Confined Area Landings(CALS)

By Kent Lewis Captain USMC (Retired)Terrain Flight Instructor

Night Systems SAR Instructor

Confined Area Landing?

• Anywhere other than a runway

Clearing the LZ

• High Recon

• Low Recon

Landing Zone (LZ) Assessment“STOPWAD”

• Size• Topography• Obstacles• Power Required vs Available• Wind• Approach • Departure

Size

• Is the LZ big enough for the helicopter, personnel and equipment?

Topo

• Slope

• Dust

Obstacles

Yuma RegionalMedical Center

See any obstacles?

Look for Poles and Lines

You’ll never see one this clear

Do not try to cut down

Power

• Available HIGE/HOGE, after fuel burn

• Required in and out

• SOP Margin?

Wind

• Direction• Possible loss of wind effect

Tailwind?

Avenues of Approach

Application. The confined area landing and approach is a precision, power-controlled approach used when the intended point of landing is surrounded by obstacles preventing a normal approach glide slope. The techniques of utilizing power and cyclic coordination to effect a precision descent shall be used in the confined area approach and landing.

Maneuver Description and Technique 1. Use a pattern altitude of 300-500’ AGL and 70 knots.

Make a reconnaissance of the landing zone to ensure the area is clear and to check the best arrival and departure routes. Descend to no lower than 200' AGL and go no slower than 50 knots on the reconnaissance pass.

2. When abeam the intended point of landing at pattern altitude of 300-500 feet AGL and airspeed of 70 KIAS, simultaneously commence a descending, decelerating turn to arrive at the 90-degree position with 300 feet AGL and 60 KIAS (same 90-degree position as in a precision approach).

3. Anticipate a level-off at 300 feet AGL and continue to decelerate to

arrive on the courseline with 800-1000 feet of straightaway at 300 feet AGL. Report on final when established. Continue to decelerate to 45 KIAS while approaching the glideslope.

4. As the helicopter intercepts the glideslope (25-45 degrees) reduce

power to begin the descent. Visualize the glideslope and closure rate to the intended point of landing. Adjust power as necessary to maintain the glideslope. If the glideslope becomes excessive (greater than 45 degrees) or uncomfortable, wave off.

5. Once established on the glideslope, adjust the angle of descent such that the tail rotor will clear the downwind obstruction by at least ten feet and the touchdown area will be in the upwind one-third of the LZ. Smooth, coordinated cyclic and collective inputs are required to maintain the glideslope without requiring excessive power.

6. Anticipate sloping or rough terrain in the landing

zone, therefore, plan on coming to a hover attitude prior to executing a touchdown.

Common Errors and Safety Notes

1. Ensure power required to land does not exceed power available.

2. Rate of closure is critical. As rate of closure increases, rate of

descent also increases. Avoid descent rates in excess of 800 FPM when airspeed is below 40 KIAS; vortex ring state may result.

3. Whenever the glideslope exceeds 45 degrees or the

approach becomes uncomfortable, wave off.

4. As the helicopter crosses the obstruction, ensure the crew has cleared the tail rotor. If not clear, wave off.

5. Anticipate a loss of wind effect or turbulence as the helicopter nears and descends below the obstruction.

6. Failure to reduce collective a sufficient amount when

intercepting the glideslope will cause ballooning or steepening of the glide angle.

7. While in the confined area landing zone, any aircraft movement shall be cleared by all crewmembers prior to commencement. The aircraft may be turned a maximum of 90o at a time.

Sea Ranger

Departure

Confined Area Takeoffs Application. The confined area takeoff is a precision maneuver designed to

provide proper obstacle clearance and minimal exposure to the Caution/Avoid areas of the Height-Velocity Diagram.

Procedures/Maneuver Description and Technique 1. Prior to landing in a confined area, ensure power required does not

exceed power available. If sufficient power is not available to take off from a confined area, do not land in one.

2. Select the best takeoff route optimizing wind and the lowest obstruction

combination. Remember to include a minimum of ten feet of clearance from the highest obstruction on the intended flight path. If possible, the takeoff should be initiated from the downwind one-third of the LZ. This will provide the most shallow departure glideslope.

3. Call on radio, "(Aircraft call sign), lifting CAL Zone 4. From a hover, check the gauges and caution lights, then

smoothly increase power to establish a sufficient rate of climb and angle of ascent to clear the highest obstacle by ten feet (tip path plane above highest obstacle). When able, begin a smooth acceleration and transition to a normal takeoff. Keep the scan moving and CONTINUALLY CLEAR ALL PARTS OF THE HELICOPTER.

5. When clear of all immediate obstructions, maneuver as

necessary to avoid other obstacles while gaining airspeed as soon as possible.

Common Errors and Safety Notes

1. Always ensure tail rotor clearance prior to maneuvering in the zone. A tail

rotor strike may occur resulting in complete loss of tail rotor thrust. 2. Rushing the maneuver may cause settling, poor yaw control, and loss of

obstruction clearance. Confined area takeoffs are precision maneuvers and require more time and concentration than normal takeoffs.

3. Smooth control coordination is required throughout the takeoff. Use

power judiciously. 4. Because the helicopter is below the obstructions, the wind may not

provide extra lift until clear of the obstructions.

The Mighty TH-57B

LZ Etiquette

• Give way to all external loads

Night

Vortex Ring State• Vortex ring state is an uncommanded rate of descent caused by the

helicopter settling into its own downwash. In this state, the flow through the rotor system is upward near the center of the rotor disk and downward in the outer portion. This results in zero net thrust from the rotor and extremely high aircraft descent rates. Vortex ring state is not restricted to high gross weights or high density altitudes. It may not be recognized and a recovery effected until considerable altitude has been lost. Helicopter rotor theory indicates that it is most likely to occur when descent rates exceed 800 feet per minute during (1) vertical descents initiated from a hover and (2) steep approaches at less than 40 KIAS.

• Indications to the pilot are: • 1. Rapid descent rate increase• 2. Increase in overall vibration level• 3. Loss of control effectiveness

Vortex Ring State Recovery• Recover by: • 1. Forward cyclic to gain airspeed. • 2. Decrease collective. • If impact is imminent: • 3. Level aircraft to conform to terrain. • WARNING• Increasing collective has no effect toward recovery and will aggravate

vortex ring state. During approaches at less than 40 KIAS, do not exceed 800 feet per minute descent rate.

Questions?

• Answers – Ask Bell

Fly Smart

For More Info

Kent LewisFAA Safety Team Lead Rep

(817) 692-1971lewis.kent@gmail.com