“An oddity I've seen in Caribbean flights is a quick reduction in rpms very soon after TO (like at 500 feet) - I presume to keep EGT and oil temps lower in the hot climate.”
P_I_F, you read far too much techie stuff into that!!!!! Trust me, for noise-sanity alone, a reduction asap was a real treat!! While for the “bean counters”, I’m sure it also saved some, it was always nice to bring the 250 dB back to 249 dB asap!!! Also, the idea of going to fine well out on finals was (thankfully) not my Company’s SOP. In a standard G/A (i.e. on approach) just calmly go fine and then power up. We flew the Approach in course and in the final few feet it was power back, then props (silently) up just in case …. perfect! A couple of times I did chuck it in the last few feet (and once even from the ground - on short strips, if I was the least bit unsure or a float developed – bin it – G/A!) and the above worked an absolute treat! And, again, saved the dBs for the pax and myself! EGT/oil temps? Nah!!!!
H ‘n’ H