So I’ve been thinking, as we know, the engine failure on takeoff is one of the absolute worst times for a failure to occur. Most of us are taught to turn the crosswind leg when we’re 300’ below pattern altitude (or thereabouts). I don’t like this because it puts you too far from the airport environment and makes it unlikely to return to the runway if the fan ever decided to stop. If you have plenty of fields off the departure end of the runway, than great, but not all of us do.
My idea and many probably already do this, would be to turn the crosswind asap or a climbing turn right into the downwind (at the very least offset yourself 45deg from the extended centerline). By doing this, you keep the airplane close to the airport and have a much greater probability of being able to return to the runway.
Obviously it will not work at every airport or situation. Think of it like departing runway 1 @ DCA...that climbing left hand turn right after getting airborne.
What sayeth you? Nothing is foolproof, but what are the issues that I’m not thinking of with this idea?
My idea and many probably already do this, would be to turn the crosswind asap or a climbing turn right into the downwind (at the very least offset yourself 45deg from the extended centerline). By doing this, you keep the airplane close to the airport and have a much greater probability of being able to return to the runway.
Obviously it will not work at every airport or situation. Think of it like departing runway 1 @ DCA...that climbing left hand turn right after getting airborne.
What sayeth you? Nothing is foolproof, but what are the issues that I’m not thinking of with this idea?