Carb Heat in the Circuit
The carb heat comments in the bounce bounce thread reminded me of a question I wanted to ask you guys!
When I did my initial training I was always thought to do a carb heat check on downwind, to clear any ice that might exist. Carb heat would then remain off (cold) for base and final, until next the next downwind check.
Then the club changed ownership, and a checkout with a new instructor took serious issue with this, and insisted that carb heat was applied a couple of seconds before reducing power for base. It would remain on until either on the runway and applying full power, if if I wished I could remove it on short final. Old habits die hard, and it took me a while to get used to this, but I could see the logic and eventually got used to it.
Then more recently, I joined a new club, and their procedure was the same as the first school..ie carb heat as part of down wind checks only, and cold at all other times in the circuit.
I'm just curious as to which is the more common practice.
Thanks,
dp