Anyone do flight plans like the feds?

[rumpletumbler]

I use an E6-B because I don't have to feed it batteries. Does anyone but me feel like their eyes are crossing when trying to line things up under the true index on the wind side? Drives me nuts.

 

[minitour]

I use an E6-B because I don't have to feed it batteries. Does anyone but me feel like their eyes are crossing when trying to line things up under the true index on the wind side? Drives me nuts.

Nah...what kills me is density altitude...lining up -3C and 2,300'PA is a b*tch

 

[Lead Sled]

What do you do when you fly? Do you plan the climb length/time, measuring arc's and even calculating the time for the approach at the end?

I must have misunderstood the question - I took it to mean how do we flight plan in the real world - in our day-to-day operations. The answer is with a computer. When conducting flight training then that's an entirely different matter. The student has to understand and be proficient doing it manually.
'Sled

 

[JediNein]

The 210s have the worst reputation for fuel exhaustion accidents.

In the Cessna Pilots Association Course, there is a flight planning exercise. Some pilots remember to look in the supplements sections for the various changes to their particular aircraft such as intercoolers, oil coolers, speed kits, STOL kits, upgraded engines, tuned exhausts, air conditioners, and other STCs that can greatly change their fuel burn. Others get that lesson when we have co-owners do the plan and they come up with different answers.

Most of the time, in flight training in flight training aircraft (C172/PA28), I am quite familiar with the aircraft and know that no matter what I do to the plane, power-wise, I have exactly 4 hours and 30 minutes of fuel. I land at 3 hours and 30 minutes.

On the 210 series, it gets very interesting. Two hours of fuel burn plus an FBO mis-fueling (very common) might mean an off-airport landing depending on the direction of the RADAR vector. If it is an unfamiliar 210 flying anywhere beyond 2 hours, you betcha I am planning the flight to the nth degree including the weight and balance for landing calculations.

The electronics are nice on the ground. During the written, do the calculations twice, three times if you like. In-flight, nothing beats the manual E6-B. No batteries, no button punching while in turbulence, and you can get several answers from one ground speed.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[wheelsup]

I'm studying for the CFII and some of the questions on the written (same as the instrument) are just ludicrous.

Chose 1:08 minutes if its available, always. Doesn't matter what the other choices are.

If 1:08 isn't in the selection of answers, choose 0:52 or 1:02, whichever appears.

If neither of those options are in the selection of answers, choose the answer that is closest to 1:30 (i.e. if 1:15, 1:25, and 1:31 are choices, answer would be 1:31).

If the FAA hasn't changed their answers for each question as of last year, those should work great and you'll never have to calculate an FAA flight plan again .

~wheelups

 

[HMR]

I must have misunderstood the question - I took it to mean how do we flight plan in the real world - in our day-to-day operations. The answer is with a computer. When conducting flight training then that's an entirely different matter. The student has to understand and be proficient doing it manually.
'Sled

Yea, what Sled said.

Jedi- Good post. I've never understood the fuel problems in the C210. I flew a T210 all over the boondocks of ID, NV, AZ and CA. Very predictable fuel burn, easy to manage (unless switching between 2 tanks is "hard"), and never ever had a "mis-fuel" because I always did a visual check.
Also, what weight and balance issues do you come across? I've only flown a couple different 210's and they were among the most W&B "friendly" planes I've seen. They're my favorite single engine A/C.

 

[JimNtexas]

You what I do when I'm tracking inboud to an NDB or VOR? None of that girlie dme or gps stuff for me!

I just turn away from the radial 45 degrees, take the time for the bearing to change 10 degrees , add the day of the month minus the phase of the moon in percent, and Bob's your uncle I have the distance to the fix in furlongs.

 

[ksu_aviator]

www.fltplan.com is great, it does the performance for you based on your aircraft type. Does not require any fuel inputs from you like duat or duats. It already knows!

 

[PGH STEEL]

www.fltplan.com Hands down. Within 1-5 min and 100-200 Lbs of fuel!!!
Cant beat it like sore weiner!!

 

[siucavflight]

Here is a good rule of thumb for the written

When the majority of the possible answers are over an hour choose the one that is farthest from the hour, when the majority of the answers are under an hour choose the one closest to the hour.

A. 1 hour 40 minutes
B. 59 minutes
C. 1 hour 10 minutes

A would be the answer


A. 1 hour 10 minutes
B. 52 minutes
C. 49 minutes

B. would be the answer


Works for almost every single one of them.