N659HB
En-Route
I've been puzzling over some advice my CFI provided during my BFR. Per his request, I compiled a paper flight plan to his home 'drome, where the review occurred. I had a short, straight leg departing my home field, where I climbed to my (fairly low) cruising altitude, and then turned on course. He asked why I had done this. When I explained my rationale, he suggested I instead circle the departure field to gain altitude, then turn on course above the airport. He stated that by doing so, I would be within gliding distance of a runway should the engine fail. (This is from a non-towered field, of course.) IIRC, the FAA Pilot's Handbook recommends a turn of 45 degrees or a straight out departure at non-towered fields.
Any one here do this (circling climb to cruise altitude) routinely? If so, how close to the airport do you remain?
Any one here do this (circling climb to cruise altitude) routinely? If so, how close to the airport do you remain?