Originally Posted by
Fursty Ferret
What purpose does routinely setting the MCP altitude to 0ft serve on the Q400?
The reason we are given is statistically it is more likely that seeing 0000 in the altitude select window will make you put in the correct number than you correcting the last altitude with the altitude from the departure clearance, and taking off with the wrong altitude in the window would often lead to an altitude bust.
Taking off with 0000 in the window should really not happen, and taking off with the FD in ALT mode instead of GA should not happen, and engaging the autopilot while climbing out with the FD commanding full nose down and ALT hold displayed should not happen, and waiting till you get to 4000+ FPM descent and GPWS before you disconnect should not happen.
There were way too many pointers something was wrong and none were noticed.
I definitely agree with our company policy of resetting to zero, yes, this wouldn't have happened if they had left the last altitude in but they would most likely have ended up at the wrong altitude, and the amount of things that went wrong here makes not setting the altitude the smallest error in the whole debacle.