AndyMac
Pre-takeoff checklist
I hate admitting failures, but I have learned so much from reading about others' failures, it is only fair that I share this one.
"a couple of nights ago" (vague so you don't look up the LiveATC audio hahaha!), I was departing our class charlie field with two of my kids in our club 172. Our departure was delayed (25min maybe?) by the CAP 182 sitting in the middle of the hanger area waiting for the fuel truck. It was getting late and I got out of the plane to go find out if they minded me trying to taxi around them, etc. When I got back in the plane, I didn't put my kneeboard back. (problem #1. use your kneeboard).
We eventually got untangled, just to get the most complicated taxi instructions I'd ever gotten from ground. I really should have written it down (see problem #1, and add problem #2. write down your taxi instructions.) It was a reasonable enough path, and I pulled up the taxi diagram on my phone, but it was too small (problem #3. grab the ipad. That's why you brought it, idiot).
I'll skip the rest of the play by play, but suffice it to say, the tower probably had a pretty good laugh, watching me sitting at each intersection, trying to make sure I was in the right place. When I eventually pulled out onto the runway, I was so turned around, I went the wrong direction. In my defense, it was an intersection departure on a 10,000' runway, and I turned towards the BEGINNING of the runway I was cleared to depart on, but the incredibly professional tower controller was watching for this. "Skyhawk 12345, that's the wrong way. Do a 180."
So. Yeah. That was embarrassing. The good news is, we learned some important lessons while the field was VERY quiet (there was nobody else on the field or in the airspace).
1. don't skip steps. don't call for taxi instructions without a place to write them down.
2. write down your taxi instructions. you wrote down the dewpoint ffs - why not your route?
3. actually pull up your taxi diagram - even at a familiar airport. You may get an unfamiliar route.
4. <sarcasm> oh I don't know, maybe a GLANCE at your effing compass/DG before pulling onto a runway at an intersection?</sarcasm>
[edit] 5. You control the throttle and the brakes. Don't move until you understand your taxi instructions. [thanks Larry!]
Not my finest day. I sure hope someone (in addition to me!) learns something from this.
"a couple of nights ago" (vague so you don't look up the LiveATC audio hahaha!), I was departing our class charlie field with two of my kids in our club 172. Our departure was delayed (25min maybe?) by the CAP 182 sitting in the middle of the hanger area waiting for the fuel truck. It was getting late and I got out of the plane to go find out if they minded me trying to taxi around them, etc. When I got back in the plane, I didn't put my kneeboard back. (problem #1. use your kneeboard).
We eventually got untangled, just to get the most complicated taxi instructions I'd ever gotten from ground. I really should have written it down (see problem #1, and add problem #2. write down your taxi instructions.) It was a reasonable enough path, and I pulled up the taxi diagram on my phone, but it was too small (problem #3. grab the ipad. That's why you brought it, idiot).
I'll skip the rest of the play by play, but suffice it to say, the tower probably had a pretty good laugh, watching me sitting at each intersection, trying to make sure I was in the right place. When I eventually pulled out onto the runway, I was so turned around, I went the wrong direction. In my defense, it was an intersection departure on a 10,000' runway, and I turned towards the BEGINNING of the runway I was cleared to depart on, but the incredibly professional tower controller was watching for this. "Skyhawk 12345, that's the wrong way. Do a 180."
So. Yeah. That was embarrassing. The good news is, we learned some important lessons while the field was VERY quiet (there was nobody else on the field or in the airspace).
1. don't skip steps. don't call for taxi instructions without a place to write them down.
2. write down your taxi instructions. you wrote down the dewpoint ffs - why not your route?
3. actually pull up your taxi diagram - even at a familiar airport. You may get an unfamiliar route.
4. <sarcasm> oh I don't know, maybe a GLANCE at your effing compass/DG before pulling onto a runway at an intersection?</sarcasm>
[edit] 5. You control the throttle and the brakes. Don't move until you understand your taxi instructions. [thanks Larry!]
Not my finest day. I sure hope someone (in addition to me!) learns something from this.
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