Upset Training Helps Pilots Survive Alaskan Terrain
Comments:
It takes an unusual skill set to fly safely in the unusual altitudes of Alaska. That's why Marcus Paine set up his flight training program, Unusual Attitudes, to correct an oversight in flight training regulations that he believes is costing the Alaska aviation industry millions of dollars and far too many human lives.
From his base at Merril Fields in Alaska, Paine teaches pilots the basics of "upset training," showing pilots how to perform spins so that they will better understand how to recover from unintentional stall/spin situations that could lead to a crash. Stalls occur when an aircraft's wing stops delivering lift and the plane descends quickly towards the ground. In a spin, the aircraft can't continue flight and falls downward in a tight spiral, nose first, with one wing higher than the other.
Prior to 1949, regulations required pilots to take part in a stall/spin training as part of the licensing process, but after that date innovations in the aviation industry created planes that could not be spun due to better wing designs. As a result, the regulations were changed and pilots are now only required to show that they know how to recover from stalls and spins. They do not need to prove they know how to perform spins.
Despite the advances in technology, the Alaskan terrain and the type of flying that's done there still causes stall/spin related accidents. According to the National Transportation and Safety Board 62 people have died since 2002 in 48 aircraft accidents that were caused by stall/spin crashes.
Paine, who has 20 years of flight experience, explains that the accidents occur because pilots in Alaska fly slower, lower and heavier into shorter airstrips than any other place in the U.S. Paine has found a high rate of stall/spin accidents occur in Kenya as well, where pilots are also often required to fly low and slow. He believes that if pilots are trained to perform the spins, then they will be better equipped to recognize the signs that their aircraft is unintentionally slipping into a stall/spin situation.
Even though the regulations have yet to change, insurance companies covering Alaskan pilots are certainly aware of the dangers posed by the unusual terrain. Many insurance companies there are offering ten percent discounts to pilots who have taken part in upset training. So far, only government and corporate organizations are taking advantage of this, but the hope is that more and more pilots will see the financial and safety benefits of upset training.
The Unusual Attitudes upset training led by Paine consists of three modules. In the first, pilots learn how to recognize spins and stalls. The second module teaches them the theory behind upset training and the third module focuses on aerobatic training. Taking part in all three components carries a total cost of about $2,500 U.S. and includes air and ground training.