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Welcome to the test Unexpected Situations – 09.
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: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MIAMI CENTER, AIR FRANCE 273 . WE DON’T HAVE CONTROL OF THE AILERON. SOMETHING HAS HIT US. WE ARE GOING TO PERFORM A FORCED LANDING.
ATC: AIR FRANCE 273, DESCENT AT YOUR DISCRETION. ARE YOU ABLE TO REACH MIAMI AIRPORT?
EXAMINER: Now tell me in your own words everything the pilot and controller said.
I understood that the pilot contacted Miami center and declared an emergency due to a loss of control of the aileron. The pilot said that something had hit them and they were going to perform a forced landing.
The controller told AIR FRANCE 273 to descend at their discretion and asked the pilot if they were able to reach Miami airport.
EXAMINER: In your opinion , what other factors could make it difficult to control an aircraft?
In my opinion problems such as a hydraulic failure, structural damage or a bird strike could cause difficulty to control the aircraft.
EXAMINER: Now listen to situation number 2.
ATC: EMIRATES 074, LONDON CONTROL, WE ADVISE THICK VOLCANIC ASHES OVER LONDON AIRPORT. ALL AIRPORT OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED. HEAVY TRAFFIC WAS REPORTED AT FRANCE AND SPAIN AIRPORTS.
PILOT: LONDON CONTROL, EMIRATES 074, ROGER. WE RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE COMPANY TO DIVERT TO FRANKFURT AIRPORT.
EXAMINER: Now tell me in your own words everything the pilot and controller said.
I understood that London control contacted the pilot of EMIRATES 074 to advise them that thick volcanic ashes were over London airport and all airport operations had been suspended. They also informed that there was heavy traffic in airports in France and Spain.
The pilot understood the controller and informed London control that the company instructed them to divert to Frankfurt airport.
EXAMINER: What can volcanic ash cause to the engine?
Volcanic ash represents a great threat to flight safety as it can cause internal damage to the engines and even lead to the engines to stop running.
EXAMINER: Now situation number 3.
ATC: COPA 407, BRASILIA CONTROL, CONFIRM IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE TRAFFIC AT YOUR TWELVE O’CLOCK POSITION, 5 MILES. SAY ALTITUDE?
PILOT: BRASILIA CONTROL, COPA 407, WE ARE FOLLOWING A TCAS RESOLUTION. WE ARE CLIMBING TO 9.000 FEET AND TURNING LEFT.
EXAMINER: Now tell me in your own words everything the pilot and controller said.
I understood that Brasilia control contacted COPA 407 to verify that they were aware of the traffic at their 12 o’clock position and asked them to confirm their altitude.
The pilot informed Brasilia control that they were following the TCAS resolution and advised them that they were climbing to nine thousand feet and turning left.
EXAMINER: How can the TCAS minimize the threats of collisions?
The TCAS certainly minimizes the treats of collisions as it warns the pilots when there is traffic near. When there is traffic dangerously close to the aircraft the TCAS commands the pilots to follow a maneuver to prevent a collision. This is something the pilots train in the simulator.
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 the TCAS resolution is the least serious because if the pilots follow the command nothing happens to the aircraft.
Volcanic ashes is worse than the TCAS resolution because it can cause severe damage to the engines and even cause them to stop running.
However the loss of controls of the aileron is the worst to deal with as it can cause control problems, difficulty to land the aircraft and even a disaster.
EXAMINER: Thank you. That is the end of part three
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