Scanner Course #1

Minnesota Wing Aircrew Training: P-2007, P-2001, P-2028

Observer and Mission Pilot Duties and Responsibilities

Crew Resource Management

Scanner Course #1

Aircrew Team Scanner/Observer Observer Pilot

Scanner Course #1

Observer Duties and Responsibilities

Scanner Course #1

Observer Duties and Responsibilities (during the flight) Primary Responsibility during searches: Visual Search Sight and Identify Search Objective

– You are the eyes and ears of the incident commander

Report Observations - Maintain accurate log– Maintain sighting log including precise locations,

sketches, or other information on each mission

Scanner Course #1

Additional Observer Responsibilities (during the flight)

Assist in avoiding obstacles in flight Assist in setting up and operating radios Assist in setting up and operating nav and comm

equipment– Allows the pilot to concentrate on safely and

precisely flying the airplane Maintain situational awareness Assist in monitoring fuel status Supervising/coordinating Scanners

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Observer Responsibilities (Before and After the Flight)

Wear appropriate dress for the mission Ensure all credentials are current and carried

during the mission Complete sign in Attend all briefings Assist Mission Pilot with planning for the

mission

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Additional Observer Responsibilities Before the Flight

Ensure all necessary equipment is available in the aircraft (properly stowed) before the mission Mission kit with gridded charts, CAPR 60-3, plotter, flight

computer, local road maps and binoculars, camera, clipboard, sunglasses, survival equipment, overnight kit, etc. Radio Communication.

Assist in avoiding obstacles during taxiing Assist in filling out CAPF 104 based on sighting log Report with the Mission Pilot to Air Search Coordinator

for debriefing

Scanner Course #1

Mission Pilot Duties and Responsibilities

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Primary Responsibility: Pilot the aircraft in a safe and proficient manner, following all CAP and FAA rules and regulations.

Second: Remember that you are a pilot, not a scanner.

In addition to these duties, the pilot must perform some of the duties of the observer if no qualified observer is on board.

MP Duties & Responsibilities

Scanner Course #1

In addition to the duties of Pilot-in-Command: Responsible for obtaining complete briefings

and for planning sorties Thoroughly brief the aircrew before flight,

including a briefing on their responsibilities during all phases of the upcoming flight

Obtain a proper flight release Utilize CRM techniques and procedures Enforce sterile cockpit rules

MP Duties & Responsibilities

Scanner Course #1

Sterile cockpit rules; all unnecessary talk is suspended and collision avoidance becomes the priority of each crewmember.

Sterile cockpit rules focus each crewmember on the duties at hand, namely concentrating on looking outside the aircraft for obstacles and other aircraft.

The rules will always be used during the taxi, takeoff, departure, approach, and landing phases of flight; but the pilot or observer may declare these rules in effect whenever they are needed to minimize distractions.

MP Duties & Responsibilities

Scanner Course #1

Fly search patterns as completely and precisely as possible; report any deviations from the prescribed patterns during debriefing.

Monitor the observer and ensure all events, sightings and reports are recorded and reported.

Fill out all forms accurately, completely and legibly.

MP Duties & Responsibilities

Scanner Course #1

Know what goes into the observer’s log– to help inexperienced observers– to be able to keep the log when riding in the right seat

The log is maintained from take-off until landing Includes all events and sightings with geographical position of aircraft noted The Observer Log contains much of the debriefing information entered on the

CAP Form 104– This info is passed back to the mission coordinator/incident commander

MP Duties & Responsibilities

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Aircrew Coordination

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Team concept and communication Pay close attention to all briefings Understand the “big picture” Watch for task over-load in yourself and other

crewmembers 67% of air transport accidents occur during 17% of

the flight time - taxi, takeoff, climb, approach and landing. Keep casual conversation and distractions to a minimum during these phases of flight

Begin critical communication with instructions, then explain

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Crew Briefings

– Mission Objectives– Route – Weather – Altitudes– Division of Crew Duties– Survival

Equipment/Conditions– Seat Belts– Emergency Exits– Emergency Procedures– No Smoking Policy

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Crew Effectiveness Good Communications Clock Position

– High, Low, Level Maneuvers

– Straight ahead– Stop turn

Small Corrections– 5 degrees right– 10 degrees left bank

External References

121

2

3

4

567

8

9

10

11

Scanner Course #1

Observers Log Provides a record of

the flight– Preflight calculations– Record of observations

Basis for debriefing Used to complete CAPF 104 Information is forwarded to Incident

Commander to guide mission management Good logs can be combined from several

sorties to give the Incident Commander a better picture of how the search is going

Observer LogAircraft Pilot Observer Mission Date

Destination Total Dist

ETE

Remain

Takeoff Time

ETA

ATAFuel

Remain

Fuel

Inflight Observations

Time Observation

Departure Pt.

Check PointsMagHdg Dist

GroundSpeed

Ident

Freq

ETE

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Debriefing Note both Positive and “Negative” results Don’t Hesitate to Volunteer Info Types of Clues Investigated Use the back side of CAPF 104 Used to determine how effective the search was

– Weather — shadows, visibility, snow cover– Terrain — open flat, mountainous, rough– Ground Cover — barren, forest, scrub, sparse, dense– Other information — hazards, changes from plan

Used to calculate the “probability of detection” which is used for subsequent search planning

Scanner Course #1

Crew Resource Management

Purpose:Understand attitudes and skills that allow each crewmember to participate as part of the team

Properly trained aircrew members can collectively perform complex tasks better and make more accurate decisions than the single best performer on the team.

An untrained team's overall performance can be significantly worse than the performance of its weakest single member.

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Crew Management Goals

Maximize human performance Understand group dynamics Assess, mitigate, and manage risk Manage workload to avoid task saturation or

complacency Improve communication inside and outside

flight deck Maintain situational awareness

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Human Performance

Managing Fatigue– Scanning is physically demanding work

Consider using search pattern turns as opportunities to stretch muscles

– Duty day rules apply to scanners and observers as well as pilots (CAPR 60-1)

14 hour duty day max– Duty Day is defined as beginning when reporting to work or the

CAP activity, whichever occurs first. It ends at engine shut down. 8 scheduled flight hours within a duty day max Under no circumstances will flight time exceed 10 hours 10 hours rest between duty days minimum

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Other Human Performance factors

Turbulence Heat / Cold Light / Contrast Boredom Empty Field Myopia

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Group Dynamics Types of authority / Leadership styles Assertiveness Hazardous Attitudes

– Anti-authority– Impulsiveness– Invulnerability– Macho– Resignation– Get There It-us

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The Error Chain

A series of event links that, when considered together, cause a mishap.

Should any one of the links be “broken,” then the mishap will not occur.

It is up to each crewmember to recognize a link and break the error chain.

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Workload Management

Little things can make a difference– Help the pilot manage charts, checklists, etc.– Manage the CAP radio

Consider when to apply sterile flight deck discipline

Think ahead– use idle time to prepare for next busy activity

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Improved Communication

Entire crew should participate in briefings and debriefings if possible– Otherwise the pilot should thoroughly brief the team

Pilot should plan sorties with the participation of the aircrew

Don’t be afraid to volunteer information in the air and on the ground

Don’t be afraid to ask relevant questions

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Situational AwarenessKeeping a mental picture of what is happening and about to happen

Don’t’ fixate, scan the big picture Project ahead and consider contingencies Rotate attention between the crew, the plane

(current situation), and the path ahead Speak up when you see SA breaking down

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Task Saturation

Too much information at one time Too many tasks to accomplish in a given time

Usually occurs when an individual is confronted with a new or unexpected situation. Loses SA.

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Regaining Situational Awareness

Reduce workload: Suspend the mission. Reduce threats:

– Get away from the ground and other obstacles (e.g., climb to a safe altitude).

– Establish a stable flight profile where you can safely analyze the situation.

Remember: “Aviate, Navigate, Communicate”

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How do we get it back?

Trust your gut feelings “Time Out,” “Abort,” or “This is Stupid.”

– Pilot establishes aircraft in a safe and stable configuration, and then discuss the problem

Sterile Cockpit– Limit talk to the minimum necessary for safety.– Taxi, takeoff, departure, low-level flying,

approach, landing

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Summary

Successful missions hinge on each and every member

Learn how to use the procedures and tools available to you, and use them correctly

Never stop learning Don’t be afraid to ask questions Never criticize someone for asking questions Practice, practice, practice