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28 • TWIN & TURBINE May 2018
to be maintained in actual weather conditions, or under simulated conditions using a view-limiting device that involves having performed the fol- lowing: six instrument approaches, holding pro- cedures and tasks, and intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigational elec- tronic systems.
If we experience some down-time, it’s a good idea to keep our head in the game by reviewing these rules as well as our airplane specific operational procedures and techniques. We used to call it “chair flying.”
Chair Flying Revisited
If we don’t fly much or don’t think about it much, our per- ceptions can get rusty, especially the landing “sight picture.” I have the luxury (or the handicap) of thinking about flying a lot. But I’ve discovered that longing not only makes the heart grow fonder, but it makes the brain remember longer. Thus, talking to your airplane and gossiping with fellow airport bums not- withstanding, reviewing policies, procedures and flying tech- niques in our mind while not flying, chair flying can help us to stay in or ease us back into the groove.
But chair flying doesn’t exercise our hand-eye neural path- ways quite like the real thing. Three takeoffs and landings are a way to re-stimulate those pathways. But how exactly did the three takeoff and landing regulatory epiphany occur anyway? Why three? Did a study conclude that three takeoffs and landings in 90 days were the right numbers? I’m convinced it was mostly a subjective decision. But a good one because we
Stay off the brakes, or else!
all need repetition to stay sharp, even a high-time airline pilot and Duke aficionado returning to the air that didn’t follow the checklist and made a poor choice in footwear.
A Not-So-Glorious Return
When I flew the Duke for the first time after surgery, I made a couple of mistakes. No, I didn’t forget the gear or sing over the radio. In order to verify that the fuel crossfeed system com- ponents are working properly, and to maintain fresh fuel in the cross-feed lines, the before-takeoff checklist has you put both fuel selectors in cross-feed then individually shut off the left, then the right electric fuel pumps. Next, you watch for the opposite, fuel low-pressure light to illuminate. After the test, you switch the electric pumps back on and move the fuel selec- tors back to the normal position. I forgot to move the valves back to normal and took off with both valves in cross-feed. It doesn’t cause a problem unless the previous fuel pressure tests failed, but cross-feed is not the correct position for takeoff.
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