Page 28 - Volume 16 Number 4

Twin Proficiency
7
SEVEN
Thomas P. Turne
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
er
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
r
Ihad two airplane systems questions on the oral exam for my Airline Transport Pilot practical test: “How does the airplane’s heater work?” and “Draw a diagram of your airplane’s fuel system, and list all its operating limitations.” The examiner realized from my knowledge test (“written”) report that I knew about regulations, weather and flight planning. The ATP checkride is identical to a Type Rating ride, and as such it’s all about knowing the specific airplane used for the practical test. My examiner had selected two airplane systems I needed to know about to safely fly, and asked these questions to make sure I had attained that level of knowledge.
Twin & Turbine readers flying turboprop and pure jet equipment almost certainly have completed type-specific initial training, and in most cases are required (by insurance policies, anyway) to take type-specific recurrent training annually if not even more frequently. Pilots of piston-powered twins, however, do not have that requirement under the regulations,
and may not have a similar insurance requirement—even if they do, there are a lot of ways to get around type- specific training, given by a true expert in that specific type. And, pilots moving up to twins may not have the background to realize the difference. Pilots tend to be very loyal to their CFI, and think that the same instructor that got them through a Private certificate or an Instrument rating is the right person for a checkout in a complex piston twin when they move up.

Becomes An Incident
Take, for example, this recent NTSB report—preliminary, to be sure—that is highly suggestive of incomplete systems instruction. From the NTSB preliminary report:
“...the [pressurized] twin- engine airplane...was equipped
26 TWIN & TURBINE
APRIL 2012