Tue Jan 18, 2005 2:23 pm
#154222
Chilli has described one SOP, but there are others.
For example PNF monitors the instruments, head down, calls "100 to go" and "decide" at which point PF looks out, that being the first time anyone looks outside. The rationale is that you are either flying instruments or visually, not a mixture (it's the mixture that gives you the dangerous misleading cues) and the PF knows exactly what he expects to see (in terms of Xmas tree, PAPIs etc) when looking up, so there is less likelihood of mis-recognised cues. It also has the advantage that every IFR approach is flown on instruments to minima, so ensuring the recency that Paul says he lacks.
Another technique that used to be applied by BA is for PF to fly to minima and PNF to take over and land visually at DH. This methodology causes as much debate as QFE/QNH and Mac/PC, and I am agnostic. The advantage is that PNF is wholly focussed on visual and PF wholly on instruments and there is no transition, the disadvantage is that PNF takes over without getting his brain and muscles in gear over the previous five minutes. This is not really a problem on short haul where the pilot is flying six sectors a day every day.
I am not advocating either of these over Chilli's (though we used to use the first above) merely pointing out that there are variations.
Timothy
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