Switching cockpits
Fleet Manager
Joined: Aug 2006
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 7,089
Likes: 2,952
From: Ontario, Canada
Good post Milt.
I frequently find myself flying different types in a short period, sometimes three a day. Switching classes holds more hazard, as really, to meet the design requirement for a certified aircraft, aircraft within the same class should be pretty similar, and the use of a checklist should get you through safely.
Memorable was my first solo helicopter flight into busy controlled airspace I knew very well as a fixed wing pilot. The old habits revert when you get busy. In my C 150, and most light fixed wings, what's the control under your left thumb? The Mic key. What's the little button resting under your left thumb in a helicopter? The starter. Engaging the starter instead of the transmit is not good. I did not hurt the SW300, but I made it yaw!
I don't take 24 hours between types, but I do stop myself for a moment, and manually reboot my mind - particularly when flying amphibians, switching between flying boats and floatplanes, or tricycle to taildragger. When I fly twins, I pause on the runway, and speak to myself the pretakeoff briefing. If I forget the pretakeoff briefing to myself, or to say aloud to myself wheels down for landing on land, or wheels up for landing on water, I tell myself off!
I frequently find myself flying different types in a short period, sometimes three a day. Switching classes holds more hazard, as really, to meet the design requirement for a certified aircraft, aircraft within the same class should be pretty similar, and the use of a checklist should get you through safely.
Memorable was my first solo helicopter flight into busy controlled airspace I knew very well as a fixed wing pilot. The old habits revert when you get busy. In my C 150, and most light fixed wings, what's the control under your left thumb? The Mic key. What's the little button resting under your left thumb in a helicopter? The starter. Engaging the starter instead of the transmit is not good. I did not hurt the SW300, but I made it yaw!
I don't take 24 hours between types, but I do stop myself for a moment, and manually reboot my mind - particularly when flying amphibians, switching between flying boats and floatplanes, or tricycle to taildragger. When I fly twins, I pause on the runway, and speak to myself the pretakeoff briefing. If I forget the pretakeoff briefing to myself, or to say aloud to myself wheels down for landing on land, or wheels up for landing on water, I tell myself off!
