FSA_Flying Ops
- 1. 42 FLIGHT SAFETY AUSTRALIA MAY–JUNE 2006 FLYING OPERATIONS POINTS Hundreds have lost their lives as a result of pressurisation problems. John McGhie explains the basics of how the pressure system works and what to do when there is a problem. I t’s about the fastest a human can move without direct aid from a machine. Of course, you generally need an aircraft to get you up there, but from a drop height of 14,000ft a parachutist can reach a ter- minal velocity of 200km/hr. They usually open their parachute canopies between 4,000ft and 2,000ft AGL after which they descend at about 1,000ft/min. Thesportispartlyabouttheexperienceof moving at great speed. It’s also fast growing with over 70 parachuting clubs now active around the country. There are around 3,000 regular members of the Australian Para- chute Federation (APF) who jump either socially, competitively, as instructors or at skydiving displays around the country. With over 70,000 people now trying the sport for the first time each year, there are a lot of bodies falling through the air at high speeds! Alongside this growth in activity comes a risk that conflict might occur between parachuting and other operations. It’s happened before. Fortu- nately, in Australia so far there have been no accidents as a result. Pitfalls: At one airfield an inbound regu- lar public transport (RPT) flight arrived partway through a parachuting drop. Although there is a requirement for parachute operations to cease when RPT flights are due, this one had arrived early. Once on the ground, the crew of the RPT discussed the conflict with the parachut- ists. Part of the problem was the flight crew’s radio procedures. They switched to the CTAF to make their inbound call and immediately switched back to the company frequency – without waiting for any response from other traffic that may have been in the area. Conflicts with private flights can also occur. At a fly-in being held at a small regional aerodrome, a skydiving display was scheduled and publicised as part of the day’s activities. Following the drop a very stressed pilot approached the para- chutists and expressed his anger that he hadn’t been aware of their presence, and had come dangerously close to them. The parachutists explained that the pilot of the jump aircraft had made a series of radio calls on the local frequency to announce the jumps. That didn’t go down well with the inbound pilot – he didn’t have a radio. In this case, the pilot should have taken some steps to find out what the situation at the fly-in was likely to be when he arrived. The parachute symbol is used on enroute and area charts (ERC-low and AC), VNCs and VTCs to show the loca- tion of regular parachuting operations that are notified to authorities by the APF. ERSA will also note aerodromes where parachuting operations are com- mon. However, operations that have only recently been set up, or are conducted on an infrequent basis, may not be rep- With the growing number of parachuting operations, pilots need to take care to avoid conflict, writes Greg Cox. NOTAMs are no longer issued unless parachuting operations involve over 100 descents a day or more than one aircraft. During a drop, parachutists are nor- mally required to remain clear of cloud and in sight of the drop target throughout the descent. There is no min- imum distance from cloud required. So if there is cloud and you are approaching ornearaparachutedropzone,makesure you listen out for radio announcements of any intended parachuting drop. Operators can apply to CASA to carry out drops through cloud. In this case they must be clear of cloud for the last 1,000ft before their planned canopy opening height (at least 2,000ft AGL, higher for some tandem, training or spe- cialised jumps). Approval for parachut- ing through cloud has been granted to operators using drop zones near: • Nagambie, Victoria. • Wilton, NSW. • Wollongong, NSW. • Canberra, ACT. • Cairns, Queensland. • Toogoolawah, Queensland. Details are at www.casa.gov.au/rules/ miscinst/index.htm – all are marked by chart symbols and some of them also have a danger area established. Jump- ing through cloud may be approved at other parachuting locations in the future. P PARACHUTING THROUGH CLOUD Istockphoto
- 2. FLYING OPERATIONS resented by a symbol on charts and may not rate a mention in ERSA. There are also display sites where parachutists jump that may not be identified on aeronautical charts and are only notified by real-time radio broadcast. NOTAMs are no longer issued for casual jumps unless parachuting opera- tions involve over 100 descents a day or more than one aircraft. Generally this will only occur at large parachuting events. While parachuting has long been consid- ered a VMC operation, it is now possible to legally parachute through cloud in cer- tain circumstances (see box). The opera- tion requires the operator to follow agreed procedures to maintain safety. Risk reduction: To reduce the risk of con- flict with parachuting operations, pilots need to understand the procedures used, and take a few simple precautions. In CTAF areas the jump pilot will normally broadcast the intention to drop a para- chutist, on the CTAF, at least two minutes before the drop. In CTAF-R environments pilots of parachute aircraft will broad- cast their intentions four minutes prior to dropping. The parachutists will drop upwind of their target, with this distance dictated by the strength of the wind. Gen- erally they drop around one mile upwind of the target; however, this can be up to three miles upwind depending on the height of the drop. Parachute operations in controlled airspace need to request a “drop clearance” from ATC at least five minutes before the drop, and receive the clearance before dropping. Preparation helps. Check your charts and exercise caution when operating near areas marked with the parachute symbol. Use your radio on the appropriate fre- quency if you are flying near areas where parachute operations occur and request details of any activity. Listen out, know where you are, and be prepared to adjust your track if necessary to allow for para- chutists. Beware if you are flying into or out from an airfield where parachuting is in progress as the potential for conflict peaks as everyone converges on the same area – avoid the area upwind of the target. The pilot of the jump aircraft will be listening and watching out for conflict- ing traffic and the jumpmaster (who is responsible for ensuring the parachut- ists exit over the correct spot) does the same, with a visual scan of the airspace below before the jump. The jump pilot will also broadcast advice on where the parachutists left the aircraft, and can usually advise when all parachutists are on the ground. At airfields where parachuting is a reg- ular occurrence, there is usually an oper- ating procedure agreed between users of the airfield to ensure that everyone is aware of safety procedures. Greg Cox is training manager for the Australian Parachute Federation. The Australian Parachute Federation controls skydiving and parachuting at nearly all civilian operations in Australia. With the approval of the CASA it sets the standards of operation, conducts competitions, issues licences and in- structor ratings, conducts exams and publishes a magazine and newsletter to keep its members informed of current events and safety standards. Visit the APF website (www.apf.asn.au). THE JOB OF JUMP PILOT Parachute pilots are required to hold at least a private pilots li- cence (PPL) with 200 hours total time. One hundred of these hours are to be as pilot-in-command with 10 hours on type. Many are commercial pilots. Although there is no formal endorse- ment for parachute flying, jump pilots are trained by either the APF club se- nior pilot, the club chief (parachute) instructor and sometimes both. This training covers aspects of flight specific to parachuting; efficient climb and descent profiles, flight with the door off or open and, of course, flying along with all your passengers jump- ing outside! Parachute pilots are not required to make a jump themselves, although many do. PARACHUTE OPS SYMBOL Watch out: When you see this symbol on a chart it means that parachute drops occur in this area. Take precautions by either avoiding the area or taking care to listen out on the appropriate frequency. Parachute drops can occur up to 14,000ft. MAY–JUNE 2006 FLIGHT SAFETY AUSTRALIA 43 CourtesyGregFox