Thomas Paul's Blog

The dangers of sun exposure are well-documented and understood by most people. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation can have both short- and long-term effects, including an increased risk of skin cancer and eye damage. Article  photo by   Nicolas Jossi  on   Unsplash Have you ever returned from a day of flying and felt your skin was warm but not burnt? A study by the FAA found that most commercial aircraft windshields made of laminated composite glass block most UVB radiation. “UVB, the chief cause of skin reddening and sunburn, tends to damage the skin’s more superficial epidermal layers. It plays a key role in the development of skin cancer and a contributory role in tanning and photoaging.” – Skin Cancer Foundation However, the same FAA study revealed that most commercial aircraft windshields made of laminated composite glass do  not  block UVA radiation. “UVA, which penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB, has long been known to p...

A few years ago, I was flying in a northern community in a turbine aircraft. While the aircraft was on the ground, it was connected to a fuel-burning heating cart. About an hour before departure, I went to the aircraft to prepare for the return flight home. Upon opening the cabin door, I was hit with an overwhelming smell of exhaust. It was evident that something was wrong with the heating cart. It could have had an internal malfunction or the air intake was drawing in exhaust. We aired out the aircraft before re-entering, but even after ventilation, a distinct residual smell of exhaust lingered for the rest of the day. I also developed a strong headache, indicating I had likely been exposed to carbon monoxide (CO). Photo by  Pascal Meier  on  Unsplash What is Carbon Monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is poisonous to humans. While the young, elderly, and those with preexisting health conditions may be more vulnerable, CO can af...

ILS stands for Instrument Landing System, the most widely used and accurate system for guiding aircraft to airports during low visibility and/or low cloud ceilings. Photo by  Caleb Woods  on  Unsplash Types of ILS Approaches The most common type of ILS is Category I (CAT I), which typically brings aircraft to about 200 feet above the ground. However, local geographic restrictions may prevent an ILS from achieving this altitude. Less common are Category II (CAT II) and Category III (CAT III) approaches, which guide aircraft down to 100 feet and 50 feet above the ground, respectively. In Canada, any pilot with an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) rating can fly a certified IFR aircraft on a CAT I approach. However, CAT II and CAT III approaches require specific training, certification, and additional aircraft equipment. How ILS Works Regardless of the type of ILS approach, the concept remains the same. Ground-based equipment sends out two radio beams: Localizer: Provides horizo...

Recent events have prompted many questions about the decision-making process pilots go through during an approach and landing. Below is a summary of the steps involved. Photo by  Ilyas Dautov  on  Unsplash Planning Before passengers even board the flight, a team of professionals considers numerous factors at the destination. These include: Actual and forecasted wind, visibility, and cloud ceiling Runway conditions Navigational aids Aircraft, airport, and approach limitations Crew limitations Available services In Canada, unless the destination has excellent weather forecasts and more than one runway, regulations require a legal alternate airport with adequate weather conditions (depending on the type and number of approaches). An aircraft must always carry enough fuel to reach its destination, fly to the alternate, and hold additional reserves (45 minutes for propeller aircraft, 30 minutes for jets). This adds safety but also complexity. During widespread poor weather, fi...