Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #36475
From: John Barrett <2thman@cablespeed.com>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: RE: [LML] Pitot Heat and Checklists
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2006 07:29:39 -0400
To: <lml>
Thanks to all for your comments,
 
One struck me in particular.  Jeff Edwards wrote "use a checklist".  I wonder if that would work?  There are numerous scenarios where checklists are not advisable or productive.  Most obvious is during an emergency.  The engine quits - or even acts like it's going to and you definitely do not want to be referring to a check list.  You need to be on automatic mode going through the emergency steps you've practiced over and over. 
 
So what do you do at the termination of a hard IFR flight to a busy airport with long runway and several minutes taxi time after landing?  You turn off the runway and switch to ground control.  Are you going to stop and refer to an after landing checklist before asking for taxi clearance?  I doubt it.  Maybe Jeff would but I can't see that happening for many pilots and I would guess that some controllers would take exception to this activity as well.  They usually want you to get off the apron and on towards the FBO.  Maybe you would try to go through the checklist while taxiiing to the ramp.  That might work, but sometimes is difficult in single pilot operations (my primary flight mode).
 
I honestly don't recall what the temps for auto on and auto off are for the thermister I purchased.  I do recall thinking a lot about that before ordering.  I think I gave it a fairly high (temp) on and off.  That would make sense.  
 
I like the idea of having it on at all times during flight as suggested by Nathan Kanagy.  It could be programmed for auto on whenever the  gear comes up, but what about an instrument approach where you want the gear to be down at the IAF?  Not good.  Maybe actuated by a squat switch would be a better alternative. 
 
One suggestion was to have the manual on bypass the auto switch.  I question that idea for the reason that it would introduce more failure points with little benefit.  You now have two switches instead of one.  The first serves a purpose - to simplify and automate a necessary process.  The second switch serves only to get you around a possible failure in the first switch as I understand it.  My approach is to purchase a high quality three position switch and have a check list item to check all three positions for this and all other like switches prior to taking the runway.
 
Regards,
John Barrett 


From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Sky2high@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 8:35 PM
To: Lancair Mailing List
Subject: [LML] Pitot Heat and Checklists

In a message dated 6/28/2006 4:50:57 P.M. Central Standard Time, VTAILJEFF@aol.com writes:
Use a checklist.
Jeff, et al,
 
GULPS is as useful as GUMPS for the after-landing, runway-exit memory-registered checklist, too.
 
G - Do I need more now?
U -  Don't touch anything that would change their state! 
L - Lean for Taxi?
P - Is this more important than the cheap self-serve fuel pump, depending on stress and pressures at the moment.
S - Are all the switches I used for flight assist (AP, Pitot heat, certain lights, AOA, defrost, backup battery, essential bus, xpndr mode C, flaps, etc.) off or normal?
 
OK, then taxi forward with ATC permission, assuming I haven't hit the Avionics switch by accident.
 
Grayhawk

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