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Old 20th Aug 2008, 10:50
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SNS3Guppy
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: USA
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Escape routes, pink pages, and the link, are more of an airline thing, and an airline mentality.

You didn't indicate what it is that you're flying in your air taxi or charter operation, but if it's not a Part 25 transport category airplane, you don't have any "gauranteed" performance with an engine failure anyway...so the thinking needs to be a little different.

I like to start with the water principle. You might be able to outclimb terrain and obstacles. You might not. Don't count on it. Always count on an engine failure. It may not happen to you in the next ten years...or it might. However, plan for it just the same. Make all your takeoff plans with this in mind.

You probably don't have the benifit of anybody to do a runway analysis, and no, you won't have any escape procedures. Know your terrain, know your aircraft performance, calculate everything before you go, and make decisions based on real world performance. All too often an air taxi employer will say that you don't need to make this particular climb gradient because you aren't transport cateogry, or you needn't worry about second segment climb because it's not applicable to your airplane. While this may technically be true, it becomes VERY applicable at the time you eperience that power loss or engine failure...so don't ever let anyone talk you into doing something you're not certain the aircraft can do, and can do safely.

The obstacle departure procedure should be flown, but know in advance if you can do it. Remember that water flows down hill and so do you. Know our options if you aren't climbing or can't climb; know where you'll go.

Years ago I had a discussion about that at Aspen, Colorado. An individual wanted to know how I was going to outclimb the terrain with an engine failure. I wasn't. That was never in the cards. but I knew where to go to get to lower terrain; it was the same direction the water flowed, and the same direction I intended to go,and I've flown that route before just to be sure I could do it. Know before you go.

You don't have escape or turn procedures given to you, so it's all on you. Know your capabilities and those of the airplane, and act accordingly.
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