From Mid-Missouri Radio Control Association
Pilot Spotter's Responsibility
by Bob Ackerman
While at the field recently I was asked, “What does
a pilot spotter do?” I quickly told him, “spot for
the pilot.” I thought about my response for a few
minutes and I realized that was not a good answer.
Do you know what the responsibility of the pilot
spotter is? I asked a few pilots and I got the same
answer from most, “spot for the pilot.” So, what
does that mean?
The pilot spotter, or just spotter, is a safety
person for the pilot. The pilot and spotter should
be a team working together for the safety of the
pilot, the spotter, the aircraft, and all parties at
or near the field.
Whereas the pilot has the responsibility of flying
his/her aircraft in a safe manner, the spotter has
many other responsibilities, which include:
• Relay messages from the flightline and safety
personnel to the pilot about landing aircraft,
aircraft emergencies, or dead-stick landings by
other aircraft on the field, and other information
important to the pilot flying the aircraft. The
pilot may be concentrating on the aircraft in flight
and may not hear or pay attention to background
messages on the field.
• Relay messages from the pilot to the flightline
and/or safety personnel about the pilot’s landing,
emergency, or dead-stick landings, and other
information that needs to be passed from the pilot
to others.
• Be the eyes of the pilot away from the aircraft.
Watch the flightline and inform your pilot of
aircraft taxiing in front of the pilot, people on
the runway line, obstacles on the ground if the
pilot walks around while flying, or other safety
issues that your pilot should be aware of.
• Watch the other aircraft in flight and inform your
pilot of aircraft that may cross the flight path of
his or her aircraft. Changes in pattern direction or
aircraft in different flight types (aerobatic vs.
pattern flight) crossing your pilot’s flight path
should be reported.
• Keep the pilot advised of the type of aircraft
that are being started for flight. Some pilots may
be flying the pattern and if a 3-D aerobatic
aircraft is getting ready to fly, the pilot may
decide to fly at a different altitude or land the
aircraft.
• Minimize the distractions to the pilot in flight.
The spotter is the eyes and ears for the pilot.
Anything that could distract the attention of the
pilot should be explained so that the pilot can keep
his/her eyes on the aircraft and not look at the
distraction.
• A pilot spotter may also assist the pilot at
contests, such as a pattern contest, by providing
information to the pilot about the next maneuver at
key points of the flight.
This is not a complete list of responsibilities that
the spotter has. Some pilots will have specific
instructions for their spotters as to what to do,
what to watch for, and what to explain. Each pilot
and spotter should discuss these responsibilities
before each flight.
Every field has different rules for the use of a
pilot spotter during flight operations. Most fields
do not require a spotter when no organized event is
scheduled, or the number of pilots flying is low.
Other fields require a spotter on all flight
activities. Most fields require the use of a pilot
spotter during all scheduled events. Do check with
your club or field rules about the use of a spotter.
The ultimate purpose of a pilot spotter is to
increase safety for all. So be a good spotter and
help keep our field, and our pilots, safe.
Q
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