Everything at hand

An aircraft cockpit is only so big or so small so one has to be organised to best use the available space.

In large aircraft, often multi engine, there is usually room in the cockpit for pilot kit that includes charts and the other paraphernalia that we as pilots need. In smaller aircraft there is usually less space.

Light aircraft that were designed in the 1940’s were satisfactory for pilots of the day but since that time the size of pilots has changed. They have got bigger but not all cockpits got proportionally bigger. Fast food has a lot to answer for.

As an example try doing a serious cross country flight in a Cessna 152. It is very cramped.

Some aircraft have built in pockets around the pilots seating position that kit can be put into but unfortunately not all aircraft are so equipped.

It makes no difference if the flight in question is a short or long flight a pilot needs to have a certain amount of kit and paperwork around him and to have access to it in flight. That paperwork could include the flight plan, a weather print out, charts, aerodrome guides, a note pad to write down the ATIS, the flight manual, a flight folder, avionics guides and like material. Other kit that needs a space includes a place for your sunnies, a baseball cap, iPad, torch, portable VHF radio, portable GPS, a drink bottle, portable ELT, some burp bags and a passenger briefing guide. Some aircraft have space between the front seats but often this is taken up with a fire extinguisher or the fuel taps or flap or gear levers. The current trend in new aircraft appears to have an avionics console between the seats leaving no space for kit and paperwork.

Serious training aircraft these days are typically four seaters. The back seats are often used for the two crew members to stow their kit away. Two seat aircraft often do not have that space. If we now move to the real world of commercial charter flying and that of a four or six place single there is no space to stow a regular flight bag. It has to be reduced in size and may be stowed in the baggage compartment. A smart pilot will use the likes of a compact IFR bag to carry his needed flight paperwork under his knees on the floor. These bags usually have extra pockets for kit like a torch, a wiz wheel, a fuel tester and extra pens. A large flight bag is the stuff of the baggage compartment, provided there is space after the passenger’s bags.

One has to chuckle when you see a budding commercial pilot at a flight school with a large lawyer-style hard sided carry-everything flight bag. Some even have wheels. The question is where can you stow a bag of that size, have access to required kit and still have space for the passengers? Remember, anything that is needed in flight or may be needed in flight has to be accessible to the pilot and without undue delay.

Anything that is or may be needed in flight has to be accessible.

Now we cut to the chase. Any pilot in any aeroplane has to be organised. What does that mean? It means that the pilot has to have everything required for the flight leg or legs at hand and ready to use. That means charts folded ready to view, flight plan at hand, a mud map with radio frequencies and GPS waypoints noted, flight folder with charts inside, an iPad, if used, at hand.

The top of the coaming, instrument panel to you new chums, or sitting on your lap for the take-off or landing are not the places to be stowing charts or the like. Too much potential for things to block your view or fall. Human nature being what it is one has a need to divert the attention from out front to chasing fallen items. The motto is everything in its place and a place for everything.

A tip for pen users. Use a pen that can be operated one handed. That pen should be able to slide into a shirt pocket with ease. A dab of blue tack on the instrument panel will also make for a good pen holder and be readily accessible.

As a pilot you need to always be organised, not just with times and the aircraft, but with having the right flight kit and ready access to it in flight. It is best to organise things in the cockpit before the engine starts. Things should be easily at hand and ready to use such as charts folded ready to use or knowing what the next radio frequency is or waypoint by designation. It is no fun scrabbling to try and find something in the cockpit when the pressure is on.

A little bit of pre flight cockpit organisation and ensuring that things are at hand will make a flight run smoothly. Try it.

Contact Dave by email: [email protected]