Two Hand Rotation in Boeings. Is this technique essential?
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Two Hand Rotation in Boeings. Is this technique essential?
Listen here. I know it is a trivial question, but I am bored while waiting for my ever loving spouse to serve roast beef and Yorkshire pudding this evening. So I thought it time to shuffle the cards and come up with yet another trivial aviation question which has always had me wondering.
Early training in the Air Force of my country accented one hand on the throttle (s) during take off and at most other times - including the landing. Rotation was done with one hand only. Friction nuts in those days were often unreliable - the Dakota being a classic example. A fatal accident occured several decades ago when a drunken ground staff airman "borrowed" a RAAF Dakota for a wager and actually got it airborne one night but when he tried to retract the landing gear with his right hand he took hand off the throttles to do so, but he forgot to tighten the friction nut first. Both throttles slipped back to idle and that was the end of the unfortunate airman. He won the bet but lost his life.
Pilots using side-sticks as in the Airbus use one hand on the throttles and the other on the side-stick during lift off and climb out. Yet, traditionally, Boeing pilots transfer the hand off the throttles at V1 and use both hands to rotate and initial climb until autopilot engagement. When hand flying a 737 (for example) the manufacturer recommends one hand on the throttles and the other hand on the control wheel.
With regards therefore to the last paragraph, why are two hands needed for rotation in Boeings? Does that include the B777 too?
Early training in the Air Force of my country accented one hand on the throttle (s) during take off and at most other times - including the landing. Rotation was done with one hand only. Friction nuts in those days were often unreliable - the Dakota being a classic example. A fatal accident occured several decades ago when a drunken ground staff airman "borrowed" a RAAF Dakota for a wager and actually got it airborne one night but when he tried to retract the landing gear with his right hand he took hand off the throttles to do so, but he forgot to tighten the friction nut first. Both throttles slipped back to idle and that was the end of the unfortunate airman. He won the bet but lost his life.
Pilots using side-sticks as in the Airbus use one hand on the throttles and the other on the side-stick during lift off and climb out. Yet, traditionally, Boeing pilots transfer the hand off the throttles at V1 and use both hands to rotate and initial climb until autopilot engagement. When hand flying a 737 (for example) the manufacturer recommends one hand on the throttles and the other hand on the control wheel.
With regards therefore to the last paragraph, why are two hands needed for rotation in Boeings? Does that include the B777 too?
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Hi A37575,
Interesting question. Having flown both types, the loads on the side stick of the Airbus are tiny compared to those required on Boeings. I sometimes wondered if I was actually physically lifting the aircraft off the ground myself when the stab trim didn't exactly match the loaded distribution of the passengers.
As for hands on thrust levers - I remove my hand from the TLs at V1, and (on the Airbus) place it on my knee (because I can't think of anything else to do with it until I have to select a different thrust gate). I've seen other Airbus pilots put their hands back on the TLs and I still wonder "Why?"
Interesting question. Having flown both types, the loads on the side stick of the Airbus are tiny compared to those required on Boeings. I sometimes wondered if I was actually physically lifting the aircraft off the ground myself when the stab trim didn't exactly match the loaded distribution of the passengers.
As for hands on thrust levers - I remove my hand from the TLs at V1, and (on the Airbus) place it on my knee (because I can't think of anything else to do with it until I have to select a different thrust gate). I've seen other Airbus pilots put their hands back on the TLs and I still wonder "Why?"
why are two hands needed for rotation in Boeings?
G'day Gents,
I first flew a Boeing, B707, back in 1982 and the reason stated for removing your hand from the thrust levers at V1 and placing it on the control column was to help prevent an inadvertent RTO when past V1. With both hands occupied on the control column it is highly unlikely that you would remove one hand and close the thrust levers after V1.
Dunno about the Tripler but I suspect it's the same technique.
Regards,
BH.
I first flew a Boeing, B707, back in 1982 and the reason stated for removing your hand from the thrust levers at V1 and placing it on the control column was to help prevent an inadvertent RTO when past V1. With both hands occupied on the control column it is highly unlikely that you would remove one hand and close the thrust levers after V1.
Dunno about the Tripler but I suspect it's the same technique.
Regards,
BH.
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What does your SOP say?
What does your SOP say? If your SOP doesn't specify, then this issue falls into the 'technique' bucket....not the SOP bucket.
Airbus pilots do not have their hands on the thrust levers after V1.
(At least this was my company's SOP....I believe it is Airbus SOP, as well.)
Of course, for the Boeing, you can wear your outdated headset over your hat. Then, during rotation, you can grunt, make faces, etc., as you use both hands to rotate. At some point, you can get on the radio and say,
"Calling Rangoon...Calling Rangoon....Come in Rangoon."
Fly safe,
PantLoad
Airbus pilots do not have their hands on the thrust levers after V1.
(At least this was my company's SOP....I believe it is Airbus SOP, as well.)
Of course, for the Boeing, you can wear your outdated headset over your hat. Then, during rotation, you can grunt, make faces, etc., as you use both hands to rotate. At some point, you can get on the radio and say,
"Calling Rangoon...Calling Rangoon....Come in Rangoon."
Fly safe,
PantLoad
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My thoughts are that you take your hand off the thrust lever (Capt) at V1 and place it on the control column as a sign that you are not stopping. I guess that you could place your hand on your knee (or anywhere else!), but more convenient to place it on the control column.
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In my 10 years on the 744/747 I never saw anyone fly an engine failure (in the simulator) with one hand on the yolk. Two hands on the yoke indicates you are ready to to and ready to handle an engine failure or handling problem if they occur. Doing a takeoff with one hand on your lap would concern me on this aircraft type.
Last edited by bellcrank88; 31st May 2010 at 05:05.
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Hi everybody
Throughout several aircraft types of both eastern and western manufacture and last on the 320, my company's SOP was always, after V1, both hands on the yoke if it is a yoke, or in your lap if it is a sidestick
bflyer
Throughout several aircraft types of both eastern and western manufacture and last on the 320, my company's SOP was always, after V1, both hands on the yoke if it is a yoke, or in your lap if it is a sidestick
bflyer
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bflyer wrote:
Both hands in your lap if it is a sidestick? How do you rotate?
Throughout several aircraft types of both eastern and western manufacture and last on the 320, my company's SOP was always, after V1, both hands on the yoke if it is a yoke, or in your lap if it is a sidestick
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Friction nuts in those days were often unreliable - the Dakota being a classic example.
Looking a diagrams, the thrust levers on a 747-400, for example, appear to be weighted more in the forward direction (excluding all the mechanisms below). i.e. more downhill than uphill. There are no steel cables-to-engines involved which might tug the levers backwards. When it comes to thrust, it's "fly-by-wire".
Also, power is automatically removed from the autothrottle servo at 65 knots, so there is less chance of an uncommanded thrust reduction during takeoff.
Regards.
NSEU
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With both hands occupied on the control column it is highly
unlikely that you would remove one hand and close the
thrust levers after V1.
unlikely that you would remove one hand and close the
thrust levers after V1.
On the Frogmobile (A320) I stick my arm on the RH armrest
and hold it for the same instinctive reason.
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On the runway: Not ever at or after V1. It's not just SOP and common sense, but practical sanity. 
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Two hands are better but one is OK
Considering that at least 12 Boeing 777 pilots have encountered extremely high rotation forces in the last few years and in 11 of those cases the crew has aborted from speeds well above V2 (yes V2).
An extra tug on the wheel would have disconnected the autopilot that was engaged on the ground.
I would say "two hands are better but one is OK"
An extra tug on the wheel would have disconnected the autopilot that was engaged on the ground.
I would say "two hands are better but one is OK"
Being the simple soul that I am, having both hands on the yoke after V1 positively reminds me that V1 is past and there should be no stopping.
I wonder whether the instinctive "OH ****" when there is a big bang around V1 + 5 or so may lead to any near involuntary movement of the T/Ls were you to still have hands on?
I wonder whether the instinctive "OH ****" when there is a big bang around V1 + 5 or so may lead to any near involuntary movement of the T/Ls were you to still have hands on?