SMAC260 Too Much Information

electronics

Welcome to Episode 260. We all love modern electronics in our aircraft, but are you managing the information effectively? In a cockpit that looks like the display floor at Best Buy, with multiple devices that all can tell you where you are, where you’re going, and when you’ll get there, how do you choose which features and settings are best for your flying?

We’re not going into what to do when the automation breaks down, there have already been plenty of discussions about that – in this episode, we will talk about our best tips and practices for how to be organized and efficient when using today’s technology. And that means anything from a fully decked out glass cockpit in a technically advanced aircraft, to an old taildragger with portable devices suctioned to the panel.

Before we begin a quick word from our sponsor.

Preflight Checklist:

Please consider becoming a patron. Every dollar we raise goes towards giving away a scholarship guide through our Pay It Forward Campaign. Please visit:

https://www.patreon.com/ValeriAviation 

With over $120 Million in aerospace scholarships, we are the largest online directory. Be part of changing people’s lives by investing in others and becoming a patron by visiting http://StuckMicAvCast.com/patron.

News And Announcements:

New CFI job for Carl.

Cruise Flight (Talking Points): 

The modern cockpit – PFDs, MFDs, touch screen navigators, EIS, an iPad (or two) ADS-B devices with AHRS….  Redundancy or confusion? This is a critical part of SRM – single-pilot resource management.

“Manual of arms” Different manufacturers work a little differently – do the same thing but small changes in buttonology can be very confusing.

Breaking down the functions. “Function stacking”. Each device (or section of the device) has a primary and a backup job

The iPad is your chart – it’s electronically moving its finger along the paper. 

The PFD controls the airplane – up/down/left-right.

The MFD or touchscreen navigator is part of your “radios” – remember when we used to have to dial in VORs!!

And they each back the others up in case of a failure.

Keeping the info organized.

Keep your eyes up – scan/3 taps

Don’t be “flying the iPad” 

Make a routine for which screens you use for various phases of flight

Keeping the cockpit clean and organized.

iPad mounts

Cords and cables

Charging

Checklists

Keeps you efficient, and out of the way in case you need to get out

Adding devices to a steam gauge airplane – what jobs do the electronics take over – primary/backup?

Other tips

After Landing Checklist:

PIcks Of The Week:

Carl – Aviation Weather Services: FAA-AC00-45H (the softcover version)

Bill – WINTER IS COMING!!  https://www.youtube.com/user/SmartPilotCanada/videos

Sean – Vickers VC10 mobile home, 737 coming soon https://www.facebook.com/The-VC10-caravan-pod-108438714152064

Tom – FAASafety WINGS – https://www.faasafety.gov/wings/pub/learn_more.aspx

Eric – https://flyhoneycomb.com

Links Mentioned In This Podcast:

SMAC259 Ferry Pilot: Nine Lives Over the North Atlantic with Kerry McCauley

Welcome to Episode 259. Today we have a special guest Kerry McCauley author of Ferry Pilot: Nine Lives Over the North Atlantic. 

Before we begin a quick word from our sponsor.

Preflight Checklist:

Please consider becoming a patron. Every dollar we raise goes towards giving away a scholarship guide through our Pay It Forward Campaign. Please visit:

https://www.patreon.com/ValeriAviation 

With over $120 Million in aerospace scholarships, we are the largest online directory. Be part of changing people’s lives by investing in others and becoming a patron by visiting http://StuckMicAvCast.com/patron.

News And Announcements:

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4TH, 2020 1PM – 7PM

SATURDAY DECEMBER 5TH, 2020 9AM-4PM

SUN ‘N FUN HOLIDAY FLYING FESTIVAL AND CAR SHOW

Join us Saturday, December 5th at 10 AM for a GA Town Hall

ACE President and CEO John “Lites” Leenhouts, 

AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker, and 

EAA President, CEO, and Board Chairman Jack Pelton

Stay tuned for more details by visiting FlySNF.org

Again joining us today is Kerry McCauly author of Ferry Pilot: Nine Lives Over the North Atlantic. In his 30 year career as an international ferry pilot, Kerry has battled fuel system malfunctions over the Atlantic, a total electrical failure at night over the Sahara, being struck by lightning off the coast of Portugal, and losing his engine in a thunderstorm. Today he will share his adventure and give us an inside view into the thrills and challenges of being a ferry pilot over the Atlantic.

Welcome to the show, Kerry.

Cruise Flight (Talking Points): 

  • Single engine over the ocean. Really?
  • Why fly a plane over the ocean when you can ship it in a container?
  • How do you prepare for a journey over water?
  • Challenges and exciting adventures.
  • Mitigating the risks when flying over the Atlantic.
  • What Kerry flies when there is land under his wings.
  • Landing at St. Barts. 
  • Kerry’s next flying adventure.
  • How we can get in touch with Kerry and find his book.

After Landing Checklist:

No Picks of the week since this is an interview.

Links Mentioned In This Podcast:

FERRY PILOT: Nine Lives Over the North Atlantic by Kerry McCauley

https://amzn.to/34sIe0Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fY2XPtcrng&ab_channel=SmithsonianChannel