Controlled Flight into Terrain

Controlled flight into terrain is a class of accident in which an undamaged aircraft is flown, under control, into terrain or man-made structures. CFIT accidents typically are a result of pilot error or of navigational system error. Some pilots, convinced that advanced electronic navigation systems such as GPS and inertial guidance systems (inertial navigation system or INS) coupled with flight management system computers, or over-reliance on them, are partially responsible for these accidents, have called CFIT accidents " computerized flight into terrain ". Failure to protect Instrument Landing System critical areas can also cause controlled flight into terrain. One of the most notable CFIT accidents was in December 1995 in which American Airlines flight 965 tracked off course while approaching Calí, Colombia and hit a mountainside after the speed brakes were left deployed despite an aural terrain warning in the cockpit and an attempt to gain ample altitude in the night-time conditions. Crew awareness and monitoring of navigational systems can prevent or eliminate CFIT accidents. Crew Resource Management is a modern method now widely used to improve the human factors of air safety. The Aviation Safety Reporting System, or ASRS is another.

Other technical aids can be used to help pilots maintain situational awareness. A ground proximity warning system is an on-board system that will alert a pilot if the aircraft is about to fly into the ground. Also, air traffic controllers constantly monitor flights from the ground and at airports.

Exercise 1. Answer the questions:

1. What is controlled flight into terrain?

2. What is computerized flight into terrain?

3. What was one of the most notable CFIT accidents?

4. What can prevent or eliminate CFIT accidents?

5. What modern methods now are widely used to improve the human factors of air safety?

Exercise 2. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Correct false statements.

1. CFIT accidents typically are a source of pilot error or of navigational system error.

2. Failure to protect Instrument Landing System critical areas can also cause controlled flight into terrain.

3. Crew awareness and monitoring of navigational systems cannot prevent or eliminate CFIT accidents.

4. Crew Resource Management is a modern method now widely used to improve the human factors of air safety. The Aviation Safety Reporting System, or ASRS is another.

5. Air traffic controllers constantly monitor flights from the ground and at airports.