"Clear (Prop)" ?
Join Date: Sep 2000
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On more than one occasion, after shouting "clear Prop" i have had people walk over to my aircraft to see what all the shouting is about. I'm not saying you shouldnt shout but make sure you are looking aswell.
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I'm another one for the "Clear Prop" call. If anyone I'm flying with doesn't like it... tough! I'd rather have an upset passenger than a dead pedestrian.
I spent about nine months in California, flying, where aviation really is open to anyone.. a little too open if you ask me. There was absolutely nothing to stop Joe Public wandering onto the GA ramp. I don't want to dumb down Joe Public, but they don't seem to realise that a five foot disc of spinning metal can do considerable damage. A rather loud "Clear Prop" seems to get their attention, not least because it has a "quaint" British accent
Incidentally calling "Clear Prop" is fine if you have a prop... but what do you call if you have a turbine of some description? It can be quite hazardous at both ends of a Jet Provost, for example.
Keep it safe
BlipOnTheRadar
I spent about nine months in California, flying, where aviation really is open to anyone.. a little too open if you ask me. There was absolutely nothing to stop Joe Public wandering onto the GA ramp. I don't want to dumb down Joe Public, but they don't seem to realise that a five foot disc of spinning metal can do considerable damage. A rather loud "Clear Prop" seems to get their attention, not least because it has a "quaint" British accent
Incidentally calling "Clear Prop" is fine if you have a prop... but what do you call if you have a turbine of some description? It can be quite hazardous at both ends of a Jet Provost, for example.
Keep it safe
BlipOnTheRadar
Last edited by BlipOnTheRadar; 24th Apr 2003 at 07:17.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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question...
I'm definitely in the yelling 'clear prop' camp but I have a question too - what if the engine does not fire first time? do you yell every time the starter button is pressed or not...? I try to, but I've been prone to forget after the eighth or ninth try...!
Kingy
Kingy
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Another for the 'Clear Prop' camp - always do it myself just to indicate to people out of my view that something's about to happen (hopefully!).
And Kingy - a little bit of discretion is fine. If you're struggling to get the old suck-push-bang-blow sequence right, with 4 or 5 successive attempts within a short space of time, you can probably take it that Joe Public in the vicinity would have seen the shredding machine on the move. If there's then a minute or two's pause, I'd suggest another Clear Prop call would be advisable before trying again.
On the A/C Beacon front, I always aim to get it turning and burning a minute or two before start. Occasional exception is that on a cold frosty morning (having thoroughly de-iced!!) where the battery may be a bit low on 'oomph'. On a Cessna, I would also omit flap lowering checks for similar reasons (although would lower / raise them once the donk's throbbing).
And Kingy - a little bit of discretion is fine. If you're struggling to get the old suck-push-bang-blow sequence right, with 4 or 5 successive attempts within a short space of time, you can probably take it that Joe Public in the vicinity would have seen the shredding machine on the move. If there's then a minute or two's pause, I'd suggest another Clear Prop call would be advisable before trying again.
On the A/C Beacon front, I always aim to get it turning and burning a minute or two before start. Occasional exception is that on a cold frosty morning (having thoroughly de-iced!!) where the battery may be a bit low on 'oomph'. On a Cessna, I would also omit flap lowering checks for similar reasons (although would lower / raise them once the donk's throbbing).
Clearly, most of the people posting on this thread believe the pilot should shout some kind of warning.
If you think Joe Public doesn't understand the meaning of "Clear prop" then try this one which I recently heard: "Stand clear, engine starting!"
As others have pointed out, the pilot still has an obligation to check that the area around the aircraft REALLY IS clear before engaging the starter.
If you think Joe Public doesn't understand the meaning of "Clear prop" then try this one which I recently heard: "Stand clear, engine starting!"
As others have pointed out, the pilot still has an obligation to check that the area around the aircraft REALLY IS clear before engaging the starter.
