Desert Helicopter Operations: Military Specific
Abstract
Helicopter operations and pilot training in a desert environment requires an aviator to understand the limitations of the aircraft and how visual aspects and personal stress contribute to the challenges of flying. The US Military gained a great deal of information both from the successes and from the failures of Desert Storm/Desert Shield resulting in advanced training and new technology.
Desert Helicopter Operations: Military Specific A typical desert environment is unpredictable, potentially violent, and does not follow any particular terrain model. Weather conditions consist of extreme highs, sandstorms, and fluctuating wind speeds; making flight operations extremely unsafe for aviators without adequate training. Since Desert Storm/Desert Shield, the United States Military has taken the experiences and mistakes that were made and used them to improve desert training for its future aviators. This training benefits all sectors of civilian, commercial, and public aviation. Yet even with experience, desert operations can still catch the most experienced aviator off guard; making it utterly important that aviators without experience have the knowledge to overcome the worst scenario. The most important factors for an aviator to understand in desert operations are the environmental effects on the aircraft, visual illusions and effects during flight, and the different kinds of stress experienced during flight.
Environmental Effects on Aircraft When operating within a desert environment, considerations must be taken to include the effects of extreme temperatures and its direct relation to aircraft performance. Extreme temperatures are the greatest power-limiting factor and are one of the leading causes for aircraft malfunction in a desert environment. Flight physics show that when there is an increase in air temperature there will be a decrease in air density. A decrease in air density ultimately means less air to create lift and less air to cool the
Helicopter operations and pilot training in a desert environment requires an aviator to understand the limitations of the aircraft and how visual aspects and personal stress contribute to the challenges of flying. The US Military gained a great deal of information both from the successes and from the failures of Desert Storm/Desert Shield resulting in advanced training and new technology.
Desert Helicopter Operations: Military Specific A typical desert environment is unpredictable, potentially violent, and does not follow any particular terrain model. Weather conditions consist of extreme highs, sandstorms, and fluctuating wind speeds; making flight operations extremely unsafe for aviators without adequate training. Since Desert Storm/Desert Shield, the United States Military has taken the experiences and mistakes that were made and used them to improve desert training for its future aviators. This training benefits all sectors of civilian, commercial, and public aviation. Yet even with experience, desert operations can still catch the most experienced aviator off guard; making it utterly important that aviators without experience have the knowledge to overcome the worst scenario. The most important factors for an aviator to understand in desert operations are the environmental effects on the aircraft, visual illusions and effects during flight, and the different kinds of stress experienced during flight.
Environmental Effects on Aircraft When operating within a desert environment, considerations must be taken to include the effects of extreme temperatures and its direct relation to aircraft performance. Extreme temperatures are the greatest power-limiting factor and are one of the leading causes for aircraft malfunction in a desert environment. Flight physics show that when there is an increase in air temperature there will be a decrease in air density. A decrease in air density ultimately means less air to create lift and less air to cool the
References: Aeromedical Training for Flight Personnel (Vols. FM 3-04.301 (1-301)). Department of the Army. Allman, P. (Ed.). (2003, April). NVG Desert Operations. Flightfax , 31 (4), pp. 4-8. Colucci, F. (2009, Summer). Making Sense of Sandblaster. Safety Spotlight , 55 (2), pp. 24-28. Desert Flying and Safety Considerations. (2002). Retrieved November 8, 2009, from Fly OSA: http://www.flyosa.com/academics/SC%20Input/DesertIp%20.doc Joe, C. (2006). Effects of Sand Ingestion. Pratt and Whitney.