Are Clearing Turns A Waste Of Time?

[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?

 

[need2AV8]

What I was told . . .

An "official" recommendation given to me by my FAA examiner for the CFI initial (as well as my 8000+ hour instructor) is to clear 180 degrees of the horizon. That may consist of two 90 degree turns or one 180 degree turn. (three 60 degree turns would fit the recommendation but not very practical)

 

[80/20]

Some official recommendations that talk about clearing turns:

FAA AC 61-23C
Training Operations--Vigilance should be maintained and clearing turns should be made prior to a practice maneuver. During instruction, the pilot should be asked to verbalize the clearing procedures (call out clear "left, right, above, and below").

FAA AC 90-89A
Recommends that all flight test maneuvers be preceded with two 90 degree clearing turns to ensure that the flight test area is free of other aircraft.

FAA Accident Prevention Program "How To Avoid A Midair Collision"

ICAO Circular 213 - Pilot Skills To Make 'Look-Out' More Effective In Visual Collision Avoidance

 

[hydroflyer]

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!!

Slightly off subject, but anytime I hear a controller calling me out as traffic to another pilot, or I hear there is another pilot trying to find my position, especially around an airport, I will try to rock my wings and gently yaw to change my profile and light reflection in hopes that the other pilot will spot me faster. So far my experience is I usually get spotted fairly fast.

As far as clearing turns go, just look in the front of any PTS and under "Unsatisfactory Performance" it states: "Failure to use proper and effective visual scanning techniques to clear the area before and while performing maneuvers." Personally, I always made sure my students performed them. Often, I preferred to fly a sort of holding pattern by doing a 180, perform a maneuver, and then a 180 and another maneuver. It help to maintain a smaller area of airspace when restricted and allowed the student to use the same reference point for that day.

 

[Long Time Gone]

An Examiner will bust you on your ride for not clearing the area.....check the PTS. Besides, it's just plain stupid not to look before you turn. When you come to a stop sign, you look before proceeding, right? Same thing.

You've never done flight training until you've done it in Central Florida. Don't believe me? Wait until you fly a TCAS equipped aircraft into MCO or DAB and have the TCAS set on the BIG range (whatever it may be called in that particular aircraft....ABV/BLW, etc.). You'll be amazed at how many aircraft are out there, and wonder why you never hit one. We've had a Capt. refuse to take an aircraft into DAB because the TCAS was deferred.

Clear left, clear right.