DESERT OPERATIONS
Lesson Plan and Program Text
I. Introduction:
A. Annual Review of Desert Operations
B. References:
FM 1-202 Environmental Flight
FM 1-230 Meteorology for Army Aviators, September 1982
FM 90-3 Desert Operations, August 1993
C. Instructions: Review the attached information and complete the written exam.
Program text should be accompanied with the PowerPoint presentation when time
permits.
II. Outline:
A. The Desert Environment and Weather
B. Density Altitude
C. Hazards to flight in a desert environment
D. Flight Operations
III. Lesson Plan:
A. The Desert Environment and Weather.
(1). There are three types of desert terrain IAW FM 90-3.
(a) Mountain Desert
1. Characterized by scattered areas of barren hills or
mountains separated by dry flat basins.
2. Most of the infrequent rain falls on the high ground and
runs off in the form of flash floods, eroding deep gullies and ravines and depositing sand
and gravel at the edge of the basins.
3. Shallow lakes may develop such as the Great Salt Lake
or the Dead Sea.
(b) Rocky Plateau Deserts
1. Characterized by extensive flat areas with quantities of
solid or broken rock at or near the surface.
2. There may be steep-walled eroded valleys known as
wadis, gulches, or canyons. These are subject to flooding after rains.
3. The National Training Center and the Golan Heights are
examples of Rocky Plateau Deserts.
(c) Sandy or Dune Deserts
1. Characterized by extensive flat areas covered with sand
or gravel.
2. The “flat” areas may be covered with sand dunes over
1000 ft. high and 10 miles long. Other areas may be totally flat for 3000 meters or more.
3. The Sahara desert and the Empty Quarter of the Arabian
Desert are examples.
(2). The Desert Weather
(a) Temperature
1. Max recorded temperature: 136o F, (58o Celsius). 160
degrees inside a WW2 tank.
2. Minimum temperature in Siberian and Gobi deserts dive
to -50 degrees F, (-45C).
3. Day/night fluctuations reach as much as 72o F in the
Sinai.
(b) Wind
1. Iran is known for its “wind of 120 days”. The wind
blows almost constantly at velocities of up to 70 mph.
2. Sandstorms may develop to thousands of feet high and
last for several days. They may form and stop suddenly.
3. Visibility may go from 30 miles to 30 ft. in minutes.
(c) Precipitation
1. Lack of water is the most important single characteristic.
2. Annual rain fall may vary from 0 to 10 inches.
3. Severe thunderstorms may cause flash flooding.
(3). Acclimatization.
(a) Significant acclimatization can be attained in 4-5 days, but full
acclimatization takes 7-14 days , with 2-3 hours per day of exercise in the heat.
(b) Does not reduce, and may increase, water intake.
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B. Density Altitude (DA).
(1) Density Altitude is pressure altitude corrected for temperature
deviations from standard atmosphere
(2) DA is the altitude at which our aircraft will perform at.
(3) As altitude increases, there is an decrease in the air density, that is,
there are fewer air molecules for a given area.
(4) Effects of increased density altitude.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
Reduction in horsepower/torque
Reduced lift
Increased take-off roll
Reduced climb performance
Increased landing distance
C. Hazards to Flight Operations.
(1). Sandstorms. Sandstorms can form and dissipate rapidly. They are
capable of reaching altitudes of 10,000 feet while creating conditions of near zero
visibility.
(2) Effects of Sand on the aircraft.
(a) Sand can cause erosion and excess wear of the engine
components (separator, filters, inlet and turbine blades) and propeller blades.
(b) Desert operations can cause higher than normal oil
temperatures
(c) Avionics. Electricity will attract the dust, while temperatures
can lead to overheating of radios.
D. Flight Operations.
(1) High temperatures can cause increased TGT during engine starts
(2) High humidity and temperatures cause corrosion of electronics and
radios.
(3) Perform flight operations IAW aircraft operator’s manual.
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