2. Talk and Squawk — Requesting flight fol- 3.
Give yourself some room — Whether it’s a
Avoiding Pilot Deviations lowing or filing IFR are the most effective ways to get help TSO’d glass cockpit or a tablet-based navigation system, it
in avoiding pilot deviations. Controllers would much pre- seems everyone’s flying with GPS these days. Never before
Pilot Deviations result from... fer talking with pilots than filling out pilot deviation forms. have we had so much information available to assist us with
Flight following often our navigation chores. GPS is usually more precise than
pilot actions that deviate from assigned headings and
makes the control- ATC radar and therein lies a problem. If you use GPS to fly
altitudes, instrument procedures, or when pilots
ler’s job easier be- right on the line of airspace you’re trying to avoid; radar
penetrate controlled airspace or airspace subject to
cause they can better may show you inside that airspace. That will trigger a pilot
Temporary Flight
integrate VFR and deviation alert and you’ll likely be called to account for
Restrictions (TFRs)
IFR traffic. Control- your navigation. True—you may be able to prove you
without ATC clear-
lers also have the were not at fault but only if you can produce a track from
ance. Ground de-
latest TFR infor- your navigation system
viations include Talk and Squawk
taxiing, taking off or mation including sporting event and besides; Who wants
lan din g withou t venues and emergency response areas. Here are some to meet an FAA inspec-
clearance or devia- tips: tor under those condi-
Plan each flight
tions from assigned taxi tions? See below for
route or failing to hold short of an assigned clearance Make a note— Note all altitude, heading, some additional tips for
limit. Avoiding most airborne PDs is pretty easy. speed, and procedure assignments and clearanc- PD free flying:
There are three steps: es. Do this on a scratch pad or in your flight
1. Plan each flight — You may have flown management system. Make the note; then read Give yourself some room
the route dozens of time before but things change it back. That way you’ll know you recorded the
rapidly these days and TFRs can pop up with little assignment correctly.
notice. Take a few minutes before each flight to:
Horizontally—Fly at least a mile outside any
Read it back— Read back clearances and in-
Confirm that you have the latest data. That airspace you’re trying to avoid. A moment’s pre-
structions exactly as received together with
includes downloading current charts and TFR occupation with a passenger question or chang-
data for your tablet computer and/or on-board your call sign.
ing a frequency can put you inside of a TFR
navigation system. If you’re still flying with pa-
Let George do it— If you have an autopilot boundary instead of safely along side. Why fly
per, make sure you have the necessary FAA
Sectional and Terminal charts on board and log with altitude & heading hold capability why not with that kind of pressure?
a briefing with Flight Service or DUATs just use it to make sure you don’t bust an assign- Vertically—Fly at least 500 feet above or below
before takeoff. That will prove that you com- ment? airspace you’re trying to avoid. By the way—
plied with your PIC responsibility to acquire all
relevant information before the flight. wouldn’t it be safer to be talking and squawking
Sterile Cockpit— If you’re in a busy terminal
instead of trying to sneak under Class C air
Consider what types of airspace you’ll be flying environment or making a lot of altitude & head-
space?
through, what you’ll need to do to gain clear- ing changes you’re too busy to deal in extrane-
ance for those areas and, what you’ll do if clear- ous cockpit conversation. Make sure your pas- Timing— If you know a TFR will become active
ance is not granted. sengers understand that you have to give 100% at 0800 it’s not a good idea to be operating there
Request flight following service or file IFR. of your attention to flying at 0755 and, similarly, don’t plan on operating in
This will ensure another set of eyes on your a TFR area immediately after its scheduled clo-
flight. The collision avoidance benefit is obvious Have a Plan B— VFR advisory service is de- sure. Always confirm the TFR has expired be-
but you’ll also have real time information on pendent on controller work load so it’s a good fore operating in the airspace that was restricted.
TFRs. idea to have an alternate plan in case advisories
are unavailable.
How about on the ground? Our GA Safety Community
Pilot deviations can and frequently do occur on FAA
Your Western-Pacific FAA Safety Team is a
the ground. Many Airborne PD avoidance strat- group of FAA employees and volunteers dedicat- Aviation Safety
egies and tactics work on the ground as well. ed to improving General Aviation Safety. We
Here are a few suggestions for avoiding runway invite you to join our safety community by prac-
ticing safety risk management and pursuing con-
incursions:
Plan your route from chocks to
tinuing education opportunities for aviators.
Avoiding Pilot
chocks. Consult an airport diagram before Please navigate to [Link] to
explore a host of safety education opportunities.
Deviations
and during taxi operations.
Read back all clearances and instruc- The best way to survive an accident is to
tions. And make sure you understand not have one. The WINGS - Pilot Profi-
ciency Program is designed to help pilots
what you’ve been cleared to do before taxi- construct an educational curriculum suitable
ing. If there’s any doubt—ask for clarifica- for their unique flight requirements. It’s an
tion. excellent way to keep you flying at the top
of your game. When you’re at your best
Ask for progressive taxi instructions. you have the knowledge & skills to cope
This is an excellent way to make sure with any flying challenge.
you’re complying with your taxi clearance
and it’s especially useful at unfamiliar air-
ports.
Sterile cockpit: Obviously any cockpit
conversation must be restricted to taxi
operations when maneuvering on an air-
port. For more information contact your local
FAASTeam Program Managers
or
FAASTeam Representatives here:
Western Pacific Region FAA
Safety Team
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
5/2013