Things CFIs are Sick of saying, doing, or hearing

Until reaching 1000 AGL, my students learn to immediately pitch down for best glide and pick a landing spot in front of the wings. Much better chance to walk away if you land in a field rather that crashing short of the runway.

As for radio calls I hate: "...is clear of the active," or "... is taking the active."
I tell my students that if it is correct to refer to the runway in use as the "active" then you should also announce "... is left downwind for the active" etc.
 
subpilot said:
Until reaching 1000 AGL, my students learn to immediately pitch down for best glide and pick a landing spot in front of the wings. Much better chance to walk away if you land in a field rather that crashing short of the runway.

As for radio calls I hate: "...is clear of the active," or "... is taking the active."
I tell my students that if it is correct to refer to the runway in use as the "active" then you should also announce "... is left downwind for the active" etc.
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Agreed. There is no such thing as an "active runway" at an uncontrolled airport. They are ALL active!
 
Mr_Creepy said:
Agreed. There is no such thing as an "active runway" at an uncontrolled airport. They are ALL active!
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I think when some guys hit the push to think button "active" is easier to remember than the runway they just landed on. We should land on a runway that no one else is using and call "clear of the inactive" just for kicks.
 
I admit I sometimes announce "clear of the runway" or "clear of all runways" just so that any traffic on any final knows that I am not in their way. I'm always affraid of some yahoo thinking "oh, well he was using 30R but I'm on 12L so no conflict" or something of that sort.

However, you all have inspired me to review the AIM so I may change up my style a bit.
 
I say "the active" sometimes... Don't know who I picked that up from but I usually manage to correct myself on it and replace it with the Runway #.

As for turning back to the runway before getting to within 300' of TPA, if a poweroff glide gives you 500 fpm and you do a power off standard rate for 1 min you will turn 180 degrees and most likely land short of the runway and to the side of it by a pretty good distance. Good luck for all that try it, I wish you and your students the best.

And with GKY, that is a whole different animal... See and avoid is the idea there... I have seen several times, two planes lining up for final from the north and the south at the same time. It really gets bad when the wind comes from the south and people are using the approaches and doing straight in landings with a tailwind while other traffic is doing it the right way.
 
ryanmickG said:
Most people giving the airport advisory are more worried about their turkey sandwich then what airplanes are in the pattern. I wouldnt trust their traffic advisories. As far as runway in use, again ASOS will give you wind direction. If it is still unclear then listen to landing traffic, if their is none, use whatever runway you wish. Airport advisories are usless information.
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Yep, sure is useless to know that there's a radio-less cropduster operating just off the end of the runway that the wind is favoring, and since no one else is flying there, you can't follow their lead. Oh, but the dude in the office who told you that is too stoned to know anything, so just ignore it and go for it.
 
mtsu_av8er said:
Except that there is a such thing as a left upwind . . . ;)

I personally hate it when people refer to the departure leg as the upwind leg . . . . . AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
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Dang, you took the one that bothered me the most :)

I've not read all the rest yet, but I kinda get sick of saying "stop looking at the panel" or similar words.
 
I was taught to turn out at 500'AGL , because thats our target altitude when turning base to final, we should be passing 500' AGL. Thats how I teach it in a twin as well. This seems to work well as base call is our Blueline-Gump check and right after turning final we make our 400'AGL gear down stabilized call.
 
Airdale said:
I was taught to turn out at 500'AGL , because thats our target altitude when turning base to final,
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By that logic you would be retarding the throttles to idle once passing over the #ers on the departure leg because that is where you do it when you are on final.

I'm not following you on that one.

I just don't see why people like to rationalize why it is OK to go against the AIM on this one. It is something that is so easy to do and there are very rare cases where you are prevented from climbing to within 300' of TPA to make your turn.
 
Timbuff10 said:
I just don't see why people like to rationalize why it is OK to go against the AIM on this one.
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Because they say it's not "regulatory" . . . which makes me laugh!!

Try telling that to the FAA . . .
 
mtsu_av8er said:
Because they say it's not "regulatory" . . . which makes me laugh!!

Try telling that to the FAA . . .
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I actually agree with you and the following of the AIM but keep laughing because it is not regulatory and the AIM even say that. From the AIM, "This publication, while not regulatory, provides information which reflects operating techniques and procedures...." After many aviation law classes and case studies the FAA can not violate you for not complying with the AIM...however there has been many a time where they throw on good old 91.13. Which all of it makes for some fun times and lots of money for lawyers.
 
Timbuff10 said:
Tell me this then... What is wrong with saying "left final"? I am yet to hear anyone come up with a good answer to this, other than, "it annoys me", or "I don't like it".

I'm not a huge fan of it either, but until I hear of a good reason not to do it, I'm not going to correct people for it or act like I am better than them because they say it.
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There is no such thing as left final???? Do you mean like you are on final for 30L? If you are on what you consider "left final" than you are probably on the "left base" !
 
"Left final" is a military term. Flight of two, left final and right final. Nobody on the centerline.

Civilians often use the same terminology when they are sorta lined up on the runway, but not really, knowwhatImean Vern?
 
SteveC said:
"Left final" is a military term. Flight of two, left final and right final. Nobody on the centerline.

Civilians often use the same terminology when they are sorta lined up on the runway, but not really, knowwhatImean Vern?
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Must be an air force term... no comprende in the Army, chief.
 
Timbuff10 said:
I say "the active" sometimes... Don't know who I picked that up from but I usually manage to correct myself on it and replace it with the Runway #.....
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I've been flying with another instructor's student this past week who says both "the active" and the runway# every time. It kinda funny to hear....."Castle Traffic, Alarus 368AM is clear of the active runway 31, Castle"....The active runway 31 as opposed to the inacitve runway 31?:confused:
 
n57flyguy said:
Is it wrong to say "clear of the active"? My instructor says that, I havnt handeled the radios much.
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No so much wrong as it is vague. A runway # is just more specific.
 
As long as we're talking about clarity, "clear runway #___" is just a slight improvement over "clear the active."

"Clear ALL runways" is better.

"Clear runway #___ at (taxiway)" is better yet.

Radio calls should be brief, but clear. The purpose is to inform listening aircraft of your location and intentions. It's possible to be so brief as to be effectively useless. Just because you know where you are and what you're doing doesn't mean anyone else does. And when it comes to "see and avoid," the clearest picture is the best picture.

The scariest thing I ever heard another pilot say wasn't "Watch this;" it was "It'll be ok," as he continued his approach to land, unsure of another aircraft's position.
 
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