737 Control Wheel Grip
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Europe
737 Control Wheel Grip
I’ve just started converting to the 737 and find the control wheel an awkward shape. If I put my thumb in reach of the trim switches I find my index finger resting on the PTT and my middle finger resting on the intercom rocker. It feels like a firm grip during a gusty approach would have me accidentally transmitting. I don’t recall this being a problem on the 757, 767 or 787. My hands are neither unusually large or small!
Perhaps I’ll get used to it but I’d be interested to hear how others recommend the control wheel is gripped.
Perhaps I’ll get used to it but I’d be interested to hear how others recommend the control wheel is gripped.
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 594
Likes: 106
From: London
I’ve just started converting to the 737 and find the control wheel an awkward shape. If I put my thumb in reach of the trim switches I find my index finger resting on the PTT and my middle finger resting on the intercom rocker. It feels like a firm grip during a gusty approach would have me accidentally transmitting. I don’t recall this being a problem on the 757, 767 or 787. My hands are neither unusually large or small!
Perhaps I’ll get used to it but I’d be interested to hear how others recommend the control wheel is gripped.
Perhaps I’ll get used to it but I’d be interested to hear how others recommend the control wheel is gripped.
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,166
Likes: 86
From: Planet Earth
I’ve just started converting to the 737 and find the control wheel an awkward shape. If I put my thumb in reach of the trim switches I find my index finger resting on the PTT and my middle finger resting on the intercom rocker. It feels like a firm grip during a gusty approach would have me accidentally transmitting. I don’t recall this being a problem on the 757, 767 or 787. My hands are neither unusually large or small!
Perhaps I’ll get used to it but I’d be interested to hear how others recommend the control wheel is gripped.
Perhaps I’ll get used to it but I’d be interested to hear how others recommend the control wheel is gripped.
I flew the 727 which has the same yoke, I found it very comfortable but everyone’s different, it takes a deliberate input to press the PTT switch so don’t worry about that, it’s highly unlikely you will and if you do you’ll know anyway
Enjoy your flying and don’t be concerned about something that’s unlikely to happen
Joined: Nov 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,150
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From: UK
Oh dear.......a few replies no doubt meant in jest, or fuelled by Christmas port, but like the old crusty types who could not actually teach but just gruffly snapped if we were doing something wrong. Come on guys, you're better than that !
I only flew the '73 (Classic), for one season, it is a very poorly designed aircraft from the pilot interface point of view. I had no trouble but cannot remember much about it to help the OP.
Possibly, you are being too tense, so just try to relax. Think of the aircraft in gusty conditions more like a boat that you are guiding on a heavy rolling sea - don't try to prevent it moving, but try to anticipate and gently counter any movement away from your desired attitude and flightpath, and just keep bringing it back to where you want it. Smoothness !
I only flew the '73 (Classic), for one season, it is a very poorly designed aircraft from the pilot interface point of view. I had no trouble but cannot remember much about it to help the OP.
Possibly, you are being too tense, so just try to relax. Think of the aircraft in gusty conditions more like a boat that you are guiding on a heavy rolling sea - don't try to prevent it moving, but try to anticipate and gently counter any movement away from your desired attitude and flightpath, and just keep bringing it back to where you want it. Smoothness !
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 352
Likes: 148
From: FL390
Relax your grip on the wheel.
Go on YouTube, watch a few videos of people flying in gusty conditions in the 737, and endeavour to do the opposite. While frantically thrashing the controls around does little more than look good on TV, it makes passengers feel sick, puts you at risk of PIO, and makes it difficult for PM to assess your inputs. It also translates very badly to any other type, particularly a heavy FBW aircraft.
Go on YouTube, watch a few videos of people flying in gusty conditions in the 737, and endeavour to do the opposite. While frantically thrashing the controls around does little more than look good on TV, it makes passengers feel sick, puts you at risk of PIO, and makes it difficult for PM to assess your inputs. It also translates very badly to any other type, particularly a heavy FBW aircraft.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Europe
Thanks for (some of!) the replies. I’ve found the root cause of the issue. The simulator has a rocker for PTT and intercom which is spring loaded in both directions; hence the concern about either intermittently transmitting or hitting intercom.
It transpires that this is not representative of the real aircraft and the intercom side of the rocker is not sprung, so I can grip the switch as I have on all my previous Boeings without subjecting the FO to incessant clicking.
It transpires that this is not representative of the real aircraft and the intercom side of the rocker is not sprung, so I can grip the switch as I have on all my previous Boeings without subjecting the FO to incessant clicking.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 658
Likes: 1
From: Ankh Morpork, DW
