3 ms·
Commercial aircraft likely have quite the list of checks to do when on base / final approaches; but we learn BOUMFISH / PUFLR: B - Brakes: Checked / Working O
by _s 7y ago
Commercial aircraft likely have quite the list of checks to do when on base / final approaches; but we learn BOUMFISH / PUFLR:
B - Brakes: Checked / Working
O - Oil: Temps/Pressures Green
U - Undercarriage: Down / Green
M - Mixture, Master, Mags: Rich, On, Both
F - Fuel Pump: On
I - Instruments: Baro, DG, Radio's set
S - Switches: All in
H - Harnesses: Secure
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P - Pitch: Full fine
U - Undercarriage: Down / Green
F - Flaps: Set
L - Landing Clearance: Received
R - Runway: Clear
Most pilots in the US learn a GUMPS check:
G – Gas (Fuel on the proper tank, fuel pump on as required, positive fuel pressure)
U – Undercarriage (landing gear down)
M – Mixture (fuel mixture set)
P – Propeller (prop set)
S – Seat belts and Switches
Between flying the aircraft, communicating with ATC, and ensuring all the procedures are correctly followed (including monitoring each other) - there is a lot of stuff going on in the cockpit; and things are happening really quickly; you can sometimes get "behind" the aircraft - especially when unexpected things crop up, kudos to the pilots for recognising an unstable approach, going around, and then responding appropriately to the alarms in the cockpit and not being afraid to go around again.
I'd say it takes around 3-5 seconds for each checklist item; calling out, verifying it's in the required state, and continuing to the next one - you're looking at about 30 seconds on average; which is less time than what the pilots would have between going around and coming back for another attempt. Not to mention they're already likely following a missed approach procedure etc etc, so already pretty distracted, and then given "unexpected" (to them) directions by ATC (different circuit direction).
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BUMMMFITCHH https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BUMMMFITCHH
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUMPS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUMPS
- skellera 7y agoHow do you check your brakes in the air? Is there an indicator?
- t0mas88 7y agoTwo things to check, 1: Is the parkingbrake off (just look at the switch) and 2: Press the brakes and feel that there is pressure. If there is a hydraulic leak in a small plane you'll feel that there is no pressure behind the pedals. They work the same as a car.
- chopin 7y agoCurious: What do you do in such an event?
- t0mas88 7y agoDivert to an airport with as long a runway as possible and fly a "short field" approach. That uses maximum flaps and aims at minimum touchdown speed. You can land and stop most small planes in under 200m that way (if the brakes work) Most commercial airports have runways of well over 2000m, So you just land there and let it roll out. Large planes typically have multiple hydraulic systems, and within those systems there are "fuses" and accumulators to protect the vital parts (flight controls, brakes) in case there is a leak in another part.
- t0mas88 7y agoThe list on an airliner is actually shorter than for a small 172. And we don't "read and do" the checklist, we do it first and then read the list to verify. So the checklist also goes much faster.