Chapter 4 Section A : Safety Of Flight

This section was easy to understand and because it was related to safety, parts of it related to my life guard training. Pilots operate under VFR/ Visual Flight Rules or IFR/ Instrument Flight Rules. Studies show that the majority of mid-air collisions occur in VFR conditions so many techniques are for collision avoidance. Pilots must developed effective visual scanning which is short spaced eye movements. I didn't realize that if you see another airplane that doesn't seem to be moving your probably on a collision course.
Sky conditions can effect your ability to see traffic, obviously a sunny day is better than a cloudy day but phenomenon can occur that pilots must be aware of and take steps to overcome. Empty field myopia is when your looking at a sky with nothing in it; your eyes only tend to focus 10 to 30 feet ahead, a spot on your windshield can actually be a plane far away. Night myopia is worse because your eyes only focus from 5 to 6 feet in front of you. Airplanes, like cars, have blind spots and pilots learn to look around them. Before starting any maneuvers, like landing, pilots make clearing turns that are at least a 180 degree change in direction, to see around blind spots and better to see the area. The FARs spell out right-of-way rules. When two aircraft of the same category come together the plane on the left gives way. The right away goes in this order...

1. Aircraft in distressed
2. balloon
3. A glider
4. Aircraft refueling
5. Air ship (blimp)
6. Airplane
7. Rotor craft (helicopter)

Another safety feature of the FARs is minimum safe altitude. Over a congested city you have to be 1000 feet over every obstacle like a sky scraper. In a uncongested area you must be 500ft over the land or water. To fly over hazardous terrain like mountains pilots get specialized training. This training teaches you about wind conditions that can happen over open water or around mountains.

This section ended with introduction on Postitive Exchange Of Flight Controls. The Instructor will demonstrate a manuver than pass the controls to me. When this happens the FAA recomend this three step process.... the instructor says "you have flight controls." the student says "I have the flight controls." the instructor says "You have the flight controls." Now we know who has control over the plane.