Category: Aviation knowledge and operations

How Daulat Beg Oldi Airstrip was Revived by IAF

Anil Goyal

Daulat Beg Oldi (also Oldie, DBO) is a historic campsite and current military base located in Ladakh, India on an ancient trade route connecting Ladakh to the Tarim Basin. It is named after Sultan Said Khan (Daulat Beg), who died here on his return journey after the invasion of Ladakh and Kashmir. The Chip Chap River flows just to the south of Daulat Beg Oldi from east to west. Daulat Beg Oldi also has one of the world’s highest airstrips which is one of India’s Advance Landing Ground (ALG), at an altitude of 5,065 meters (16,614 feet).

Distractions in Cockpit

Anil Goyal

The airlines make a conscious effort to expose its flight crew to the potential hazards of distractions. Strict adherence to the ‘Sterile Cockpit Rule’ is implemented. Cabin crew and ground staff are trained and instructed to refrain from interrupting the cockpit crew while they’re in the midst of a briefing or entering critical flight data into the FMS, including computation of takeoff speeds. Strict adherence to SOP is mandated and checklist discipline is reinforced during line and simulator training. The key here is for every company to “educate” it’s staff with regards to the challenge that is posed by distraction, affecting the safety of the flight.

What is a blindfold check for military pilot and why is it important?

Anil Goyal

Before a military pilot goes solo, he/she has to successfully demonstrate the ability to locate switches blindfolded. It is not without reason. And this is checked periodically, generally every fortnight along with critical emergency actions. The pilot is made to sit in the cockpit as if during flight with eyes shut and instructor checks out pilots’ ability to locate and activate cockpit switches, to make sure they could find them in a nerve blinding situation (bird strike, smoke in the cockpit, electrical failure by night, etc.).  This practice remains with…

What mistakes pilots should avoid during landing flare?

Anil Goyal

The Landing Flare, in a fixed wing aircraft, is the one most difficult task a pilot executes on routine basis.  The landing flare is a transition phase between the final approach and the touchdown on the landing surface. This sub-phase of flight normally involves a simultaneous increase in aircraft pitch attitude and a reduction in engine power/thrust, the combination of which results in a decrease in both rate of descent and airspeed. What is landing flare? The flare process requires that the pilot adjust the aircraft attitude and power settings…

How pilots can assist controllers during a procedural approach control to save time and fuel?

Anil Goyal

What is a Procedural Approach Control? Procedural approach control is a form of non-radar air traffic control conducted from the Tower to separate arriving, departing, and overflying aircraft within a designated area around an aerodrome. The procedural approach is used in areas with little or no radar coverage, where traffic density is relatively low. The procedural approach controller may utilize a variety of (non-radar) separation standards to achieve separation between aircraft i.e. vertical, longitudinal, lateral, geographical, or visual separation. Without an accurate radar picture to aid situational awareness the procedural approach…

What pilots should know about hard, firm and kisser landing.

Anil Goyal

On the final approach to landing, a pilot controls the airplane speed by attitude and descent profile by thrust/power leading to touch down in the specified zone. Over the threshold, flare out is commenced to arrest the rate of descent so as to achieve touch down at a correct angle and positive vertical acceleration. Airline companies and charter operators advise pilots not to attempt kisser landing but to achieve controlled firm touch down within the limits specified by the aircraft manufacturer. From the very first day of commencement of training,…

Flying Swing Wing (MiG23/27): My Experience

Anil Goyal

What is a Variable Sweep Wing aircraft? A variable-sweep wing, colloquially known as a “swing-wing”, is an airplane wing, that may be swept back and then returned to its original position during flight. It allows the aircraft’s shape to be modified in flight and is therefore an example of a variable-geometry aircraft. Typically, a swept wing is more suitable for high speeds, while an unswept wing is suitable for lower speeds improving field (take-off and landing) performance. A variable-sweep wing allows a pilot to select the correct wing configuration for the plane’s intended…

MiG 21: Love her OR Hate her?

Anil Goyal

The most widely produced supersonic jet fighter of all time, the MiG-21 (Western reporting name Fishbed) is an incredibly prolific aircraft. Dated but nimble, it has allowed skilled pilots in past decades to defeat more advanced aircraft. Though its days look to be numbered. To me, it does not. I think it will continue to live in the heart of pilots and adversaries alike for decades to come. Single-seat, single-engine, supersonic, all-weather, day-night capable, jet fighter aircraft produced by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau was an improvement on prior generations of…