Difficult Conditions

• Cloud, snow, showers, white out, bright out - effects on visibility, disorientation, illusion, work load
• Merging terrain – foreground with distant
• Dirty windscreen versus clean
• Precipitation on screen affecting judgement
• Gradient of snow covered areas, depth perception
• Sun/shadow effects
• Both pilot and aircraft performance are diminishing while performance required is increasing
• Effects of difficult conditions on aircraft management including:
  • distractions
  • fuel
  • icing
  • visual reference
  • attitude control
  • altitude/hypoxia
  • aviate, navigate, communicate
  • below VHF radio coverage levels
  • SARTIME management
  • orientation
  • decision making, including pilot attitudes
  • temperature extremes, temperature factors
  • turbulence
  • air movements including significant up or down flow
  • wires and obstacles e.g. wind farms