Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.") It's part of what makes aviation so exciting for all of us... just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a scenario you've never imagined.

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators, and as representatives of the flying community. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

It is our unabashed goal that "Aero-Tips" will help our readers become better, safer pilots -- as well as introducing our ground-bound readers to the concepts and principles that keep those strange aluminum-and-composite contraptions in the air... and allow them to soar magnificently through it.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network. Suggestions for future Aero-Tips are always welcome, as are additions or discussion of each day's tips. Remember... when it comes to being good pilots, we're all in this together.

Aero-Tips 01.19.06

It can be hard work near the ground. On takeoff and landing, obstacles, other airplanes, and departure or arrival tasks all compete for your limited time and attention. Air traffic controllers add a level of safety, but also a level of distraction and stress at tower-controlled airports. The last thing you need is more distraction from inside you airplane.

Keep it quiet

A fatal commuter crash years ago led to the “sterile cockpit rule” for U.S. scheduled air carriers. This rule essentially requires the flight crew to limit all discussion to mission-essential items whenever the airplane is within 10,000 feet of the ground (the commuter’s cockpit voice recorder picked up a completely off-topic crew discussion that continued all the way to impact).

10,000 feet is a little excessive in most personal airplanes—the majority of which never fly above that altitude. Let me suggest, however, that you adhere to a sort of sterile cockpit rule under these circumstances:

1. Any time the airplane is within 1000 feet of the ground, whether taking off or landing.
2. Any time you’re within 1000 feet of leveling off from a climb or, especially, a descent.
3. From the point that you accept a vector to intercept an instrument arrival procedure or approach course to landing
4. If flying a full procedure approach or hold, starting when within three miles of the fix.

What’s the rule?

Brief your passengers before boarding the airplane that there are times when it’s important for you to be listening to the radio and accomplishing detailed actions, and they should not interrupt you (NOTE: Encourage passengers to point out other air traffic at any time or, if visible, landing gear that is not down when near the runway). Time tasks like taking notes on fuel burn or calling the FBO for a rental car or briefing for an instrument approach so they’re done before you’re airborne near the ground or nearing a level-off altitude.

Aero-tip of the day: Use a “sterile cockpit” to limit distractions when in high-workload situations.

FMI: Aero-Tips