Flight Training - March 2014 - 13

HOW IT WORKS

BY IAN J. TWOMBLY

Aircraft heater
A lot of hot air
LIGHT AIRCRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL systems are generally abysmal. Air conditioners are usually only found in
high-end airplanes, and while heating systems work well, they come with a big caveat on usage.
The heater in most single-engine airplanes is nothing more than hot air directed back from the engine.
This is accomplished with a shroud that surrounds the exhaust to collect the radiant heat. The shroud is
connected to a tube that goes through the firewall. Depending on the airplane, it's then directed up to the
windscreen and down toward the rudder pedals. Pulling the lever to turn the heat on simply opens a gate
or valve in a junction box that allows the hot air to pass.
This system has a few advantages. It's cheap, fairly light, and at least when the engine has warmed up, it
gets the cabin as hot as Miami in July.
But there are two major disadvantages. Any smoke around the engine is easily
passed straight into the cabin when the valve is open. Even worse, if there is a leak
in the exhaust, the heater will allow carbon monoxide into the cabin-the poisonous
gas that is odorless and colorless. The only way to prevent this is not to use the
heater. But sometimes that's necessary, so it pays to invest in inexpensive carbon
monoxide detectors.

STEVE KARP

MULTIENGINE HEAT
Designers of multiengine airplanes employ a dedicated heater to keep the cockpit warm. These usually burn the aircraft's fuel
supply, so pilots must factor that into their fuel calculations. Many pilots are wary of this type of heater because of the risks
associated with having a gas-burning heater in the nose of an airplane.

MARCH 2014 FLIGHT TRAINING

/ 13



Flight Training - March 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - March 2014

Flight Training - March 2014
Contents
Member Benefits
Right Seat
Letters
Slip Slidin' Away
Success Stories News
How it Works
After the Checkride
News
Training Products
Events
ASI News
Final Exam
Around the Patch
Checkride
Flight Lesson
Flying Carpet
CHILL OUT
SMILES ALL AROUND
WALK THE TALK
TECHNIQUE
Weather
Career Pilot
Instructor Report
Career Advisor
Instrument Training Tip
Accident Report
Advertiser Index
Debrief
Flight Training - March 2014 - Flight Training - March 2014
Flight Training - March 2014 - Cover2
Flight Training - March 2014 - Contents
Flight Training - March 2014 - 2
Flight Training - March 2014 - 3
Flight Training - March 2014 - Member Benefits
Flight Training - March 2014 - 5
Flight Training - March 2014 - Right Seat
Flight Training - March 2014 - 7
Flight Training - March 2014 - Letters
Flight Training - March 2014 - 9
Flight Training - March 2014 - Slip Slidin' Away
Flight Training - March 2014 - 11
Flight Training - March 2014 - Success Stories News
Flight Training - March 2014 - How it Works
Flight Training - March 2014 - After the Checkride
Flight Training - March 2014 - News
Flight Training - March 2014 - Training Products
Flight Training - March 2014 - Events
Flight Training - March 2014 - ASI News
Flight Training - March 2014 - Final Exam
Flight Training - March 2014 - Around the Patch
Flight Training - March 2014 - 21
Flight Training - March 2014 - Checkride
Flight Training - March 2014 - 23
Flight Training - March 2014 - Flight Lesson
Flight Training - March 2014 - 25
Flight Training - March 2014 - Flying Carpet
Flight Training - March 2014 - 27
Flight Training - March 2014 - CHILL OUT
Flight Training - March 2014 - 29
Flight Training - March 2014 - 30
Flight Training - March 2014 - 31
Flight Training - March 2014 - 32
Flight Training - March 2014 - 33
Flight Training - March 2014 - SMILES ALL AROUND
Flight Training - March 2014 - 35
Flight Training - March 2014 - 36
Flight Training - March 2014 - 37
Flight Training - March 2014 - WALK THE TALK
Flight Training - March 2014 - 39
Flight Training - March 2014 - 40
Flight Training - March 2014 - 41
Flight Training - March 2014 - TECHNIQUE
Flight Training - March 2014 - 43
Flight Training - March 2014 - Weather
Flight Training - March 2014 - 45
Flight Training - March 2014 - 46
Flight Training - March 2014 - Career Pilot
Flight Training - March 2014 - 48
Flight Training - March 2014 - Instructor Report
Flight Training - March 2014 - Instrument Training Tip
Flight Training - March 2014 - Accident Report
Flight Training - March 2014 - 52
Flight Training - March 2014 - Advertiser Index
Flight Training - March 2014 - 54
Flight Training - March 2014 - 55
Flight Training - March 2014 - 56
Flight Training - March 2014 - 57
Flight Training - March 2014 - 58
Flight Training - March 2014 - 59
Flight Training - March 2014 - 60
Flight Training - March 2014 - 61
Flight Training - March 2014 - 62
Flight Training - March 2014 - 63
Flight Training - March 2014 - Debrief
Flight Training - March 2014 - Cover3
Flight Training - March 2014 - Cover4
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