Turn at 400' AGL?

[TurboS7]

Most glass airplanes won't show a turn on the FD till 400 feet. I would conclude that no modern pilot can make a turn below 400 without it safely.AS for us old timers ---wheels in the wells and if an engine fails that is your clean up altitude.

 

[Russ]

Usually 400 ft unless the engine out procedure requires otherwise. For the record 121 does allow turns starting at 50' AGL at no more than 15 degrees AOB.

 

[TurboS7]

So....guess you havn't flown out of Gitmo or a few other places on the planet.

 

[Russ]

No there turbo I haven't. I however was there as a Marine years ago.

 

[Lead Sled]

Most glass airplanes won't show a turn on the FD till 400 feet. I would conclude that no modern pilot can make a turn below 400 without it safely.AS for us old timers ---wheels in the wells and if an engine fails that is your clean up altitude.

Personally, I don't believe you have any business making a heading change below 400' agl. TurboS7 is spot on. The FMSes won't iniatiate a heading change on a DP until you've got at least 400' in the bank.
'Sled

 

[TurboS7]

You don't need a flight director to make a turn, you fly it like a real airplane.

 

[irapilot]

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Never

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[A Squared]

I see you are in DC-6's and I'll bet you are accutely aware of take-off obstacle clearance. <grin> Thanks.
D.C.

Yep, you nailed that one! <g> The more time you spend down low, the more interested you become in the finer points of obstacle clearence.

On another subject, there are also early turns in departure procedures. I fly into 2 airports which have early turns. One says "turn as soon as practical" and the other says "immediate left turn" I don't wait for 400 feet to begin the turn at either of these airports.

 

[A Squared]

You don't need a flight director to make a turn, you fly it like a real airplane.

Turbo, one of these days you'll have to explain to me what this "flight director" thingy I keep hearing about is.

 

[Donsa320]

A squared

Yep, you nailed that one! <g> The more time you spend down low, the more interested you become in the finer points of obstacle clearence.

On another subject, there are also early turns in departure procedures. I fly into 2 airports which have early turns. One says "turn as soon as practical" and the other says "immediate left turn" I don't wait for 400 feet to begin the turn at either of these airports.

Interesting...I should have learned years ago never to say never! <g>

On a diffrent note I've often wondered how much power you are getting on 100LL fuel. I assume you have CB-16 or CB-17 engines. Can you still use ADI and what is the max MP, RPM and HP?

Thanks

D.C.

 

[TurboS7]

A flight director thingy are cross hairs or airplane wings that show the pilot how to fly, if you keep the cross hairs where they should be the aircraft will perform the way that it has been programmed.To insure that ex-Alaskan DC-6 pilots do not do thier own thing most flight departments require you to use the flight director thingy at all time. What flight department heads do not know is that ex-Alaskan DC-6 pilots have aquired the ability to fly through the flight director and do what they feel is best for the airplane and passsenger at that given time.Better yet most ex-Alaskan DC-6 pilots have the sense to turn the thing off and tell the ex-commuter flight department head where to shove it.

 

[A Squared]

On a diffrent note I've often wondered how much power you are getting on 100LL fuel. I assume you have CB-16 or CB-17 engines. Can you still use ADI and what is the max MP, RPM and HP?

There is no physical difference between a CB-16 and a CB-17 the only difference is that the CB-17 has been approved for the higher power settings with 108/135 (brown) or 115/145 (purple) fuel. We can use the full CB-16 power settings with 100LL, which with anti detonation injection is 59.5 in hg. and 2800 RPM. this gives 2400 hp vs. the CB-17 setting of 62 in. hg. at 2800 RPM and 2500 hp.

To insure that ex-Alaskan DC-6 pilots do not do thier own thing most flight departments require you to use the flight director thingy at all time.

Even if the flight director thingy is telling you to fly into the mountain at the end of 16 at McGrath?

 

[Donsa320]

A Squared

Thanks, I've got about 7500hrs in Piston Convairs and I kinda miss the sound of those engines and props.

D.C.

 

[Lead Sled]

Personally, I don't believe you have any business making a heading change below 400' agl. TurboS7 is spot on. The FMSes won't iniatiate a heading change on a DP until you've got at least 400' in the bank.

There will always be exceptions to the rule and you guys have done a fine job in pointing out most, if not all, of those exceptions. But generally speaking, unless you have a good reason to do other wise, it's still a good idea not to be making any turns below 400'.