Page 12 - Jan23T

The Preflight Process
I have yet to meet a pilot who loves calculating weight and balance. Years ago, I used Sheppard Air to prepare for my ATP written. At the time, the performance calcula- tions for the exam involved a myriad of spaghetti charts. It was easy to get lost in them. Even when you used them correctly, you would end up with four different results out of four identical attempts. For their part, Sheppard focused on a mnemonic to memorize the correct answers to those questions. If you wanted to obtain reliable test results, it was pointless to drill technique. I formed an intense distrust of shorthand charts from that test bank. It bordered on hatred. I doubt that was what the FAA had intended. For what it is worth, memorization worked. I scored 100 percent on the test. When I was younger, I wasted a lot of time pursuing perfection. I would not be a worse pilot today had I gotten an 85 percent on it.
a bit of mystery out of this. Still, if you are getting close to minimum regulatory fuel, it is important to consider additional factors. If you are operating into a remote air- port, will “destination plus 45” be enough to get you to a safe alternate should an aircraft become disabled on the sole runway? Fuel stops are a hassle, but being nervous about your fuel load will inevitably narrow your vision for every other required task. Make a stop and enjoy the view.
“Good preflight practices set the stage for for takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approac what you do on the ground is as importa
My first captain job was on a BE-1900. Over the course of two years, I calculated thousands of weight and bal- ances. We used a calculator and Whiz Wheel (a circular slide rule) for the computations. It was more reliable than the spaghetti charts. Out of five attempts, I would end up with only three different answers. Today, of course, everything is on an app. And while technological reli- ance represents a real danger to pilots, when it comes to math, it is absolutely the right tool for the job. Apps such as ForeFlight incorporate weight and balance into the preflight flow with an eye on human factors. There is nothing wrong with operating an aircraft under a “stan- dard weight and balance” (full tanks and only the pilot on board). But you should still pause briefly on this task, even if it is simply to confirm that “standard” conditions actually exist. Knowing weight and balance prior to taxi is the first step in decluttering ground operations.
With every seat filled and a haul of baggage, you may find that fuel calculations have suddenly become critical. Just like with weight and balance, aviation apps take quite
10 • TWIN & TURBINE / January 2023
n