How many of you teach your students to always keep their hand on the throttle?
- Thread starter Pachong
- Start date
BajtheJino
I'm looking at you.
I think of it this way-Why would you need to keep your hand on the power?
MidlifeFlyer
Well-Known Member
I've actually had throttles slip back on their own.
It's probably not a huge issue in the real world but since the primary goal is to keep your attention somewhere else and your right hand isn't needed for something else (at least we hope not!) ...
It's probably not a huge issue in the real world but since the primary goal is to keep your attention somewhere else and your right hand isn't needed for something else (at least we hope not!) ...
inigo88
Composite-lover
During cruise, if the throttle backs off because the friction lock isn't set then you are inconvenienced. During takeoff and initial climb, if the throttle backs off then you could face a potential departure stall and death. I still remember taking off, taking my hand off the throttle at about 300 ft and my CFI pulling the power and saying "Now what?" 
CoffeeIcePapers
Well-Hung Member
After takeoff and a reasonable altitude, there is no reason. It seems to me like it causes throttle jockeying, which can get really annoying.
Inverted25
Well-Known Member
I was taught hand on throttle during takeoff and landing and when doing maneuvers. My only exception to this is towing gliders in a Pawnee then my hand is on the release handle and my forearm is holding the throttle full open. Nothing more scary then watching the glider in your rear view mirror rocket up like a bat out of hell when you still accelerating in ground effect.
DesertDriver
Well-Known Member
Do you just cut them free at that point?
I was a bastard when I was a CFI.
If I caught the student with the friction lock not set and his hand off the throttle for too long, it presented itself as a potential opportunity for some engine failure practice!
757VX, if the lock wasn't set, would vibrate itself out to about 50% power if you didn't watch it.
If I caught the student with the friction lock not set and his hand off the throttle for too long, it presented itself as a potential opportunity for some engine failure practice!
757VX, if the lock wasn't set, would vibrate itself out to about 50% power if you didn't watch it.
gotWXdagain
Polished Member
I teach it as something to hold on to so they aren't two-handing the yoke. Once you get comfortable with that, its really not necessary to hold it through the entire flight. I usually just instinctively hold it through the takeoff and up through the initial climb, then once that's done, let the hand go. Only a couple of times have I had throttle creep even on takeoff and its usually slow enough that there's easily time to process what's going on, and its only been when my had was still there on the throttle knob but not up against it, so a simple push forward and climb performance regained. When you're pitching for Vy, throttle creep is usually so slow- ****In my experience****- that you start figuring out something isn't quite right when Vy = level flight.
gotWXdagain
Polished Member
And that's not how I want to teach my students. Flying should be comfortable, not full of "what if's." Train for the what-ifs and plan for them, but don't be afraid of them.
Inverted25
Well-Known Member
Only had to cut one loose in all the tows I have done. Generally the rule is if I hit a control stop because a glider is out if position then they are getting cut loose. The exception to that rule is when they are boxing the wake. Then I give them a two count after hitting the stop before they eat the rope.
It does. Some planes, there are other things on the throttle(s), such as the PTT, speed brakes, etc.
But yes, for sake of argument, we're talking standard light GA training planes here in the thread.
Houston
Well-Known Member
I know this isn't where the question was aimed, but one related thing that gets to me is where pilots of light GA training airplanes put their hands during engine start. One hand should be on the starter. One hand should be in the area of the power quadrant (throttle and / or mixture). One hand should be holding the yoke. Since it takes three hands and most pilots only have two, something needs to give. In most cases that would be the third hand on the yoke. But, what I'll see is one hand on the starter and the other hand on their knee.