Emergencies
Operational Navigation
EMERGENCIES
You cannot plan for every event that may cause you to be in an unsafe situation, nor can we discuss
all alternatives and proper actions. However, from an evaluation of aircraft accident reports,
emergencies, aircraft malfunctions and severe weather experiences, we can make general contin-
gency plans that will be appropriate in a majority of unplanned situations and emergencies. In all
cases, handle emergencies in accordance with prescribed NATOPS procedures.
This is the first training you will do that puts you close to the ground for an extended period of time.
This environment affects the most likely threats to you and your aircraft and the action you must take
to avoid them. The first step is to climb to a safe altitude. This allows you to assess the situation
without having to concentrate on ground avoidance as you would at 500 feet AGL.
You should have an emergency safe altitude calculated and entered on the jet log for each leg of the
low-level route. Flying at this altitude will ensure safe clearance from all obstructions so that you can
devote your attention to the immediate problem of weather, aircraft malfunction, or navigation error.
Two of the biggest hazards to low-level flight are birds and the ground. A disciplined low-level scan
will help you to avoid both of these hazards. You can give yourself added protection from birds by
keeping your helmet visor down. If you are blinded by a bird strike through your canopy, you must
first try to maneuver away from the ground and slow down. Communications will be extremely
difficult, if possible at all, and forward visibility may be nonexistent. It is advisable to fly with a zero
trim setting or slightly nose up for this reason.
If the emergency requires ejection, consider that the best airspeed for ejection is below 250 knots. If
possible, slow the aircraft before ejection to reduce the windblast. Ejection seat trajectory is
improved if you zoom climb to trade airspeed for altitude. Additional altitude increases time for seat/
man separation and parachute deployment. Do not delay ejection if the aircraft is nose down, out-of-
control at low altitude.
(4-03) Original
Page 41
Previous Page
