CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 8 Issue 4 - 15
CFI TIPS
THE PRE-TAKEOFF BRIEFING SERVES AN IMPORTANT PURPOSE BECAUSE IT
FORCES THE PILOT TO THINK THROUGH WHAT COULD GO WRONG AND HOW SHE
WILL RESPOND. YOUR CLIENTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO FREEZE WHEN IT MATTERS
MOST IF THEY'VE ALREADY THOUGHT THROUGH THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO.
IF YOU TRAIN YOUR CLIENTS TO FLY
LIKE PROFESSIONALS, THEY'LL FLY LIKE
PROFESSIONALS EVEN WHEN YOU AREN'T
IN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THEM. One way to
encourage this mindset is to teach them
to conduct a pre-takeoff briefing on every
flight. New students may fly the same aircraft
on every flight, but at some point in their
training they will encounter different airports
and weather scenarios where a pre-takeoff
briefing will serve them well. By creating the
habit from the beginning of their training,
they are likely to maintain it throughout
their aviation careers, whether they fly
recreationally or professionally.
The pre-takeoff briefing serves an important
purpose because it forces the pilot to think
through what could go wrong and how she
will respond. Your clients are less likely to
freeze when it matters most if they've already
thought through the worst-case scenario.
While emergency scenario planning is crucial,
the pre-takeoff briefing should also include
a review of the various factors involved in a
takeoff, including the airport, aircraft, pilot,
and weather.
For example, the briefing should mention the
length and slope of the runway, along with
anything of concern in the airport environment.
Special note should be taken of any obstacles or
clear areas at the end of the runway.
When considering aircraft performance in
the briefing, focus on V speeds and the type
of takeoff planned. The pilot conducting the
briefing should also clearly state who is the
pilot in command. In an instructional flight,
for example, the student will likely be the pilot
in command, and the CFI will be prepared
to take control as needed, such as in an
emergency situation. All on board should be
clear about their roles and responsibilities.
The weather portion of the briefing should
primarily focus on wind direction and speed,
whether the runway is contaminated, and
how the weather may affect the takeoff and a
potential emergency landing.
Each time I brief a takeoff, the last part is
about what my actions will be in the event
of an emergency. If there is a loss of engine
power I want to already have a plan that I
have thought through. In 2013, a student
pilot with 23 hours of flight experience was
attempting a soft field takeoff in a PA28
when the aircraft lost directional control and
departed the runway on the left side into the
grass. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The
student said after the accident that he "froze"
and was "just along for the ride." A pre-takeoff
briefing would have helped this student think
through this type of scenario before being in
that situation. An emergency on takeoff is not
the time to waste precious seconds deciding
what to do. Takeoff and climb accidents are
fatal nearly one-quarter of the time.
No two briefings will be the same. You'll adjust
not only based on external factors but on
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 8 Issue 4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol14issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol13issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol12issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol11issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol10issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/flashcards_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol9issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol8issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol7issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol6issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol5issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/flashcards_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol4issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol3issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol3issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol3issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_vol2issue1
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/cfi_201009
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