Dibbedutter i cockpit - Utkikk er du snill

NTSB Alert Urges ‘See and Be Seen’ Vigilance

Concerned about the growing number of distractions in the cockpit, the National Transportation Safety Board released a safety alert today urging pilots to remain on the lookout for other aircraft. The safety alert, “See and Be Seen: Your Life Depends on It,” cites investigations into several accidents involving pilots who failed to see and avoid other aircraft. The NTSB notes some accidents occurred in high-traffic areas, but some involved cruise flight in day VMC. “All pilots can be vulnerable to distractions in the cockpit, and the presence of technology has introduced challenges to the see-and-avoid concept,” the alert states. “Aviation applications on portable electronic devices (PEDs) such as cellphones, tablets and handheld GPS units, while useful, can lead to more head-down time, limiting a pilot’s ability to see other aircraft.” The NTSB cautions pilots to remain vigilant and scan for traffic throughout flight, not just in high-traffic areas. The Safety Board further advises pilots to minimize distractions and make efforts to make their aircraft more visible, such as turning on lights. Other advice includes using clear and standard phraseology, recognizing that some conditions make it harder to see other aircraft, and using onboard traffic advisory systems.