Threat and Error Management

In Helicopters

Inherently unstable

Low level environment

Time factor - slim margin for error and intervention

Instructing in Helicopters

1. Relies on Airmanship / Judgement - Experience?

2. Cognitive Process – Difficult to Demonstrate in the Air

3. Procedure Based Threat Management Generally Well Taught

Pre-Flight Brief;

1. Weather

2. Notams

3. Aircraft State

4. Personal Fatigue, Currency

Human Factors / Airmanship

1. Lookout, Listenout 2. Wires, Birds 3. Engine Failure Considerations

On the Ground

Instructing to Manage Threats

Post Flight Brief Very Important!

Hierarchy of Intervention;

1. Prompt “Airspace”

2. Question “Where is the HN CTR Boundary?”

3. Direct “Turn left 90 degrees”

4. Physical “I have control”

Errors will occur – its how we deal with them

Instructing to Manage Errors

Use the lowest level

commensurate with safety

In The Air

Errors will occur – its how we deal with them

Instructing to Manage Errors

It is almost always appropriate to take control to debrief. Remember how overloaded the student can be with just

flying the aircraft.

“The Student is there to Fly.....

......No. They are there to Learn”Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah,

Blah.......

We tend to focus on initial actions for critical emergencies

e.g. Autorotations, tail rotor emergencies in the circuit.

Try and teach subsequent actions and management of non critical

emergencies

Be aware the way you train emergencies may lead

the student down the wrong path in the real situation

Emergency TrainingDealing with Undesired Aircraft States

Any Questions?