Positive Rate, Gear Up, Flap Up??
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: sometimes here usual out there!
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Along with some of the other good reasons up there, I belive the main reason of confirming positive rate of climb is to ensure that you are in fact climbing, there are many reasons may have you thinking you are climbing, for example, surrounding terrian might give you false indications, a big one that most people forget is at night you might even feel you are climbing , yet you may even be decending.
Another point, what if you are incorrectly loaded, you pull back on the stick, assume that you flying, yet you are still trundling down the runway.
There are more reasons, but hey how many do you need to realise that it is an important call.
Another point, what if you are incorrectly loaded, you pull back on the stick, assume that you flying, yet you are still trundling down the runway.
There are more reasons, but hey how many do you need to realise that it is an important call.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Australia
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Hey Kev,
Turbo Otter presents a good reason. The somatagraphic illusion that is presented to pilots at night when climbing away into a dark area with no backlights can give the false impression to pilots that the aeroplane is climbing too much so a pilots natural response is to nose down slightly, but he/she does so without realising that by doing that, the plane is now flying straight and level or possibly in a descent, hence the reason why its vital to confirm a positive rate of climb.
The practice is followed over into the daytime primarily for the reason of confirmation of climb. Horizontal or vertical windshear can be a problem from nearby microbursts or thunderstorms hence its important to double check your climbing before raising the gear so you don't settle back onto runway on the aircraft's belly.
I normally confirm gear up at about 200' no matter what the runway length because by the time the gear has retracted, you would be at say 300' - 400'.
If you suffered at engine failure at this point then there would still be adequate time to lower the gear to land back on the runway or possibly some paddock/road ahead.......if its water or dense forest - then maybe best to not even lower the gear at all........
hope that helps.....
Mr G
Turbo Otter presents a good reason. The somatagraphic illusion that is presented to pilots at night when climbing away into a dark area with no backlights can give the false impression to pilots that the aeroplane is climbing too much so a pilots natural response is to nose down slightly, but he/she does so without realising that by doing that, the plane is now flying straight and level or possibly in a descent, hence the reason why its vital to confirm a positive rate of climb.
The practice is followed over into the daytime primarily for the reason of confirmation of climb. Horizontal or vertical windshear can be a problem from nearby microbursts or thunderstorms hence its important to double check your climbing before raising the gear so you don't settle back onto runway on the aircraft's belly.
I normally confirm gear up at about 200' no matter what the runway length because by the time the gear has retracted, you would be at say 300' - 400'.
If you suffered at engine failure at this point then there would still be adequate time to lower the gear to land back on the runway or possibly some paddock/road ahead.......if its water or dense forest - then maybe best to not even lower the gear at all........
hope that helps.....
Mr G
