# Presentation: 481358

## Search Pilot
Qualification Course

Civil Air Patrol
Auxiliary of the United States Air Force

- Qualification Course
- Civil Air Patrol
- Auxiliary of the United States Air Force

## BLOCK FOUR

- Mountain Searching

## Crash

- Due to the foliage, this crash is very difficult to spot from the air

## ELT Searches

- Conduct search at highest practical altitude
- Increase chance of detecting ELT located in valley
- Fly straight line along suspected route
- If no detection, fly 7-mile offsets
- Fly expanding circle over high-probability area
- If deep canyons in area, fly over each one
- Preclude missing signal confined to vertical propagation
- Signals may only be detectable at certain times
- Weak batteries may only transmit when warmed by sun

## Sufficient Altitude Prevents Blocked Signal

## ELT Signal Bounce in Mountainous Terrain

## Slide 7

## Slide 8

## Grid Navigation

- Use every means available to identify grid area
- GPS, VOR, visual confirmation of terrain features
- If equipped, set up GPS to remain within grid
- Monitor bearing and distance from selected corner
- Assess weather and winds in the search area
- Assess grid to determine best search method
- Will be dictated by terrain features
- Take the time to plan method for searching each feature
- Record searched areas on chart or hand drawing

## Slide 10

## Search Strategies

- Ascertain areas of high probability, such as:
- Natural pathways through the terrain
- Aircraft often follow valleys and fly through passes
- Particularly when low ceilings were present
- False canyons and gradually rising terrain
- Especially if the pilot was unfamiliar with the terrain
- Areas of cloud cover or thunderstorm activity
- First ridge on a direct route between origin and destination
- Consider focusing on these areas before conducting an exhaustive contour search of the grid

## Pilot Responsibilities

- Plan and clear the flight path
- Assure proper terrain clearance
- Maintain constant altitude
- Maintain optimal airspeed (about 80 knots)
- Put observers in best position to scan terrain
- Keep track of areas searched
- Identify areas remaining to be searched
- Monitor aircraft systems and performance

## Crash location

- Crash in a corn field

## Contour Searching

- Use contour search techniques in mountainous terrain other than canyons and steep valleys
- Begin at the highest elevation
- Maintain a constant altitude while flying adjacent to steep terrain
- Once all terrain at that altitude has been searched, descend 500 feet and continue contour searching
- Put your observers in the optimal position to detect the target

## 14 Crashes

- East face of 10-mile-long mountain ridge with north/south orientation
- Mountain tops 6,500 feet
- Valley 2,000 feet
- 14 crashes have occurred on this east face ... mostly due to severe downdrafts from westerly winds

## Viking Crash

- Crash site in center
- Mountain top 6,684 feet
- Crash at 6,500 feet
- 43-knot winds
- Bellanca Viking
- Radar showed aircraft descending during approach to the ridge

## Crash

- Crash site in center of picture
- Aircraft cut a swath through the trees
- Note fallen & broken trees with rock outcroppings interfere with the search scan

## Crash

- This picture is taken from the ground looking back through the path the aircraft traveled
- Remember you may be searching as much for broken and sheared trees as for an actual aircraft

## Contour Searching - Cont’d.

- If you encounter a sub-ridge, either:
- Include it in your current contour search
- Return later to search it separately
- Two options in searching ridge or mountain:
- Contour all the way around the terrain before descending
- Contour one face at a time
- Resist temptation to scan when the terrain is on your side of the aircraft
- Your job is to safely fly the airplane

## Slide 20

## Search Spacing

- 500 feet vertically and laterally is ideal
- Closer and terrain appears as a blur
- Farther and objects cannot be detected
- Factors which might prevent this spacing
- Turbulence, downdrafts, terrain features
- Generally maintain this spacing, following terrain
- But do not turn into small gullies and ravines
- Return later to fly a drainage search pattern

## Slide 22

## Scanning a Plateau

- Normal search position and spacing inadequate
- Unique feature requires specific technique
- Often partially covered with vegetation
- Must look down into vegetation to detect target
- Interrupt contour search to search this feature
- Circle back and climb if necessary to view downwards
- Also attempt to scan under bases of foliage

## Slide 24

## Scanning in Foliage

- Difficult to spot target in or below trees
- May have to fly above, then adjacent to each area
- In pass above, direct observers to look vertically
- In pass adjacent, direct observers to look horizontally
- Look for indications of a crash
- Broken trees or limbs
- Dried leaves

## Slide 26

## Searching a Cove

- Be certain your aircraft turn radius will allow flying comfortably into and out of the cove
- If too tight, use the drainage search method
- A low-wing aircraft will block the observer’s view
- Explain your plan to your crew before entering

## Slide 28

## Searching a Promontory

- If the terrain cuts sharply away from your flight path, do not turn sharply to follow it in a high-wing aircraft
- Temporarily exceed optimal spacing
- High wing will block observer’s view
- Instead, extend outward, then reverse course to re-approach
- If the terrain cuts sharply into your flight path, do not turn sharply to follow it in a low-wing aircraft
- Low wing will block observer’s view
- Forced to conduct a drainage search pattern

## Slide 30

## Searching a Drainage

- Required in narrow or steep drainages
- Involves flying straight down the drainage
- Both observers scan each side simultaneously
- Approach from the top a low airspeed
- Reduce power when beginning descent
- Use partial or full flaps to increase drag
- S-turns allow scanning bottom of drainage

## Slide 32

## Searching a Canyon

- Reconnoiter the canyon from above
- Confirm correct routing
- Note presence and location of side canyons
- Look for power lines and their support structures
- Always fly down canyons
- Reduce the chance of turning up a dead end side canyon
-  Maintain positional awareness at all times
- Continue to look for power lines across the canyon

## Crash in Trees

- The crash site is in the center of the picture
- Unable to see the crash because of the trees
- Next pictures show importance of placing scanners to see the same terrain from different perspectives

## Crash in Trees

- After flying about 300 feet to the left of the previous picture
- The crash is becoming visible

## Crash in Trees

- From 500 feet beyond previous picture the crash is visible
- Another 200 feet and the aircraft disappears again
- Thoroughly search heavily wooded areas

## Effects of Lighting

- Shadows can prevent sighting targets
- Loss of sufficient lighting
- Loss of contrast
- Direct light may reflect from shiny targets
- Most mountainous terrain is best searched mid-day
- Steep slopes may be best early or late in the day
- Flying in deepening shadows can be dangerous
- Difficult to judge distance from terrain
- Difficult to detect layered backlit obstructions

## Front Lighting

- Back Lighting

## Effect of Light

- West slope of a mountain taken with the sun low during the evening
- West slopes can be searched later
- East slope should be searched early

## Effect of Light

- East slope of same mountain taken about one minute later
- Note deep shadows
- Dangerous to try to search

## Target Detection

- Immediately note a prominent visual landmark
- Capture location on GPS (if installed)
- Note exact altitude at time of acquisition
- Return to the location at the same altitude
- Allow time to approach the target wings-level
- Use 360° racetrack or 180° teardrop pattern
- Racetrack has advantage of re-creating same direction
- Be cautious when turning back toward vertical terrain
- Ensure adequate turning radius
- Use shallow approach angle

## Cessna 206

- The Cessna 206 in this picture looks like a trash pile ... not an airplane

## Cessna 206

- Close up of the Cessna 206 crash
- Remember, what you are looking for may not resemble an airplane

## Mooney Crash

- Crash site of a Mooney
- To the left of the crash is a small piece of aircraft lodged in the top of a tree
- The piece of wreckage led to the crash site

## Mooney - Winter

- Photo of the Mooney crash site taken during the winter
- Crash site is to the left of the strut half way between two logging roads
- Crash looks like snow

## Mooney – Late Spring

- The same Mooney crash site
- Photo taken during the late spring
- Very difficult to locate under these conditions
- If it was a fresh crash there may have been some tree damage to make it easier to find

## Cherokee Crash

- Piper Cherokee crash in trees
- Visible at center of picture

## Cessna Crash

- We spotted the wing panel of a Cessna
- The remainder of the crash was some distance away
- (Indicates in-flight breakup)

## Cessna 310 Crash

- Can you spot the Cessna 310?
- Photo from a helicopter
- Snow makes the C310 difficult to see in the lower center of the photo

## Cessna 310 Crash

- Flying close to the wreckage, the helicopter blow snow away from the wreckage
- Doubtful that this would have been spotted without the functioning ELT signal

## Sensory Illusion Crash

- A sensory illusion caused this crash
- The crash site was difficult to see except in a vertical direction
- The ELT signal was strong

## Cessna 210 Crash

- A Cessna 210 departed for a short flight from a mountain airport in zero visibility conditions
- Note the runway in the background

## Modified Racetrack Maneuver

## Modified Teardrop Turnaround Procedure

**Modified Teardrop Turnaround Procedure**

## Crew Consideration

- Ensure entire crew is fit for duty prior to takeoff
- Consult with crew regarding mission accomplishment
- Correct spacing, flight track, lighting, etc.
- Take periodic breaks from searching
- Relax, drink, snack, stretch
- Perform ops check, switch fuel tanks, etc.
- Terminate mission when appropriate
- Two hours “in-grid” is a practical maximum
- Upon crewmember airsickness, exhaustion, etc.

## Closing Thoughts

- Mountain flying is demanding, yet at the same time very rewarding.
- Maintaining awareness of, and proficiency in, the principals and techniques described in this course will allow you to safely and effectively fly and search in the mountains
*“**So That Others May Live.”*