High Altitude Operation (HIA)

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this High Altitude Operations training (HIA) is to provide applicants knowledge of operating aircraft at high altitudes and high airspeeds, of the special physiological, equipment, and aerodynamic considerations involved in these kinds of operations. It also provides information to aid crews in becoming familiar with the basic phenomena associated with high-altitude and high-speed flight.

THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE SUBJECTS

• The High-Altitude Flight Environment

  • Weather

  • The atmosphere

  • Winds and wind shear

  • Clear Air Turbulence (CAT)

  • Clouds and thunderstorms

  • Icing

• Flight Planning and Navigation

  • ​​​​​​​Flight planning

  • Weather charts

  • Navigation  

• Physiological Training

  • ​​​​​​​Physics of the atmosphere

  • Respiration

  • Trapped gas

  • Physiological problems at increased altitudes

  • Decompression in pressurized aircraft

  • Altitude chamber  

• High-Altitude Systems and Components.

  • ​​​​​​​Oxygen and oxygen equipment

  • Pressurization systems

  • High-altitude components.

  • Aerodynamics and Performance Factors.

  • Altitudes

  • ​​​​​​​Airspeed - Buffets  

• Flight Path Management

  • Basic flight physics principles

  • Interaction of the automation

  • Consequences of an unreliable airspeed indication and other failures at high altitude

  • Degradation of fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control laws/modes

  • Application of the stall recovery procedure, as provided by the aircraft manufacturer

  • Procedures for taking over and transferring manual control of the aircraft

  • Task sharing and crew coordination  

• Emergencies

  • Decompression

  • Emergency descent

• Flight Crew 

• Dispatch

• Management