PDA

View Full Version : What have you learned?


niallcooney
3rd Jun 2002, 20:37
Guys,

As someone who's just starting down the long road of CPL/IR/ATPL, I'm just wondering what you learn from your jobs, technically speaking? What I mean is that I'd love to go into the business having gleaned some rules of thumb, bits of seemingly insignificant info which can make the difference between a good landing and a bad one (for example). For instance, on another thread we were discussing thrust reverse and the Lauda 767 inadvertent deployment accident. The conclusion was that the affected engine should have been shut down immediately after spotting the REV ISLN EICAS message, and not when the reverser deployed. But let's not get bogged down in that accident. I'll start off with a few lessons I've learnt, from myself or other pilots, jet or not.

1. Always clear the approach path BEFORE entering the active runway area for takeoff.

2. Triple check EVERY switch setting.

3. Stick to the checklist, even in light aircraft you've flown many times before.

4. NEVER assume.

5. Never relax.

6. If something feels wrong, it probably is.

Etc, etc.

I’d appreciate it if anyone can add constructively to this meagre list. Remember... the difference between crashing and landing in an emergency might only be the information we can from other pilots. As someone said: "Learn from other people's mistakes, son, cuz you sure won't have enough time to make them all yourself!"

Nial

Checkboard
4th Jun 2002, 04:51
Have a look at the Rules of Thumb (http://www.flightinfo.com/rulesofthumb.asp) page for a bunch of tips.

I think that htis topic will do better in the Flying Instructor's forum as well.

essouira
5th Jun 2002, 20:08
There is NOTHING that a student can not do (or try to do) and you NEVER get to the stage where you have "seen everything". In the past couple of months, I have seen a guy do pre-landing checks of BUM.... (and pull mixture to lean !). I have sat on the approach while a guy said 75-centreline, 75-centreline as the speed went to 70 and then 65. I could write a book about instructing ............ but I won't as I would hate to put anyone off a fine career ! Good luck nial.

Ivan Ivanovich
5th Jun 2002, 21:23
1 Believe everyone else, in the air and on the ground, is an idiot and you may live longer.

2 Check, check and check again.

As far as the Lauda 767 crash is concerned, Nikki Lauda himself refused to believe that the pilots were unable to recover from the reverse thrust deployment. He made repeated attempts in a simulator to do better, but failed. Which leads me to my final comment:

3 Boards of inquiry attempt to do in several hours/days/weeks what unfortunate pilots struggle to do in several seconds. It's hard to win!