Blue-line Debate

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If your instructors would rather fly into terrain than slow down a few knots and clear it on takeoff, that is their business.

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1. Part 23 certified light twins do not have to climb on one engine. Obstructions in the departure path should be treated much like a takeoff in a single engine airplane. Be able to turn to avoid the obstacle...or if a climb rate will not develop be ready for a suitable off airport landing. Your preflight planning should have accounted for contingencies other than slowing to climb over such obstacle.

2. Fly blue line. If obstacles must be cleared fly Vxse. No slower. If these speeds don't work...then treat your aircraft like it was a single and find a suitable place to put down.
 
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Recently I've had run-ins with several Riddle instructors on the topic of blue-line during engine-out flight. Their contention is that no matter the performance, you should always fly at blue-line when an engine is inoperative. Fair enough. However, my contention is that if you can gain performance by flying a few knots below blue-line, you should do it.

I'm interested in hearing some thoughts from other multi pilots about how engine-out ops should be conducted. Keep 'er at blue-line, or experiment a bit?

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I agree with your Riddle instructors. Fly the airplane by the numbers. Use blue line or Vxse and fly no slower. A light twin sometimes does not yield better performance than a single. Takeoff planning will dictate an off airport landing should the airplane not develop a climb. Any good multi-engine pilot will realize this and have a plan to land should the airplane not climb.

I would be concerned that as you begin to trend below blue line, eventually you will find a speed on the backside of the power curve and induce drag signifcantly. Not far behind that would be a sudden drop in speed and now you're close to Vmc. Combine this with the other distractions before you....and, well...you've got your hands full.

Fly Vyse or Vxse....evaluate if you will climb....if not...use your superior preflight planning work and put it down in a reasonable spot.
 
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Fly Vyse or Vxse....evaluate if you will climb....if not...use your superior preflight planning work and put it down in a reasonable spot.

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Absolutely.

Beside, if you've got to climb below blue line in order to clear an obstacle, you're probably a lot better off turning to avoid or planning to depart a different runway.
 
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