kneeboards

[GravityHater]

Where can I get a simple 8x5 lighted kneeboard with a clip for paper and elastic strap?
oops maybe you think this is dorky but I am getting tired of fumbling with the current lapboard.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Where can I get a simple 8x5 lighted kneeboard with a clip for paper and elastic strap?
oops maybe you think this is dorky but I am getting tired of fumbling with the current lapboard.

KNEEBOARD!!??? LAPBOARD!!?? Man I can't remember the last time I saw somebody use one of those! Nothing wrong with it I guess. Personally I just swipe the freebie rentacar or hotel note pads. Nothing says corporate jet like a Holiday Inn notepad!

What items are you using the kneeboard for? About the only thing that I write down anymore is clearance and ATIS. And for the really important stuff, like the cheapest beer in the next destination, a Post it Note!

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

I'll admit I carry/use a Jeppesen kneeboard. I have to keep my gum somewhere. Oh, and thsoe reading glasses the FAA uncooly requires me to "possess," those would be long gone if they were not tucked away in the kneeboard.

But the kneeboard has been a lifesaver with the gum. I could just put it on top of the instrument panel, but then I'd probably forget it and the next guy would probably swipe it. Thank goodness for the kneeboard

Dan

 

[Lead Sled]

KNEEBOARD??? I had forgotten that they even existed. I've only know one guy to use them - he was the guy that I flew with for a year until he left to go fly for JetBlue. He also was flying P-3's in the reserves. It must be a military thing?

Lead Sled

 

[bobbysamd]

Kneeboards

My instructor actually taught me not to use a kneeboard. He said they were wastes of money. He taught me just to spread the sectional on my lap during a cross-country and to manage my flight logs in the same space. It worked. But what did my instructor know?

Later, I thought I needed a kneeboard, so I wasted all kinds of money at Sporty's and elsewhere for folding kneeboards, military-style battery-lighted kneeboards, aluminum flight "desks" and other kinds of similar junk. In the final analysis, as always, my instructor was right. I found that I felt uncomfortable having such junk sitting on my lap. It usually wound up on the seat next to me.

As an instructor, I needed a way to manage my students' flight synopses (lesson plans) in flight, along with managing my pen. So, I obtained an ordinary clipboard and that became my kneeboard for instructional flights.

While some would argue that they need a place to put their E6-B or CR whizwheel(s), there are smaller versions that can fit in your shirt pocket, a la Ernest Gann. And you can still stow your equipment in the side pockets of the airplane.

Don't waste your money on kneeboards. If you want to spend money on cockpit gear, spend it on extra flashlights. There never seem to be enough working flashlights during typical night flights.

 

[Goose Egg]

I've tried various things, and I think I'm a fan of using just an ordinary clipboard. I have one that I picked up at Staples for a cool $3. Some people swear by using a kneeboard, some people swear by not using a kneeboard. I guess it's all a matter of personal preference. Personally, I just can't get over not having some sort of hard surface to write on (ATIS, clearances, headings, altitudes, flight logs, etc.) and having some sort of method for keeping my approach plates and checklists from floating around the cockpit. I usually put my A/FD and charts and flight computer in a side pocket. And a clipboard stows easily enough it it gets in the way. It all seems to work fine.

Goose

 

[greyhound]

Cockpit organization...

I don't know about anyone else, but I personally believe an organized cockpit is a sign of an organized competent pilot.

Whether you like kneeboards or like to swim in charts, you got to admit a neat cockpit is essential and a good indicator of a well prepared pilot.

I personally like a simple strap on metal kneeboard. It holds my checklist and a folded plain sheet of paper for Atis/Clearance etc....

It also holds pertinant approach plates behind the checklist,so if they change the approach I'll already have it out instead of going back to the Jepp book. But the plate I'm actually going to use is always on the yoke mounted clip.

My nav charts are stowed in the side map pockets and they are already folded to the appropriate section of the map I'm flying. Just in case I need to look at them again.

Map folding and unfolding can make anyone look kind of silly if you don't do it right.(Especialy when passengers see you with both hands on the map, covering the windshield looking everywhere to find something on it!!!!!)

I know. I know, some will say I'm a dork, but at least I'm an organized one.

Do whatever suits you best.
Do you guys use them in the airlines??

 

[seethru]

You may want to start looking at Sporty's online to find a kneeboard that works for you. If money is not an object then I would suggest zuluboards at http://www.zuluworks.com/. They seem to have some nice boards which you can accessorize.

Like the earlier post, I have found that a couple of pieces of paper folded in half and tucked in the corner by the windscreen and glare shield works fine. If I have to use a board, it's a pretty simple aluminum one.

Greg

 

[GravityHater]

thanks you guys!

dorkiness on full public display,
GH.

 

[BoDEAN]

I love my kneeboard. When I print out airport diagrams off AOPA, and fold them, they fit nice on the kneeboard. Also good for remembering light gun signals, since it is on the kneeboard =)

My instructor actually taught me not to use a kneeboard. He said they were wastes of money. He taught me just to spread the sectional on my lap during a cross-country and to manage my flight logs in the same space. It worked. But what did my instructor know?

Later, I thought I needed a kneeboard, so I wasted all kinds of money at Sporty's and elsewhere for folding kneeboards, military-style battery-lighted kneeboards, aluminum flight "desks" and other kinds of similar junk. In the final analysis, as always, my instructor was right. I found that I felt uncomfortable having such junk sitting on my lap. It usually wound up on the seat next to me.

As an instructor, I needed a way to manage my students' flight synopses (lesson plans) in flight, along with managing my pen. So, I obtained an ordinary clipboard and that became my kneeboard for instructional flights.

While some would argue that they need a place to put their E6-B or CR whizwheel(s), there are smaller versions that can fit in your shirt pocket, a la Ernest Gann. And you can still stow your equipment in the side pockets of the airplane.

Don't waste your money on kneeboards. If you want to spend money on cockpit gear, spend it on extra flashlights. There never seem to be enough working flashlights during typical night flights.

 

[JediNein]

<begin rant>
Side pockets are great, if the airplane has them...

Empty seats are great, if the airplane has them...

Too many IFR pilots think they can remember every heading, altitude, frequency, squawk, and route change assigned by ATC without writing them down. Then they miss 'em and end up in the Remedial Training Program, if they're not dead or worse.

My humble, falling-apart kneeboard with a notepad and lots of pockets for instrument cover-ups and charts has proven quite useful in flight.

• Forgot the assigned altitude: Look at kneeboard, refresh memory. If not on kneeboard, ask ATC.
• Lost comm: Look on kneeboard, pull up current previously used frequency to dial into handheld transceiver or panel-mount radio.
• Lost electrical system with digital radios: Look on kneeboard, pull up current frequency on handheld, verify light-gun signals with info printed on label stuck to clipboard.
• Diversion to alternate: Pull out approach chart from kneeboard pocket.
• Lost everything in clouds: Pull out sectional from kneeboard pocket.
• Reroute through different state: Pull out enroute chart from kneeboard pocket.
• Instrument failure: Pull out cover-up from kneeboard pocket and cover **** failed instrument.
• Dropped pen/pencil: Pull out second one from flight bag, stick on kneeboard.
• Dropped flashlight: Pull out second/third one from flight bag, stick on kneeboard.

All of the above can be done without having to move your head, remove your hands from the yoke (if you fly that way), or leave your hands on the yoke producing an unusual attitude while you're head-down-and-locked searching from the missing chart.
<end rant>

Make your own kneeboard from a clipboard at an office supply store, shell out the big bucks ($80+) for a military lighted board, or send less-but-still-big bucks to sporty's for their board: http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=1475&fromgoogle=yes or these guys have a fancier & cheaper one: http://www.airsportspilotshop.com/miva/merchant.mv?store_code=APGS&screen=PROD&product_code=492

Even cheaper is to get a plain clipboard (pilot-type or not) and add flashlight.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[GravityHater]

Well if we have all these kneeboard haters out there, maybe someone has a used military-style (with light) black plastic and leg straps that they really despise and want to sell to me?!
I'd pay an appropriate price.

 

[DAS at 10/250]

GravityHater

I'll sell ya mine. Worthless crap but if you want to buy PM me and we'll set it up. I've got a couple of these things collecting dust.

 

[satpak77]

also

keep your cockpit fully stocked with free Marriott pads and pens, swiped from the room

also get one of those LED-light key holders for your key ring, at any Bass Pro shop, they are not "flashlights" but better than "oh sh1t" when you loose electricals completely. Buy the red one.

 

[Wang Chung]

I sometimes use a mini-clipboard in the cockpit (it's actually one of those super-cheap aluminum ASA kneeboards with the elastic leg strap cut off...and the light gun chart has been worn off for years).

I'm also a huge fan of the swiped hotel notepad. Well, except for the Holiday Inn pads cuz they're kinda small and skinny.

 

[JediNein]

I'm also a huge fan of the swiped hotel notepad. Well, except for the Holiday Inn pads cuz they're kinda small and skinny.

Is it just me or are hotel notepads getting thinner and smaller each month?

 

[fokkers&beer]

I agree with Wang Chung, those cheap aluminum knee boards are quite sufficient. I used to use them flying 135 IFR with no autopilot, was a handy way to write stuff down. I would forget my head if it wasn't screwed on, not to mention altitudes, or headings.

 

[Cutlass1287]

As far as zuluworks go, there is a lot of hype on their website, but when it comes right down to it there isn't really any significant different between the zuluworks and my old jepp kneeboard (except the price). I hardly ever use it, so it just sits at home collecting dust.

 

[minitour]

Maybe I'm the only nerd/geek, but I can't believe so many people don't use/like kneeboards. Yeah, I love stuffing charts in the side pockets, but its nice to have an airport diagram right there, plus a place to write down clearances/atis/weather from flight watch...I don't think I could live without my kneeboard...

...that said...any airline people out there...maybe I'm wrong, but I'd assume you don't use 'em with FMSs and electronic kneeboards n such...how does that stuff compare? (other than the obvious)

-mini

 

[bobbysamd]

Kneeboards

While I stand by my comments of above, I finally did get a tri-fold cloth-plastic-velcro device that attached around my upper leg and had an Acco-type clip and aluminum hard writing surface. It had plastic windows which I used for the local TCA (Class B) diagram. It worked okay - but after I made Sporty's rich with the gamut of overpriced kneeboards. I don't remember where I bought it. Just the same, I never felt comfortable flying while balancing something in my lap.

 

[bigD]

...that said...any airline people out there...maybe I'm wrong, but I'd assume you don't use 'em with FMSs and electronic kneeboards n such...how does that stuff compare? (other than the obvious)

-mini

Nah, the airline pilots just tell the FA under the panel to look up, then write the clearance on the FA's forehead.


Kidding!! Kidding!!!

 

[FracCapt]

I use a kneeboard for flying helicopters(where both hands are required all the time), but not airplanes. Then again, the only airplanes I fly have large, flat areas on the sides of the cockpit specifically for pads of paper. I agree with many of the previous posters....the notepads from hotels work great in those cases! Actually, when I checked into the hotel today, I stuffed the notepads in my bag since we're almost out in the airplane!

 

[Lead Sled]

Hey, don't forget about the little shoe shine mitts - they work great for cleaning your glasses and the EFIS screens.

Lead Sled

 

[FracCapt]

Hey, don't forget about the little shoe shine mitts - they work great for cleaning your glasses and the EFIS screens.

Be careful with those....some have something on them that can be bad for EFIS screens. If you use them enough, you will begin to see streaks in them like a poorly cleaned window - but the "streaks" won't go away.

I've been told that repeated use of Radisson shoe mitts to clean EFIS screens causes this..

Yes, I am completely serious here. I used them for a while, until I heard about this - and saw proof.

 

[Lead Sled]

I hadn't heard that before. You say you've actually seen it yourself?

 

[Wang Chung]

I agree with many of the previous posters....the notepads from hotels work great in those cases! Actually, when I checked into the hotel today, I stuffed the notepads in my bag since we're almost out in the airplane!

Notepads would be the best FBO freebie giveaway item.

If I saw a big ol' stack of pads in an FBO, I swear I'd grab two fistfulls and bolt out the door to the plane like a petty WalMart shoplifter!!

 

[FracCapt]

I hadn't heard that before. You say you've actually seen it yourself?

Most, if not all, EFIS screens have a thin layer of transparent protective coating on them. If the screens get scratched, but not all the way through the layer....they can fix them with some type of compound that can be rubbed on and fill the scratches. The "proof" that I've seen was screens that had to be replaced because the protective coating had been eaten away by something - and the glass itself severely scratched by microfibers in whatever they were using to clean the screens. The crew said all they ever used to wipe the screens was the shoe mitts they got at hotels. The avionics tech called the manufacturer, and they said NEVER use those things on the screens, because some contain chemicals that are great for shining up leather....but destroy the coating on the screens.

I wasn't sure whether they were right or not.....but I decided not to chance it. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[CaSyndrm]

If you need a tool on your leg, your not ready for anything other than flight instructing in the mighty C152

 

[minitour]

If you need a tool on your leg, your not ready for anything other than flight instructing in the mighty C152

so if you like being prepared and organized you shouldn't fly anything but a 152? hmmm...

 

[CaSyndrm]

I'm not organized but make it all over the world and make a crap load of money. But if the leg tool helps go for it. But, good luck in a simulator check while you are writing on that thing.