Survey of Pilots’ Rudder Use

[decurion]

The FAA released the results of an international survey of transport airplane pilots’ experiences and perspectives of lateral/directional control events and rudder issues in transport airplanes. The report can be downloaded from:

http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online...ts/AM10-14.pdf

Interesting stuff for any pilot.

[Tee Emm]

I recall that the Kenya Airways B737 crash into the swamp shortly after take off (one minute and fifty seconds I think) was caused by the captain getting all confused and pushing full right rudder which quickly turned into a spiral dive. Which it would, of course...

[clunckdriver]

Its my experience that many pilots who have trained on aircraft with the little wheel at the front {Not at the back where God intended it to be} dont even know what those pedals on the floor are for!

[osmosis]

With respect to the authors, it's not very interesting at all. The article's essence is buried under statistics and references making true meaning harder to digest. Hasn't Clunckdriver summed it up in one sentence?

[decurion]

"not very interesting at all."??? Apparently you are not aware of the numerous serious incidents that have recently occurred. These were due to incorrect use of rudder by the pilots. These events would otherwise not even been a minor incident. We are trying hard to teach pilots what can happen if you are using rudder at the wrong time. The FAA survey clearly helped to see what happens in real life regarding rudder use. Flight data monitoring programs within airlines not always look at rudder use.

[The500man]

Over-control and misuse of rudder doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Rudder pedals seem to be the control that gives the least feedback or "feel".

The most intersting thing for me in the report is the monitoring of controls by the pnf. I've often wondered about the use of a sidestick in multi-pilot aircraft, and it's interesting to see that pilots find the monitoring of sidestick inputs by the pf more difficult than with a yoke.

Also with regards a sidestick, if you fly right seat for a few years and then move over to the left seat, you will be flying with your other hand. Has anyone ever found this to be a problem or do you just get used to it? I'm interested because I've never flown with one.

[xetroV]

Also with regards a sidestick, if you fly right seat for a few years and then move over to the left seat, you will be flying with your other hand. Has anyone ever found this to be a problem or do you just get used to it? I'm interested because I've never flown with one.

You will be flying with your other hand anyway if you transition to the left seat in any airliner, with or without sidesticks. If thousands of captains can do that, it shouldn't be much of a problem, should it?

[Wildpilot]

It seems that hand or feet flying skills are on the way out these days. That's why I'm sticking to float planes that require back to basics solid flying skills.

[mrdeux]

The most intersting thing for me in the report is the monitoring of controls by the pnf. I've often wondered about the use of a sidestick in multi-pilot aircraft, and it's interesting to see that pilots find the monitoring of sidestick inputs by the pf more difficult than with a yoke.

What...you mean its actually possible to monitor it? And here was I thinking that it was just something else that Airbus had taken from us.

Also with regards a sidestick, if you fly right seat for a few years and then move over to the left seat, you will be flying with your other hand. Has anyone ever found this to be a problem or do you just get used to it? I'm interested because I've never flown with one.

As stated, all new captains have to convert. In my case I had never before flown with my left hand, but over the last 20 years I seem to have worked it out. Though, having said that, if I could choose where the controls go, I'd fly with my right hand....plenty of room for two sets of throttles...especially as they just sit there doing nothing.

[Al Murdoch]

Quite surprised at the number of pilots out there who would consider using rudder in light turbulence. As far as I'm concerned, rudder is for control on the ground, during takeoff and crosswind landings. I leave well alone at any other time (non-normals excepted, obviously).