Low level skill training / resources

Let'sgoflying!

Let'sgoflying!

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Dave Taylor
I’m going to be participating in some wildlife survey (C182, 30hrs/week/100’agl) and like to read about every new thing I do beforehand.
Is there any resource where I can learn how to mitigate the risks on this type of flying?
I’m thinking an association of pipeline patrol pilots, ag pilots or similar?
I’ve left messages with my faast leader and the aopa.
 
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Let'sgoflying! said:
I’m going to be participating in some wildlife survey (C182, 30hrs/week/100’agl) and like to read about every new thing I do beforehand.
Is there any resource where I can learn how to mitigate the risks on this type of flying?
I’m thinking an association of pipeline patrol pilots or similar?
I’ve left messages with my faast leader and the aopa.
Click to expand...

Long time friend Patty Wagstaff teaches this exact thing to the wildlife pilots in Kenya. They are involved in low level flying dealing with the anti-poaching issues down there.
You might give her a call. She's in St. Augustine Florida.
www.pattywagstaff.com
Basically what you need is to build your skillset to include better awareness of the issues involved behind the power curve and a better feel for the aircraft in the left side of the envelope.

Dudley Henriques
 
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Aopa responded they don’t have specific training available, referenced liw level accident reports and this video on aircraft control / stall avoidance during low level flight. I wrote Patty.

 
Find some local helicopter or ag guys and discuss this with them. That’s pretty much where they live.

Things look quite different at low altitude, especially if you’re accustomed to seeing things from a much higher one. Know where you’re at and where the obstacles are at that are around you. You likely won’t have to worry too much about other aircraft but you occasionally see them, and they may not show up on an ADSB traffic screen.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Aopa responded they don’t have specific training available, referenced liw level accident reports and this video on aircraft control / stall avoidance during low level flight. I wrote Patty.

Click to expand...

What is needed here is specialized information dealing with operation containing potential hazard.
This type of information is really best obtained from sources that deal with the subject environment personally and are accepted experts in the field.
Patty flies with the Kenya Poaching Patrol teaching them directly how to handle their aircraft in the left side of the envelope at low altitude. In my opinion she is the "go to" source for this information.
Even if you can't fly with her personally I'm sure she will help you with pertinent data and possibly some written sources you can use.
It's not a particularly hostile environment down low. Basically it's about being able to handle the aircraft while flying slowly in an environment where distraction and multi-tasking are ever present factors. You will find you require a keen awareness and feel for the airplane. You will need to have your eyes outside the cockpit while your senses are with you as you fly the aircraft. It's an addition to your basic skillset that every pilot should own anyway.
Good luck and stay safe up there;
Dudley Henriques
 
Patty is probably a good resource.

My personal advice is to condition yourself that when you enter the low level environment, a switch needs to go on in your head that you are in a highly dangerous operating area that needs your full attention/avoid distractions.

In addition (this may vary depending on the specific application (spraying vs survey…etc) I trim the airplane to climb so that I have to hold the nose down to maintain altitude. I do that as a backup so that in the event of a moment of distraction, if I relax the stick, the airplane will naturally start to climb.
 
A good mountain flying course (whether or not you’re actually flying in the mountains) would probably be helpful.
 
Looking for any and all additional tools to help avoid making contact with fixed objects, does anyone know; none of the current panel mounted navigators or foreflight etc will have enough detail to show and warn of poles/wires/antennae/windmills at 100'agl?
Any apps that might help with this (I'd use it for preflight planning mainly).
Hazard advisory in flight would be helpful too.
 
Fearless Tower said:
My personal advice is to condition yourself that when you enter the low level environment, a switch needs to go on in your head that you are in a highly dangerous operating area that needs your full attention/avoid distractions.
Click to expand...

I have been pondering this very thing, FT. One issue is - it looks like the flights are 3-4 hrs long, two flights per day, for a week at a time. In the summer Texas heat. How to maintain vigilance, avoid fatigue will be issues.

Patty did not respond. I understand that.
 
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