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Welcome to the test Unexpected Situations – 20.
This test contains 3 situations that you can choose from the menu on the left hand side of this page. Always try to answer before reading the expected answer!
PILOT: EMPIRE CONTROL, SKY WING SEVEN ONE. WE HAD A TOTAL INSTRUMENT BLACKOUT. NO ELECTRONIC NAVIGATION AVAILABLE. WE WILL TRY TO KEEP ALTITUDE AND HEADING UNTIL WE FIX THIS SITUATION.
ATC: SKY WING SEVEN ONE. ROGER. YOU ARE UNDER RADAR SURVEILLANCE. YOU CAN KEEP PRESENT ALTITUDE AND HEADING. WE WILL GIVE YOU VECTORS. STANDBY.
EXAMINER: Now tell me in your own words everything the pilot and controller said.
The pilot informed the controller they had had a total instrument blackout and informed that all electronic navigation was unavailable.
The pilot also said that they would try to keep altitude and heading until they fixed the situation.
The controller acknowledged the situation and informed the pilot that they were under radar surveillance and cleared them to keep the same heading and altitude they were flying at, besides that the controller informed them that they would be vectored.
EXAMINER: Have you ever heard of a situation like this? What would you do if you lost electronic navigation capability?
Yes, I have. It is a hazardous situation. A navigation failure can cause spatial disorientation, which could lead to a CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain), resulting in a disaster.
EXAMINER: Now listen to situation number 2.
ATC: Hawaii Five-O, CHICAGO CENTER. ARE YOU FLYING ON UPPER ZULU THREE TWO SOUTHBOUND, HEADING VEX VOR AS CLEARED?
PILOT: CHICAGO CENTER, SORRY, SIR. WE ARE KEEPING UPPER ZULU THREE SEVEN. OUR FMS IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY I GUESS. CAN YOU GIVE ME VECTORS?
ATC: Hawaii Five-O, YOU ARE UNDER RADAR VECTORS. TURN LEFT THREE FIVE ZERO. EXPEDITE YOUR TURN.
EXAMINER: Now tell me in your own words everything the pilot and controller said.
The controller asked the pilot if they were on UPPER ZULU Three Two SOUTHBOUND, HEADING VEX VOR AS CLEARED previously.
The pilot apologized to the controller about her mistake. She presumed that the FMS wasn’t working correctly, and then she asked for vectors.
The controller informed the pilot that they were under radar vectors, and instructed the pilot to turn left heading three five zero and asked the pilot to expedite their turn.
EXAMINER: How bad is losing FMS in flight? What would you do?
It is pretty bad. FMS stands for Flight Management System. This device helps pilots perform many different tasks during flight, reducing the cockpit workload to the point that modern civilian aircraft can no longer carry flight engineers or navigators.If I were the pilot, I would make the calculations manually.
EXAMINER: Now situation number 3.
PILOT: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY. MILAN DEPARTURE, AMERICAN FOUR ONE NINE. OUR ENGINES ARE NOT RELIABLE. WE ARE ABOUT TO FACE A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO AN ENGINE FLAMEOUT. WE MUST LAND RIGHT AWAY.
ATC: AMERICAN FOUR ONE NINE, ROGER MAYDAY. WE ARE CLEARING OUT THE TRAFFIC TO GIVE YOU HIGHEST PRIORITY TO LAND. YOU CAN START DESCENT TO EIGHT THOUSAND FEET.
EXAMINER: Now tell me in your own words everything the pilot and controller said.
The pilot declared an emergency, informing the controller that their engines were unreliable and that they were about to face a total loss of power due to an engine flameout. Besides that the pilot requested to land immediately.
The controller understood the message and informed the pilot that they were clearing out traffic to give the pilot priority to land. The controller also authorized the pilot to start the descent to eight thousand feet.
EXAMINER: What should a pilot do if he/she loses all engines?
In my opinion, the pilot should go through a series of checklists, then inform the controller about the situation and prepare the cockpit for the emergency landing.
EXAMINER: Now, considering the three situations you have heard in part three: How would you compare them? You may want to compare them in terms of severity, possible solutions and ways of prevention. Which one do you think is the most difficult to deal with? Why?
In my opinion, FMS problem is the least serious situation to face. I say this as the pilots can make the calculations manually and continue to fly safely.
The engine flameout is worse than the FMS problems because this could lead to a high workload in the cockpit and, in the worst-case scenario, a disaster.
However, the instrument blackout is the worst situation to deal with because it compromises flight safety, that could lead to a fatal accident.
If I faced a situation like this, I would undoubtedly follow the appropriate checklist.
I believe the best methods of prevention are good maintenance, constant training, and reliable backup systems.
EXAMINER: Thank you. That is the end of part three.