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  • Chapter 10: Advanced Flight Maneuvers › Reconnaissance Procedures › Ground Reconnaissance

    takeoff plan are the aircraft load, height of obstacles, the shape of the area, direction of the wind, and surface conditions. Surface conditions can consist of dust, sand and snow, as well as mud and rocks. Dust landings and snow ... condition, which is the loss of the horizon reference. Disorientation may occur, leading to ground contact, often with fatal results. Taking off or landing on uneven terrain, mud, or rocks can cause the tail rotor to strike the surface…

  • Chapter 11: Aircraft Performance › Takeoff and Landing Performance › Runway Surface and Gradient

    such as mud, snow, or standing water reduce the airplane’s acceleration down the runway. Although muddy and wet surface conditions can reduce friction between the runway and the tires, they can also act as obstructions and reduce the landing ... braking effectiveness. Ensure that runways are adequate in length for takeoff acceleration and landing deceleration when less than ideal surface conditions are being reported…

  • Glossary › Pilot’s Operating Handbook/Airplane Flight Manual

    strategic weather information presented in an integrated manner in the National Airspace System (NAS). Weather depiction chart. Details surface conditions as derived from METAR and other surface observations. Weight. The force exerted by an aircraft from the pull of gravity…

  • Chapter 2: Aeronautical Decision-Making › RISK › Hazard and Risk

    flown into these conditions repeatedly although the icing conditions were previously forecast 2,000 feet above the surface. This time, the conditions were forecast from the surface. Since the pilot was in a hurry and failed to factor…

  • Chapter 12: Night Operations › Helicopter Night VFR Operations

    natural reflectivity of celestial illumination, such as that provided by a surface covered by snow or a desert surface. Low lighting conditions are those that do not meet the high lighting conditions requirements. Some areas may be considered a high ... natural reflectivity that it may be considered a high lighting conditions area regardless of season, provided the cloud cover does not prevent starlight from being reflected from the surface. Other surfaces, such as areas of open water, may never have…

  • Chapter 4: Engine Ignition & Electrical Systems › Spark Plug Inspection & Maintenance › Breaker Point Inspection

    breaker contact surfaces, it is necessary to know what a normal operating set of contacts looks like, what surface condition is considered as permissible wear, and what surface condition is cause for dressing or replacement. The probable cause ... abnormal surface condition can be determined from the contact appearance. The normal contact surface has a dull gray, sandblasted, almost rough appearance over the area where electrical contact is made. [Figure 4-66] This gray, sandblasted appearance indicates that…