Situational Awareness Is Key Inside, Outside the Cockpit

A certified flight instructor offers tips for staying ahead of the aircraft.

Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 01:50 PM ET

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The ADS-B installation requirement a few years back was supposed to make our crowded airspace safer. [Credit: Aspen Avionics]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots should be prepared for denied entry into controlled airspace, especially at busy airports, and must exercise vigilance in all congested patterns, both towered and nontowered.
Visual scanning ("head on a swivel") and proper clearing turns are paramount for traffic avoidance, with ADS-B serving as a supplemental tool rather than a replacement for looking outside.
Maintaining strong situational awareness is crucial for preventing midair collisions, as "getting behind the airplane" can negate the benefits of communication and technology, particularly in congested areas.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The private pilot from a nontowered airport intended to fly to a towered airport to work on his radio skills while performing takeoffs and landings. At 10 nm out, he listened to the airport’s ATIS, noted the information for winds and runway in use, and set the altimeter. When he was approximately 6 nm out and over a VFR reporting point, he called the tower to request entry for touch and go.

“Cannot accommodate you at this time. Steer clear of the (insert name of airport) Class Delta airspace.” was the reply.