Ast 5 Brief

Ast 5 Brief

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This one might be long. Deal.

Last week I sent an email to you that included the following:

• “Is it OK to begin the Two Engines Inoperative checklist prior to achieving SR speed?

• No. The full attention of all crewmembers will be on accomplishing the Phase One’s prior to calling for or starting any checklist. Being on the way to accomplishing it and actually accomplishing it are two different things.”

• One Level 2, one Level 3, three Level 3S’s and a designee have dropped by the office or emailed to let me know their concerns about this. Thanks you. It keeps me honest. Their concerns took some form of “Do you seriously want me to sit on my hands for 10 plus minutes with an engine fire while the jet slowly accelerates to SR?”

• Since so many experienced instructors have taken me to task over this, there are probably 30 or more of you who feel the same but haven’t said anything. That’s the reason for this letter. It seems that this calls for a little more explanation.

Here we go:

• This is not about FedEx policy. It’s not about how Buck or Gasko or I want to do things. It’s about aerodynamics.

• FACT: There is a minimum speed at which the jet will maintain level flight and allow mild maneuvering on only one engine. For you aero geeks, its called V(sse) or Safe Single Engine Speed.

• If we are slowly accelerating to SR with one gone and one on fire (but producing thrust), what will happen if we continue with the checklist and pull a throttle to idle or shut