Situational Awareness and Lookout by Trace
I would like to take this opportunity to re-emphasise the importance of good situational awareness and lookout. A failure to pay attention to either one of these extremely important aspects of flying can, and will, lead to grief.
Remember that Situational Awareness is the big picture, through listening and observing you will have an understanding of what is happening around you. Lookout will identify threats and put your observations into perspective.
Recommendations
Be conscious of your Lookout responsibility 100% of the time,
Set up your cockpit to maximise your time outside the cockpit. Use the Audible vario, and know your equipment, and
Use a scan technique appropriate for what you are doing. There are three types of scans commonly used. These are:
Cruising Scan - Forward conical scan 60° left/right. Up and down. Used during Straight Glides
Full Scan - Complete visible sky scan. Each side, above and below, behind each side round to as far back as possible. Vital for situation awareness.
Targeted Scan- Used in specific circumstances. Scan concentrates on that part of the sky, or ground, where the hazard is expected.