"Clear (Prop)" ?
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"Clear (Prop)" ?
Is this an anachromism from flying days lost, or a vital part of airmanship?
I do it, but do kinda feel like like I'm one short of checking there's a man with a red flag...
I do it, but do kinda feel like like I'm one short of checking there's a man with a red flag...
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None of my instructors (PPL / IMC) nor any other pilots I have flown with did so. As a student PPL when I suggested I would do it, it was greeted with a general lack of interest.
Nowadays I don't bother but what I do make sure of is that I have a thoroughly good look around the aircraft before cranking the engine - not a quick glance but a good few seconds proper scan. IMHO, this has got to be much better than a call that may not be heard anyway.
FF
Nowadays I don't bother but what I do make sure of is that I have a thoroughly good look around the aircraft before cranking the engine - not a quick glance but a good few seconds proper scan. IMHO, this has got to be much better than a call that may not be heard anyway.
FF
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All the instructors I've flown with have called 'Clear Prop', but I've often wondered how effective it is. In the C152 and Chippy it's fairly easy to stick my head out and yell... but in the Cherokee I'm sure no-one would hear me. Some people shout and immediately start the engine. At least you would know what killed you I suppose... 
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For most starts, I call it before starting, as well as having a good look round. My Club SOP is to look only, this is my only exception, but I still call in the Club aircraft when away from Base - our ASP is well sanitised, but you never know at other airfields, and especially on farm strips).
Call it belt and braces if you like, but if it prevents just one person from being hit with a prop, then it's worthwhile.
I remember some years ago at Gloucester, I overheard a C150 instructor ridiculing his student, telling him it was Naff to call 'Clear Prop' and it made the both of them look stupid. He added that real pilots didn't do it as they didn't need to.
I think all the instructor achieved that day was wanton destruction of good airmanship. I took great delight, some 30 mins later when I was starting a Spitfire as the pair were walking back to their machine. The look on the instructors face was a real picture, when he heard a loud: 'Clear Prop' just before the Merlin coughed into life...........
Before starting, have a good look, call a good loud: 'clear prop', then hit the starter in the knowledge that you have done everything possible to prevent someone being hit by your prop - you know it makes sense.
A
Call it belt and braces if you like, but if it prevents just one person from being hit with a prop, then it's worthwhile.
I remember some years ago at Gloucester, I overheard a C150 instructor ridiculing his student, telling him it was Naff to call 'Clear Prop' and it made the both of them look stupid. He added that real pilots didn't do it as they didn't need to.
I think all the instructor achieved that day was wanton destruction of good airmanship. I took great delight, some 30 mins later when I was starting a Spitfire as the pair were walking back to their machine. The look on the instructors face was a real picture, when he heard a loud: 'Clear Prop' just before the Merlin coughed into life...........
Before starting, have a good look, call a good loud: 'clear prop', then hit the starter in the knowledge that you have done everything possible to prevent someone being hit by your prop - you know it makes sense.
A
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airmanship
A lot of what I see that is dressed up as airmanship these days is just folk lore ( IE dont lean below 3000 ft , turn your Cessna dead into wind before doing the runup ) but a loud shout of "clear prop" is an important safety item.
Apart from keeping people clear of the prop in these days when the dependants of a victim will rush to court on the flimsyest evidence not shouting "clear prop" may well be used to show that you did not take enough care to make sure the area was clear when starting the engine.
Apart from keeping people clear of the prop in these days when the dependants of a victim will rush to court on the flimsyest evidence not shouting "clear prop" may well be used to show that you did not take enough care to make sure the area was clear when starting the engine.
The Original Whirly
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For both f/w and rotary aircraft I look out, switch on any lights and strobes that exist AND ALSO call "Clear" (I dispense with the "prop" since helicopters don't have one). It might not do any good, but it might, and it certainly can't do any harm. If it saves one life someday...
What's the problem; is it that you're all being terribly English and reserved and don't like yelling?
What's the problem; is it that you're all being terribly English and reserved and don't like yelling?
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Whirly
I do believe you have hit the nail on the head. I always yell "clear prop" at the top of my voice, but I will admit to feeling pretty stupid. But if it does stop just one accident then surely it has to be worthwhile.
And as A&C points out, in these days of the litigation happy, it may just help your case if the worst were to occur.
I do believe you have hit the nail on the head. I always yell "clear prop" at the top of my voice, but I will admit to feeling pretty stupid. But if it does stop just one accident then surely it has to be worthwhile.
And as A&C points out, in these days of the litigation happy, it may just help your case if the worst were to occur.
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Clear Prop
Many (too many) years ago, I routinely called "clear prop" because that is what I had been taught to do. One day, I called clear prop and was just about to press the starter and a small child appeared from in front of the nose of the aircraft 
. I have no idea whether or not he had heard my call - or even understood what was about to happen - but I had not seen him approach and it drove home to me that you cannot take anything for granted, least of all that there is not someone about to walk across in front of your aircraft as you start up.
I still call "clear prop" before starting but now I do it not because I have been told to but because I know it is a valuable safety feature.
Aiglon
. I have no idea whether or not he had heard my call - or even understood what was about to happen - but I had not seen him approach and it drove home to me that you cannot take anything for granted, least of all that there is not someone about to walk across in front of your aircraft as you start up.I still call "clear prop" before starting but now I do it not because I have been told to but because I know it is a valuable safety feature.
Aiglon
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I'm a confirmed shouter of "clear prop", what have you got to lose?
What does interest me though is the number of times I hear "clear prop" shouted and then a millisecond later the engine is started.
What's the point of shouting it if you don't actually give anyone in the vicinity the time to get out of the way?
WF.
What does interest me though is the number of times I hear "clear prop" shouted and then a millisecond later the engine is started.
What's the point of shouting it if you don't actually give anyone in the vicinity the time to get out of the way?
WF.
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UAS flying
I was taught to fly on a UAS. When we went to the aircraft a member of ground crew would come out with you and stand on the wing tip (to remove chocks if it was windy, marshall if needed, etc).
We would shout "clear prop", and which the ground crew member would take a look around, especially behind you, where you can't see, and then answer with "prop clear". Until he replied, you wouldn't hit the starter button.
Following on from this teaching I have always called "clear prop" before starting the engine. I take a good look around first, and know noone is near the prop, but I think of it more as meaning "I'm about to start the engine, so if you're standing directly behind me and don't realise this you're about to get a sudden rush of wind towards you".
But, as I have said in a couple of other threads, I still do my PPL flying at an RAF airfield, and, from what I've seen, everyone else calls "clear prop" as well, and the instructors teach the students to do so.
We would shout "clear prop", and which the ground crew member would take a look around, especially behind you, where you can't see, and then answer with "prop clear". Until he replied, you wouldn't hit the starter button.
Following on from this teaching I have always called "clear prop" before starting the engine. I take a good look around first, and know noone is near the prop, but I think of it more as meaning "I'm about to start the engine, so if you're standing directly behind me and don't realise this you're about to get a sudden rush of wind towards you".
But, as I have said in a couple of other threads, I still do my PPL flying at an RAF airfield, and, from what I've seen, everyone else calls "clear prop" as well, and the instructors teach the students to do so.
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Why would anyone NOT shout clear prop!?
It doesn't cost anything (rare in aviation);
It's pretty widely recognised as best practice;
It might be a good defence if the unthinkable happens;
Only bar flyers say it shouldn't be done.
Maybe I should get some stickies printed saying "Real pilots shout clear prop"
It doesn't cost anything (rare in aviation);
It's pretty widely recognised as best practice;
It might be a good defence if the unthinkable happens;
Only bar flyers say it shouldn't be done.
Maybe I should get some stickies printed saying "Real pilots shout clear prop"
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Considering my inexperience, I am quite happy to follow all generally accepted advice regarding Airmanship.
I imagine it does not pay to think too deeply about these things. I guess so long as I do what I am trained to do, the real reason why will become apparent one day - probably at about the same time as I am thankful that I did it (as expressed by aiglon).
I imagine it does not pay to think too deeply about these things. I guess so long as I do what I am trained to do, the real reason why will become apparent one day - probably at about the same time as I am thankful that I did it (as expressed by aiglon).
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Well said Keef!
Why on earth wouldn't you shout 'clear prop'? I know I would be more inclined to think of a pilot who didn't bother as lazy and swaying too far towards being unsafe...
It takes a second and may save a life. Never mind about court cases blah blah, it's just common sense if you ask me (you might've guessed I feel pretty strongly about this kind of thing!!)
And if you don't do it because you're afraid it will 'affect your image'...well, what can I say about that?!
Why on earth wouldn't you shout 'clear prop'? I know I would be more inclined to think of a pilot who didn't bother as lazy and swaying too far towards being unsafe...
It takes a second and may save a life. Never mind about court cases blah blah, it's just common sense if you ask me (you might've guessed I feel pretty strongly about this kind of thing!!)
And if you don't do it because you're afraid it will 'affect your image'...well, what can I say about that?!
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Personally, I never call "clear prop" because the people who really need to understand the call are any Joe Public's who happen to be near your aircraft. We all know what it means, but the phrase "clear prop" may not actually make any sense to a layman who might just stand still wondering "what did that mean?". Many people wouldn't immediately realise that the word "prop" is short for "propeller".
Instead, I call "stand clear" in a loud voice. Nobody can fail to understand that, surely?
Instead, I call "stand clear" in a loud voice. Nobody can fail to understand that, surely?
Last edited by dmjw01; 21st Apr 2003 at 03:44.
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Totally agree with warped factor.
I think you should call clear prop clearly and loudly then wait at least a couple of seconds for any reply. I don't feel at all embarassed and indeed I relish it. (The passengers love it too)
The instructors who poo poo it may work at airfield with good security where members of the public are not wandering around.
However anything could have got near the prop as you start. Remember you have been heads down for a significant time before starting and an engineer or a small child could have got in the way. Anything that reduces the chance of that prop hitting anything has to be good.
It also warns people behind you that a big wind is about to hit them. A couple of second gap may be enough for them to prevent being knocked over.
Long may it last.
I think you should call clear prop clearly and loudly then wait at least a couple of seconds for any reply. I don't feel at all embarassed and indeed I relish it. (The passengers love it too)
The instructors who poo poo it may work at airfield with good security where members of the public are not wandering around.
However anything could have got near the prop as you start. Remember you have been heads down for a significant time before starting and an engineer or a small child could have got in the way. Anything that reduces the chance of that prop hitting anything has to be good.
It also warns people behind you that a big wind is about to hit them. A couple of second gap may be enough for them to prevent being knocked over.
Long may it last.
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Like Keef and others have said - why not just do it? And in the Chippy (and other sliding canopy or open types), you can augment it with a visual signal; canopy open, right arm held up vertical, forefinger pointing to the sky, twirl forefinger round a few times while shouting 'CLEAR PROP!!'
SSD
SSD
Was taught to do it on my first flying lesson and have done it ever since.
A few times I've got quite angry when, while doing my preflight inspection, nearby aircraft have started up without any warning.
Pilots who conduct their operations in such a manner are (at the very least) discourteous, and (in the worst case) a safety hazard.
A bit of airmanship never hurt anyone.
A few times I've got quite angry when, while doing my preflight inspection, nearby aircraft have started up without any warning.
Pilots who conduct their operations in such a manner are (at the very least) discourteous, and (in the worst case) a safety hazard.
A bit of airmanship never hurt anyone.