Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network.

Aero-Tips 11.18.06

The first strong winter storms have already invaded the continental United States. No matter where you fly, if there's snow watch out for whiteout conditions.

Whiteout occurs when a person becomes engulfed in a uniformly white glow resulting from blowing snow, dust, or sand. There are no shadows, no horizon or clouds and all depth-of-field and orientation are lost. Flying is not recommended in any whiteout situation because there is no outside visual reference-needed even in some phases of instrument flight. The condition has been known to contribute to airplane mishaps.

Whiteout can happen fast-you plunge into whiteout conditions-but usually develops more slowly as visibility insidiously drops until you find yourself without visual reference at all. Helicopter pilots have to be especially careful as downwash from rotor blades can kick up fine snow and create a whiteout just as the aircraft lifts off or begins to touch down.

The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) provides this guidance:

If all visual references is lost,

1. Trust the cockpit instruments.
2. Execute a 180 degree turnaround and start looking for outside references.
3. Above all -- fly the aircraft.

Aero-tip of the day: Treat potential whiteout conditions (dry snow, indistinct clouds, reduced visibility) like any other potential Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) situation.

FMI: Aero-Tips