Five basic rules.
Remember - "Up, Down, Left, Right – and don't hit nuffin" ; sage advice offered pre first solo; then a wink, a smile and the door closed. Gulp..Aye, happy daze..
Is the 'Left' element in that advice the more 'important' one? There is a good argument to support it being so. The 'left' seat is the 'traditional' one for the 'command' pilot; and acknowledged in design (mostly). A circuit to landing is flown using left turns; collision avoidance (conflict resolution) reflects that philosophy. Why, well that's easy enough to understand – it allows the pilot to 'see' the runway and, turning right to avoid a conflict ensures that the pilot can 'see' the other fellah (mostly). The whole thing can trouble a new FO on a bigger, two man ship; flying the aircraft with the right hand and the left manipulating power levers etc always feels a bit strange in the beginning. In any 'Left -hand' turning procedure; the right seat is, to all intents and practical purpose 'blind'.
"Sure the fight was fixed. I fixed it with a right hand. "
No matter 'how' a potential conflict is manifested; the avoidance turn is always made to the right (no watch); the PIC can (mostly) see the opposition and ensure separation is maintained. The chap in the right seat is, again mostly out of luck.
(Aside) This self separation game is deuced tricky one. The Brits have (or used to) have an ATPL examination paper called 'Lights'. Tough exam, (100% right pass mark) but being able to resolve or discard a potential conflict, armed with this learned knowledge was invaluable. But now I digress.
Reading through the ATSB report produced some first thoughts; and, begged some interesting questions, so I asked some of the BRB for a second opinion. Making a large allowance for first impressions, all noted (unprompted) the same 'initial thoughts' as my own. In a three seat wide cockpit, and flying from the 'right hand' seat all one can really see is ahead and whatever is on the right hand side. It made sense to reverse the 'pattern' the guys were flying; left circuits from the right seat – awkward to say the least. Left hand pattern; high density traffic, boats, fast turn around, wide cockpit with passengers to look through? Probably not the 'safest' plan ever developed.
But, it is early days and the ATSB report requires further examination; however, first impression – what were they thinking? Did anyone, mention or consider changing the flight pattern? Corrections as needed after a full read and discussions. Happy to stand corrected......
Toot – toot.
Remember - "Up, Down, Left, Right – and don't hit nuffin" ; sage advice offered pre first solo; then a wink, a smile and the door closed. Gulp..Aye, happy daze..
Is the 'Left' element in that advice the more 'important' one? There is a good argument to support it being so. The 'left' seat is the 'traditional' one for the 'command' pilot; and acknowledged in design (mostly). A circuit to landing is flown using left turns; collision avoidance (conflict resolution) reflects that philosophy. Why, well that's easy enough to understand – it allows the pilot to 'see' the runway and, turning right to avoid a conflict ensures that the pilot can 'see' the other fellah (mostly). The whole thing can trouble a new FO on a bigger, two man ship; flying the aircraft with the right hand and the left manipulating power levers etc always feels a bit strange in the beginning. In any 'Left -hand' turning procedure; the right seat is, to all intents and practical purpose 'blind'.
"Sure the fight was fixed. I fixed it with a right hand. "
No matter 'how' a potential conflict is manifested; the avoidance turn is always made to the right (no watch); the PIC can (mostly) see the opposition and ensure separation is maintained. The chap in the right seat is, again mostly out of luck.
(Aside) This self separation game is deuced tricky one. The Brits have (or used to) have an ATPL examination paper called 'Lights'. Tough exam, (100% right pass mark) but being able to resolve or discard a potential conflict, armed with this learned knowledge was invaluable. But now I digress.
Reading through the ATSB report produced some first thoughts; and, begged some interesting questions, so I asked some of the BRB for a second opinion. Making a large allowance for first impressions, all noted (unprompted) the same 'initial thoughts' as my own. In a three seat wide cockpit, and flying from the 'right hand' seat all one can really see is ahead and whatever is on the right hand side. It made sense to reverse the 'pattern' the guys were flying; left circuits from the right seat – awkward to say the least. Left hand pattern; high density traffic, boats, fast turn around, wide cockpit with passengers to look through? Probably not the 'safest' plan ever developed.
But, it is early days and the ATSB report requires further examination; however, first impression – what were they thinking? Did anyone, mention or consider changing the flight pattern? Corrections as needed after a full read and discussions. Happy to stand corrected......
Toot – toot.