Student Diversion
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Student Diversion
Whilst at work today monitoring 121.5 I heard a student who had become lost on a Navex. D&D handled it in a professional manner as always and steared him to Cranfield. I hope the young man made it down without incident.
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Good to hear someone was taught well enough to be able to not only admit when lost, but also know the correct procedure to follow when lost. I heard it was a little misty / hazy in places, maybe not his time to go just yet... 
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All without an iPad!
This was a learning exercise with hopefully an excellent outcome. The student's actions are to be applauded. But the interesting question is how do we now teach people to become "un-lost?" I can't recall ever being taught or learning such a procedure. I've been "lost" quite a few times, like missing Australia by 90 miles and a planned landfall point by a similar amount on a different day. I even went to the wrong airfield on my CPL NAV test (& passed!) All without navaids or moving maps. So I was wondering how do we teach people nowadays?
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how do we now teach people to become "un-lost?" I can't recall ever being taught or learning such a procedure.
Surely "lost procedure" is a standard part of nav? I certainly teach it, and have used it myself when, for example, doing long distance microlight trips and becoming temporarily uncertain of position.
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Traditional 'lost procedure' was fine and dandy in the days of Tiger Moths when there were few airways and even less controlled airspace about which to worry.
These days the best course of action is to admit to yourself that you're lost, then get on the radio and ask for help. Otherwise you stand every chance of becoming an infringement statistic in most of the UK.
The student diversion to Cranfield was a classic example of what people should be taught!
These days the best course of action is to admit to yourself that you're lost, then get on the radio and ask for help. Otherwise you stand every chance of becoming an infringement statistic in most of the UK.
The student diversion to Cranfield was a classic example of what people should be taught!
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These days the best course of action is to admit to yourself that you're lost, then get on the radio and ask for help.
If radio serviceable, call nearest suitable airfield with radar/VDF to obtain fix/QDM
...
If, after carrying out the procedure above with no success ...
Make a PAN call on emergency frequency 121.5 stating predicament
...
If, after carrying out the procedure above with no success ...
Make a PAN call on emergency frequency 121.5 stating predicament
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If we were using appropriate technology and not teaching 18th century navigation techniques, no-one would ever get lost in the first place.
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To answer the OP, yes he did get down safely. But we nearly met him without warning as we climbed away on a missed approach under a procedural service from Cranfield. It was about 15mins after sunset so perhaps that was the reason for the diversion.
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Ahh was it already twilight on the surface. I was up at 380 so still in the sun as it was unfolding. Glad he got down safely. Using D&D incase of getting lost was something I taught and practiced with all my students before letting them loose. Glad it worked out for him.
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Eighteenth century navigation techniques work when your fancy gadgets let you down. But the 20th century radio is really nice to have when temporarily uncertain of your position near controlled airspace! The student in this case did exactly right, and got sorted. I've been there.
And once I was there flying IMC in the US, (with an Instrument Rating) Filed a flight plan, climbed up into the murk, viz about 20 feet all round, no problem, being followed on radar of course and separated from other traffic....except the radio went very quiet. too quiet.
This does get your attention. We are trained in case of radio failure to follow your flight plan, and everybody is in theory supposed to get out of your way. Except I can never remember which code to key into the transponder....
And once I was there flying IMC in the US, (with an Instrument Rating) Filed a flight plan, climbed up into the murk, viz about 20 feet all round, no problem, being followed on radar of course and separated from other traffic....except the radio went very quiet. too quiet.
This does get your attention. We are trained in case of radio failure to follow your flight plan, and everybody is in theory supposed to get out of your way. Except I can never remember which code to key into the transponder....
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Radio failure - 7600. Someone gave me a great way to remember that. Remember the song '76 trombones'?
Just visualise all those trombones blasting away.... but no-one can hear them!
Just visualise all those trombones blasting away.... but no-one can hear them!
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Something that doesn't get considered much is a student getting lost in the circuit (or anyone else!).
Years ago a student was asked to extend downwind to let a twin in first.
By the time the afiso said it was ok to turn base the student had completely lost site of the airfield. Twas a bit hazy.
Lucky to have VDF on site, the student was asked to call and given hdg's.
Years ago a student was asked to extend downwind to let a twin in first.
By the time the afiso said it was ok to turn base the student had completely lost site of the airfield. Twas a bit hazy.
Lucky to have VDF on site, the student was asked to call and given hdg's.
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But the interesting question is how do we now teach people to become "un-lost?" I can't recall ever being taught or learning such a procedure
By the time the afiso said it was ok to turn base
Lucky to have VDF on site, the student was asked to call and given hdg's.
Lucky to have VDF on site, the student was asked to call and given hdg's.
If we were using appropriate technology and not teaching 18th century navigation techniques, no-one would ever get lost in the first place.