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.")

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. 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.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network.

Aero-Tips 12.24.06

The weather outside is frightful. It's foggy, with low clouds. It may be dark. You have an instrument-capable airplane, are instrument rated and current, and have your IFR clearance. Can you take off into near zero visibility?

FAR 91.175 gives us this guidance:

Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator, no pilot operating an aircraft under parts 121, 125, 127, 129, or 135 of this chapter may take off from a civil airport under IFR unless weather conditions are at or above the weather minimum for IFR takeoff prescribed for that airport. If takeoff minimums are not prescribed for a particular airport, the following minimums apply:

1. For aircraft, other than helicopters, having two engines or less--1 statute mile visibility.
2. For aircraft having more than two engines--1/2 statute mile visibility.
3. For helicopters--1/2 statute mile visibility.

What about all us noncommercial pilots that are actually FLYING UNDER PART 91, where we've looked this up? The FAA provides no guidance…and therefore no limitation on what we can do.

Zero-zero takeoff

The simulated zero-zero takeoff is a staple of instrument training and checkrides, especially for advanced work (like the Airline Transport Pilot certificate). I had a "zero-zero" on my ATP checkride. Here's the procedure I was taught (and evaluated on):

• Complete all checklist items for entering the runway.
• Taxi slowly into position, precisely aligned with the runway and on centerline.
• For purposes of training (or evaluation), don the view-limiting device.
• Confirm the heading indicator is aligned with the runway in use (note: this check is subject of a recent NTSB recommendation in the wake of the Lexington, KY Comair accident).
• Release brakes and apply power slowly. In a multiengine airplane, be especially careful to advance both throttles together to avoid engine-induced yaw.
• Maintain precise runway alignment with rudder and crosswind controls.
• Accelerate to liftoff speed and pitch to the climb attitude.

Now you're IFR in flight. If you did your job right and navigate correctly after the zero-zero takeoff you're golden... unless something happens that you need to return for a landing!

Aero-tip of the day: The zero-zero takeoff is a good training and confidence-building maneuver. Carefully evaluate whether it's worth the risk "for real" on a zero-zero day.

FMI: Aero-Tips