Kneeboard anyone?

[KeroseneSnorter]

I have never seen a kneeboard in a 121 aircraft.

Post it notes and hotel note pads.

The closest thing to a knee board you will see in a 121 bird is a clip board....and that is mostly used to put your crew meal on!

 

[Almerick07]

ever shot an approach in moderate turbulence? Sucks trying hold an approach still on the yoke clip while flying the airplane. Ive got one, use it when I need it (hard IFR days, turbulence etc...). Other than that mine came with a metal clip board that fits approach plates perfectly, I usualy keep a clean sheet of paper on it to write down frequencies, clearances and what not on. my clipboard on the other hand usually sits on my lap.

 

[ubpilot]

Travis,

Currently I am paying my bill by flying the tiny baby jet CRJ-200. I do use a note pad, since I have terrible short-term memory, without using note a pad writing down the taxing instruction at JFK, LGA, BOS, and ORD I don’t think I can read back the full taxing instruction during the busy time. The good news is that in the CRJ you don’t have to bring your own kneeboard anymore, there is a note pad clip board build below the side window, and a yoke clip as well. In the real world flying, there are tons of frequencies to switch during a single leg, you don’t have to write them down, what you can do is by putting your hand on the radio knob whenever you hear your call sign, tune in the frequencies before read back. Feel free to use a kneeboard, because being able to read back the long instructions at super busy airport is more important than look cool front of your instructor.

 

[banned username 1]

As an eager young lad about to take my first Pt. 135 flight, I met my buddy who was the PIC in operations with my nice, new, shiny kneeboard. I had the concept of it, but it was more along the lines of: I should have one of these things, because I'm now a "professional pilot". It was sort of like: why do dogs chase cars?

So in I walk, and my friend says, "What are you going to do with that?" as he takes my shiny kneeboard out of my hand and in the same motion throws it in the corner. That was my last encounter with a kneeboard.

One of those moments in a long career that you never forget, or my buddy's laugh as he threw it. Rosi, if you're reading this, you remember it too as if it was yesterday!!!

 

[spudskier]

I have a VERy sinple one... the ASA that is just a small 4.25"x11" (half sheet of paper size) just so I can jot down clearances if I'm IFR or notes about the student if I'm instructing... those bigger ones with pockets and folds are just a gigantic pain

 

[Flyerjosh]

Simply put, use it if you need it, don't if you don't...

I use one whenever I fly light GA aircraft, simply because most of them don't have anywhere to put stuff. One of the reasons you won't see them in the 121 world is because the larger airplanes almost always have places to put stuff. Built in yoke clips or chart holders, or heck the charts might even be incorporated into the avionics or an EFB.

Military guys use them simply because when you're flying upside down or going vertical, things have a tendancy to disappear.

Instructors use them because they can jot down critiques and keep various training items handy.

Gives me an idea... I think next time I get a contract FO for work, I'll dig mine out of the closet just to see what type of response I can get...

 

[Wang Chung]

Find a system that works for you and use it. Your system will invariably evolve as you gain experience or fly different equipment.

'Sled

Agreed. When I started in singles and twins as a single-pilot PIC, I would use one all the time. I had a little system of organizing stuff in the cockpit and in my bag. After a while I went to using a little clipboard with a note pad on it - I would set it next to the seat for most of the flight. Now, in a 2-pilot 135 situation, a little hotel notepad and the TOLD cards are all that's necessary. We have a tiny little fold-down desk on each side of the cockpit, and a clip on the yoke.

In an aircraft with EFIS and an FMS, much of the relevant information is contained in the displays and electronics instead of paper products.

 

[BLing]

I no longer use a kneeboard since my student stole mine and was out of the country for three weeks. She brought it back to me when she started training again, but I got used to not having it.

 

[John2375]

IFR approaches

I have to admit I've always had a kneeboard but truthfully it gets in the way I think..I'm going to go w/o from now on...

However what to do w/an instrument approach plate if you don't have a yoke-clip?? Most of the rentals don't have them... - I hate to be disorganized especially when it comes to stuff like that - don't want to be fumbling around in hard-IMC trying to fly and find the damn thing that fell underneath the seat...

 

[retired guy]

Single seat fighters..yes air lines..no. That`s as bad as some dork showing up wearing gloves. If you see either, watch him closely.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

My kneeboard goes in my backpack next to my cd player and my uniform hat. I have the ASA kneeboard as I find it doesn't wrinkle my dockers. The only time I have had a problem with my kneeboard is when the Captain and I switch seats on deadheads. It can catch the yoke resulting in zoom climbs, rapid descents or excessive bank angles. I find if I take it to the bar at the hotel, I have a nice surface to write down the names of the ladies that try to pick my up so I can keep them straight.

 

[Goose Egg]

However what to do w/an instrument approach plate if you don't have a yoke-clip?? Most of the rentals don't have them... - I hate to be disorganized especially when it comes to stuff like that - don't want to be fumbling around in hard-IMC trying to fly and find the dang thing that fell underneath the seat...

I'm a big fan of the standard $3 clip board for that kind of stuff. I'll clip my scratch paper in there and then the approach plates go on top, so I can both keep my plates visible and organized as well as write down the clearance and other stuff if needed.

As far as ATIS goes, I haven't written that down for years.

-Goose

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Does anyone use a kneeboard to keep themselves organized? What about when you fly commercialy? I find it hard to balance the checklist on my knee and copy frequencies and such on the other.

Thanks,
Travis

Knee boards are fine. I use them regularly when flight instructing.

Use them for taking notes on what was covered in the lesson, ATIS, ...in IFR conditions, things get very busy, its goodto have a surface to jot down clerances, frequencies, transponder codes, headings altitudes, HIWAS, TWEB, Etc.

Dont think your too professional to use one.

 

[AAflyer]

As an eager young lad about to take my first Pt. 135 flight, I met my buddy who was the PIC in operations with my nice, new, shiny kneeboard. I had the concept of it, but it was more along the lines of: I should have one of these things, because I'm now a "professional pilot". It was sort of like: why do dogs chase cars?

So in I walk, and my friend says, "What are you going to do with that?" as he takes my shiny kneeboard out of my hand and in the same motion throws it in the corner. That was my last encounter with a kneeboard.

One of those moments in a long career that you never forget, or my buddy's laugh as he threw it. Rosi, if you're reading this, you remember it too as if it was yesterday!!!

You don't need to write it down for ORD, it is "right on Alpha, Alpha 18, Bravo, Mike 2, Tango, for 32L Tango 10. What do you mean read it back to the controllers. I am not sure I have read back a taxi clearance in 6 months at ORD. I don't have time to, he is already giving instructions to someone else. I many times use the scratch pad of the FMS to type some of instructions.



AA
What ever works for you guys, I don't think the kneeboard is nearly as funny as the conductors hat and whistle I saw a captain use on another airline.

 

[RichardRambone]

I fly all GA planes and if I go IFR I have my kneeboard on. Granted it doesnt get used after I write down the clearance unless they throw a route change at me. Otherwise theres no other convenient place to keep that stuff. I try to keep my flight bag on the right seat and put charts, etc under it but it always disappears underneath the seat somewhere. I do agree that while the controller is giving you a frequency change to change it while hes talking so your new freq is already in the standby position on the com. Then reply back.