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 01.06.06

A high-performance single’s cabin door opened immediately following takeoff.  The pilot wisely brought the airplane around and landed before securing the door.  On the second liftoff the airplane pitched up excessively until it stalled and nosed into the ground.  The pilot did not survive.

Investigation revealed that the airplane’s elevator trim was set very nose-high, common in this type of airplane when trimmed for landing but much more nose-up than the safe takeoff setting.  The pilot had apparently not re-set the trim after his landing to close the door, which contributed to the pitch-up and stall on the subsequent departure.

How can we prevent this sort of mishap in an instance when we traditionally do not reference a printed checklist?  What about those multiple landing-and-taxi-backs, stop-and-go landings or even touch-and-goes we often do for practice and in training? 

I use and teach a mnemonic FLATS as a “taking the runway” check before takeoff:

1. Fuel available and tank firmly selected (Note: Do not change tanks just before takeoff)
2. Flaps set
3. Cowl Flaps open
4. Lights as required
5. Door and window Latches secure
6. Avionics set (including transponder)
7. Trim set
8. Time recorded (for IFR and/or flight plan purposes)
9. Seat belts and shoulder harnesses secure
10. Switches as required (fuel pump, ice protection, external lights, etc.)

I use an abbreviated version of the same mnemonic when clear of the runway after landing, or during the ground pause on a stop-and-go:

1. Flaps up
2. Cowl Flaps open
3. Lights as required
4. Avionics to standby (including transponder)
5. Trim set (for the next takeoff)
6. Switches as required (fuel pump, ice protection, external lights, etc.)

Aero-tip of the day:  Make and use a well-practiced procedure for “cleaning up” the aircraft after landing, and as a last-minute check before taking the runway for departure.

FMI: Aero-Tips