Are Clearing Turns A Waste Of Time?

[Flylo]

Speaking of VFR flight in uncontrolled airspace; are clearing turns and/or raising or lowering a wing, depending on what you're flying, and looking in the direction you intend to turn, before you make the turn, a waste of time or even dangerous?

I've had instructors who were more worried about clearing turns than they were about fuel in the tanks; by the same token, I've had instructors who never even mentioned looking before you leap.

The only near misses I've experienced, in my admittedly very limited flying career, have been somebody flying underneath me while I was on final and someone overtaking me from abeam left and crossing directly in front of me. I don't think looking first would have helped in either one of those cases ( I always look for someone coming in on final, so help me, but I just plain didn't see him doing that long, low, straight in approach and he sure didn't see me. Yes, I was calling my turns and he wasn't.) and in the second case, a quick clearing turn might have put me right in her path. (Had to be a woman)

Whenever I have done a look-see and did happen to observe another aircraft that I hadn't previously been aware of, in the pattern or in the vicinity, they have always been too far away for my turns or maneuvers to have had any effect on them or me.

I guess what I'm asking is; if a clearing turn is made to check for traffic isn't there as good or better chance of causing a collision as avoiding one? Or another way of saying that is; if the traffic is close enough, in most cases, that you will actually have to make some adjustment to avoid it, then isn't the clearing manuver just as apt to cause a collision as to avoid it? I'm sure there have been some mishaps that were avoided because of a look-around, but how many have been caused or almost caused by the same "clearing turn"?

One thing that may have influenced my outlook is that all my flying is GA mostly in the southeast and midwest, and maybe it's just not crowded enough out here to give the impression of imminent danger.

In any event I would sure like to hear the opinions and experiences of you high timers.

 

[mckpickle]

Short awnser..........no



Long awnser...............................NO

There are pilots who have had a near miss (hit) and pilots that will. Good luck.

 

[bobbysamd]

Slightly longer answer

My instructor did not teach clearing turns to me until the very end of my Private training. That was so wrong. Aside from the fact that you want to see what's above you in a high-wing airplane and below you in a low-wing airplane, as a practical matter you can just about bet the ranch that you will bust a checkride if you don't clear properly.

Some examiners consider multiple clearing turns to be a waste of time. You should begin each maneuver with a clearing turn. Then, if the examiner says to do otherwise, you can do otherwise.

You always want to look before you leap.

 

[172driver]

Come to Central Florida and fly a lesson with me and we'll reassess the topic. If you haven't come close to someone around here, you probably haven't been looking outside. It may not be as busy where you are but how many midairs does it take to ruin your day?

 

[GCD]

Clearing before turning is always the best practice, flying and taxiing.

 

[tarp]

Sounds like an old movie ( all the trivia buffs can chime in here) where the rally race driver jumps in the seat, rips the rear view mirror off the windshield and states: "there's nothing in the mirror I need to see".

I guess the "big sky" theory is enough to keep us safe and if we hit something - oh well - it must have been destiny.

When you make a U-turn or K-turn on the road - do you look? Why? Clearing turns. Same answer.

As to the High-wing turning process, it goes something like this.

Desire to make right turn:
1.) look left in straight and level making sure no traffic
2.) bank left lifting right wing enough to see the area you are turning into.
3.) bank right into turn.

Seems like you are making your left bank without looking first if you are scared of hitting something while you are clearing.

As to performing steep turns, stalls, ground ref, etc without performing the clearing turn routine - well let's just say that I hope you have a nice big life insurance policy that'll pay for your family's support when you're gone. But if you won't do clearing turns, then I guess you don't buy insurance either.

 

[varicam]

Re: Slightly longer answer

My instructor did not teach clearing turns to me until the very end of my Private training. That was so wrong. Aside from the fact that you want to see what's above you in a high-wing airplane and below you in a low-wing airplane, as a practical matter you can just about bet the ranch that you will bust a checkride if you don't clear properly.

Some examiners consider multiple clearing turns to be a waste of time. You should begin each maneuver with a clearing turn. Then, if the examiner says to do otherwise, you can do otherwise.

You always want to look before you leap.

IHMO, if the examiner wants to forego clearing turns, he/she can pound sand! My butt is more important than an examiner's whim.

 

[kswhite]

Do you think there is a difference between "clearing turns" (ie 90 left and right or one 180 turn) and just banking the plane slightly left and right and looking around the area for traffic.

I believe some people get to tied into the technical details of what a PTS states and forget the fundamental purpose. TO MAKE CERTAIN THE AREA IS CLEAR OF TRAFFIC. If you can do that with looking around with a few slight banks and it saves you a minute and keeps the student interested, then god bless.

However, in the early part of Private training, standard clearing turns should always be adheared to in order to stress the importance of saftey....but before every single manuever for the rest of the training?...time is money people. Get the job done and move on.

 

[Deftone45075]

Yes, there is a difference between "clearing turns" and lifting (or lowering) the wing before you turn. Both are important.

As far as raising the wing before a turn, it is cheap insurance. For the little amount of effort it takes, you get a better look at who's around. If a student is tought to do this from the BEGINING, it becomes second nature, and you'll be doing it before each turn without even realizing it. This very well could save you from a mid air.

As far as "clearing turns" go, if your going to practice maneuvers such as steep turns and stalls, or Lazy Eights, than you really owe it to yourself to make a 90 degree clearing turn prior to the maneuver. Since most of your attention will be dovoted to flying the maneuver correctly, you want to make sure the area is clear well around you before you start.

 

[MarineGrunt]

I busted my private checkride because I forgot to do clearing turns before a maneuver. So whether you think they're important for spotting traffic or not, it's good practice.

 

[Flymach2]

Hi...

In addition to the other posts, here's my $.02.

If during a flight test with a perspective candidate they neglect to at least mention the intention of a clearing turn, I would consider this a safety of flight issue. Also, when speaking of clearing turns I like to mention §91.113, Right of Way Rules.

In which direction do most initiate the first clearing turn? Who knows...but I think it's important to consider overtaking aircraft.
If an aircraft is overtaking you, they shall pass on your right from behind staying well clear. If you decide to make your first turn to the right, that may become a less than perfect flight. Food for thought.

Regards

 

[homebrew]

Hey I see nobody addresses this issue to clearing turns in regards to the possible other aircraft in the area. I completely agree that it may help you to see another aircraft, but it also exposes more surface area of your aircraft in a turn to a possible oncoming craft. How many times were you informed of traffic,most likely in the pattern, and only caught visual contact when the aircraft was banking? I have many times. Remember clearing turns are not only for your safety of you seeing other aircraft, it also is for the safety of other aircraft seeing you!!

 

[varicam]

Hey I see nobody addresses this issue to clearing turns in regards to the possible other aircraft in the area. I completely agree that it may help you to see another aircraft, but it also exposes more surface area of your aircraft in a turn to a possible oncoming craft. How many times were you informed of traffic,most likely in the pattern, and only caught visual contact when the aircraft was banking? I have many times. Remember clearing turns are not only for your safety of you seeing other aircraft, it also is for the safety of other aircraft seeing you!!

Very good point!! Hadn't looked at it that way before.

 

[KATL8R26L]

well

Clearing turns a must over lake apopka when the weather is nice and every one is out and about.


always offier them to the examiner on the check ride , it is one way of slowing down the process so you can think.

 

[seagle]

Only in a simulator! Can't buy the farm in the sim, however most likely will bust the checkride. Do them all the time and you won't go wrong. Remember the concept behind VFR, "see and avoid."

 

[herb]

On the subject of traffic avoidance...When I took my CFI checkride, the examiner recommended that I fly at odd altitudes such as 3,250 ft or 2,700 ft. Most other aircraft will be flying at a altitude that is a 500 ft increment so you'll avoid 90% of the traffic unless they are climbing or descending. Of course, if everyone does this it defeats the purpose.

 

[skyking1976]

I find that student pilots should notperform clearing turns while taxiing.

Sorry... I had to throw that one in there.

Skyking

 

[Deftone45075]

Hopefully he meant only for maneuvering flight, otherwise you wouldn't be adhering to the plus 500 rule above 3000ft AGL.

 

[Typhoon1244]

A note: I saw lots of students do non-clearing turns. They were so buys making a couple of nice turns that they didn't actually look for anything. The entire Bolivian Air Force could have been information with us and the student wouldn't catch it because s/he was trying to keep the ball centered.

If you're going to make those turns--and you should--keep your 20/20 Chuck Yeagers outside while you're doing them!

 

[CaptLeslie]

Are there any regulations (FARs) or official recommendations (FAA Orders, ACs and so on) that specifically talks about clearing turns?