Scan Pattern - P-8680027

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CHAPTER THREE

What can we do to overcome the vulnerabilities of the eye? The most important thing is to

develop a thorough, effective, and comfortable visual scan. In normal flight, the threat of a

midair collision is greatly diminished by scanning an area 60 to 90 degrees to the left and right of

center and 10 up and down. This doesn't mean the rest of the area should be ignored.

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SCAN PATTERN

Scanning is training your eyeballs to systematically move and appropriately process data both

inside and outside the cockpit. It is obvious you must look outside the aircraft to see where you

are going, interpret where the aircraft is in reference to the horizon, and clear for other air traffic.

Conversely, you must look inside at the instrument panel to check for proper power settings,

flight instrument readings, and for any signs of aircraft malfunction. A scan pattern is a means,

or procedure, by which you observe everything you need to see by starting at one point, moving

visually about the aircraft, checking applicable items systematically, and completing the pattern

at the starting point. A scan pattern may be started anywhere, but it must be complete and

continuous. The proper division-of-attention techniques you learn in training will lay the

foundation for the mandatory alertness of the military NFO/WSO.

Initially, your scan pattern, or crosscheck, may feel uncomfortable and forced. However,

continue to assertively move your eyes along the chosen scan pattern. As your proficiency

increases, you will scan primarily from habit, adjusting your scanning rate and sequence to the

demands of the situation. The entire scan pattern should take little time and no one item should

fix your attention at the exclusion of another. It cannot be overemphasized that your level of

training success will vary directly with your ability to develop and maintain a proficient,

accurate, and expeditious scan pattern.

Here is a workable example of a scan pattern:

Outside the cockpit:

Left Area: Airspace between left wing and nose clear of hazards.

Attitude: Left wing to the nose in proper relation to horizon.

Inside the cockpit:

Attitude: Check nose position/wings level on the EADI. Crosscheck altimeter and VSI.

Performance: Check airspeed indicator and power setting. Scan engine instruments.

Outside the cockpit:

Right Area: Airspace between nose and right wing clear of hazards.

Attitude: Nose to the right wing in proper relation to horizon

There are other methods of scanning, of course, some of which may be more effective for you

than the preceding type. Figures 3-2 and 3-3 illustrate other utilized scan patterns.

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

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