught to go by WOTFEEL

 

W-Wind

O-Obstacles

T-Terrain/Turbulence

F-Forced landing areas

E-Entry

E-Exit

L-Landing area

 

I do a low recon if there is something I cant quite make out or I am unfamiliar with the area.

[brushfire21]

So many damn abbreviations, thanks for catching the DME/DPE thing Photo!

 

For my checkride I was taught about the High/Low Recon. In practice the last few weeks have been one pass/orbit at around 150-200 feet above pinnacle or whatever is needed to clear obstacles on a confined area and then after the orbit set up a modified "traffic pattern" and set up an approach bleeding airspeed and using minimal R.O.D. and terminate in a hover on the last third of the LZ (using a steep or normal descent). On "final" confirm where the wind is (trees, plants, birds and use the bubble to help figure out the wind as well), do a power check prior to getting committed (if needed), look for obstacles/wires and confirm the landing area (slope, ground conditions, spacing for ship etc) and an exit if needed, but SLOW down to give yourself plenty of time.

 

Once in a hover, then the landing........

[Linc]

Terrain

Obstacles

Winds

Enemy (It's an Army mneumonic)

Long axis

Surface conditions/Slopes

[delorean]

5 S's

 

Size

Shape

Surroundings

Surface

Slope

 

Do the first three on the high recon, the last two on the low recon.

[Superman]

High Recon 500' 50 knots (can be 400-40, 300-30 as needed for conditions)

 

Power Check, panel clear, gauges in the green

 

W-ind

W-ires

W-ay in

W-ay out

 

Low Recon - on approach (or as needed for safety)

 

S-urface

O-bstructions

S-lopes

 

Commitment point (rule of thumb - as you descend below obstacles)

 

Biggest thing for the check ride (my opinion) is to keep the examiner informed as to what you are doing. I'm doing the high recon at 500 and 50, looking for wind direction, wires, my way in, and way out, emergency landing areas, setting up my pattern, doing the low recon on the approach, approaching at 30 knots, riding the ETL bubble, Rate of descent less than 300 fpm, checking the surface is clear of obstructions, small kids, chickens, goats, ducks, slopes, etc. Passing below the obstructions now committed to land etc........

 

Fly Safe

Clark

[Worldcrime]

I was taught wotfeel method but as AWOTFEEL

A-ALTITUDE = estimated altitude of LZ

W-Wind

O-Obstacles

T-Terrain/Turbulence

F-Forced landing areas

E-Entry

E-Exit

LZ-Landing area