Expanding Your Horizons

General Aviation Joint Steering Committee

Outreach Guidance Document

Expanding your Horizons

2020/02-21-183(I)PP

This outreach guidance is provided to all FAA and aviation industry groups that are participating in outreach efforts sponsored by the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC).  It is important that all outreach on a given topic is coordinated and is free of conflicts.  Therefore, all outreach products should be in alignment with the outline and concepts listed below for this topic.

Outreach Month:  February 2021

Topic: Expanding your Horizons

The FAA and industry will conduct a public education campaign emphasizing the value of training and preparation before operating in unfamiliar flight environments.

Background: 

The General Aviation Joint Steering Committee feel that environmental unfamiliarity has led to a significant number of General Aviation Controlled Flight Into Terrain or Loss of Control accidents.  Training and experience in diverse flight environments improves pilots’ ability to recognize and successfully cope with new flight challenges.

Teaching Points:

• Studies suggest that a significant number of General Aviation accidents are caused in part with environmental unfamiliarity.
• Pilots with a wide range of experience are better able to cope with new flight situations
  • Acquiring experience in a wide range of environments improves overall pilot performance
• Pilots who want to operate in unfamiliar environments should seek instruction from CFIs who are proficient in that environment.
• Pilots should research requirements for operation in new environments.
  • Over water equipment
  • Survival gear
• Pilots should be cautious when viewing videos of flight operations. They frequently depict extreme operations and often
  have little instructional value
• Pilots operating in remote areas or over water should consider Personal Locator Beacon and/or Satellite telephone equipment.
• In addition to a flight plan, pilots operating in remote areas or over water should leave a detailed itinerary, including a contact schedule, with a trusted agent. If the pilot does not check in with the agent according to the itinerary schedule, the agent can notify authorities who can begin a search.

References:

• Alaskan Off-Airport Operations Guide
• Alaskan Seaplane Operations Guide
• Alaskan Survival Guide
  • Available on FAASafety.gov\Resources\Library\Alaskan Operations
    • https://faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/lib_categoryview.aspx?categoryId=35
  • Colorado Pilots Association
    • For Information on High Density Altitude, mountain, and remote area operations
      • https://www.coloradopilots.org