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When CFIs Fly Together (November 99)
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This excellent report from a CFI involved in a loss-of-separation incident at an uncontrolled field describes some of the crew coordination issues at stake?and potential hazards?when two CFIs fly together.
- This was a training flight where I, the pilot flying, was getting checked out in a new aircraft...by another CFI. While I was doing the flying, the pilot not flying was handling all the electronics. We were both looking out for other traffic and making radio calls.
Unable to get a response from UNICOM we decided to land on Runway 22... On taxi back there was a fair amount of chatter on the UNICOM and the pilot not flying turned the volume down on the radio. We performed our before take-off check and looked for traffic on final, base, and downwind for Runway 22. We did not turn the volume up on the radio (some takeoff check) nor did we announce our departure.
While on the takeoff roll, the pilot not flying suddenly grabbed the controls, only to release them again allowing me to continue the takeoff, but pointed out [another aircraft] on short final for Runway 10! We were well past the intersection prior to his touchdown, but this was just a little too close.
There were a number of factors leading up to this incident. First and foremost, the concept of "See and Avoid" was not practiced. Unlike what I teach my students, we only checked the pattern we were using and did not accomplish a 360 to check the whole area... Nor did we have the radio volume turned up. This was another factor. There is no excuse for not monitoring UNICOM or announcing our intentions.
Probably the most important factor, I feel, was the delineation of who actually was PIC and who was to do what. Though I was "sole manipulator of the controls," I assumed the role of student and expected/relied on the other CFI to assume all responsibility..
I feel, that when two CFIs are flying together the responsibilities HAVE to be spelled out so that there are no assumptions, second guessing, missed items/procedures and missed traffic.
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