How do I ___________ ?

I see this question all the time on many different forums, I hear students asking the instructor, and if often cringe when I hear the variety of answers. Example today was a comment "I don't like the "G" in GUMP." The poster went on to say that I would never change tanks on downwind.

Others that I hear often, "What is your technique for executing a short field takeoff in a abc or xyz brand of airplane?" Then the responses start, with "Well, I do it like this." Then poster two says "No, no, if you do that, this will happen. Do it like ........"

So what is the answer? Well the first place to look is the manual that the factory that built your plane. There is most likely a section on how to do what you are attempting. In the first example, it would be a landing checklist. Many airplane manufactures provide an abbreviated version on the panel somewhere.

In the second example, there is usually a section on normal, short and soft field take off procedures. And in many manuals there is a short version and an amplified version.

I guess the bottom line is the manufacture's engineers probably have a better way of doing things than even the most experienced of us. A few years ago, I sent a student for a Private Pilot Practical Exam, and the Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) asked for a Short Field take off. The student set the flaps per the book, and instead of stopping at the end of the runway, applying the brakes, applying full power, etc like several airplanes recommend, he added full power entering the runway, and upon reaching Vx made a positive rotation and went flying. The DPE said to return for landing and proceeded to inform the applicant that his technique was all wrong and to try it again using "Know practices for a short field takeoff." The student said no, because the book says to do it the way I did it. The DPE insisted and said he would show the applicant. OK - Your plane.

The examiner did it like he knew it should have been done, and upon brake release almost crashed the plane off the left side of the runway. It was a plane with a castering nose wheel, and the correct technique was as the the applicant did it.

Even the "pros" learn something from time to time.

Use your checklist, and airplane manual. It was written by the real authorities.

When it rains, it pours!

In ours business, winter time is usually a bit slower than the summer, and this year is no different, but it never ceases to amaze me how we'll be wondering how are we going to pay the rent for next month, and then the miracle happens.

Our business is kind of like the old milk stool, The flight school, the shop, and the scenic flights all have their share of the total business. If one of the legs is a bit low, the other two help to share the load. This winter has been weird, because both the flight school side and the scenic flight side are low, which is normal, but usually the shop is busiest during the bad weather of winter. That's the weird part, the shop has sat empty all winter. But, then comes the miracle! I get a call totally unexpected from someone in Virginia asking if we can do an annual on his Archer II that he just purchased. I asked him where the plane was currently located, and he said that it is in a small town north of Seattle called Arlington. Oh, good, because that's where I am. We pulled the plane down to my hangar this morning. The battery was dead...

Then, another customer of the flight school asked if we can do an annual on his Cessna 172? When do you need it? Well it turns into a pumpkin the end of January. OK - we'll get it going next week after the Archer - hmmm things are picking up a bit.

No sooner did I hang up the phone with him, and a third customer calls and needs his 172 done this month too! Wow! Who says you don't get what you wish for. Thanks!

Lift is going to be OK, and the rent gets paid again.