dell30rb
Final Approach
What are your personal habits when using pitot heat? On all the time from takeoff to landing? Or on condition?
Whenever headed into visible moisture anywhere near freezing temperatures. No need to wear it out beyond that.
Mostly on condition, but if you want to leave it on all the time, have at it. Most bigger aircraft are on all the time with no ill effect.
I try to turn the pitot heat on when there is visible moisture but if I don't and it freezes, it's not a big deal.
When the bug smashed into your pitot, and you flew hundreds of miles without it, i'm guessing you were not IFR and in the clouds.
A frozen pitot is a big deal if you are in IMC. Too many accidents to list. Very disorienting until you figure it out, and even then it would be quite distracting.
I've had instructors tell me 'on condition' and others say that pitot heating elements are inexpensive, and they flip it on when they take the runway, and off when exiting - every time.
I'm pretty good about keeping up with temperature while flying so i've been doing the on-condition thing. However, I rarely ever need to turn it on or worry about ice, so I think I may be more likely to forget it one day.
Not really. I've had it. Just referenced the GPS altimeter and ground speed indicator. Coupled with RPM and pitch, it was a non issue.
Well I guess that we should now just assume that everyone has GPS altimeter and GS to rely on when they get themselves into a situation that they shouldn't have gotten into to begin with. Using those tools is a great option if: you have it, and you need it.Not really. I've had it. Just referenced the GPS altimeter and ground speed indicator. Coupled with RPM and pitch, it was a non issue.
Well I guess that we should now just assume that everyone has GPS altimeter and GS to rely on when they get themselves into a situation that they shouldn't have gotten into to begin with. Using those tools is a great option if: you have it, and you need it.
It is a big deal. We can marginalize things all we want.
No kiddin?A frozen pitot does not affect anything but your airspeed. Altimeter still works fine.
AwesomeI have full confidence in my ability to fly a plane in IMC without airspeed or groundspeed info. I've flown around plenty under the hood with it covered up.
My whole point.I also realize that a frozen pitot will be extremely disorienting and dangerous until you recognize the failure.
Were you in IMC when it froze? i'm sure there was a WTF moment leading up to that
It is a big deal. We can marginalize things all we want.
Not quite so fast Skippy. It all depends upon what you're flying. If you're flying a jet or turboprop the pitot/static heat comes on when you're taking the runway for takeoff and they don't come off until after you've landed. Back when I was flying pressurized piston twins, that was SOP as well.....and end thread.
I've had instructors tell me 'on condition' and others say that pitot heating elements are inexpensive, and they flip it on when they take the runway, and off when exiting - every time.
Pitot heat on a Cherokee is also static heat. Frozen static port locks indicated altitude at the altitude you were at when it froze over.
That's a nice feature. I thought static ports were less prone to freezing - most aircraft have no static heat.
The cherokee pitot/static system terminates at a finlike blade underneath the left wing. The term "pitot heat" doesn't make it immediately obvious how much effect the heat would have on the static port, but the whole fin gets warm when the heat is on. A lot of cherokees often have an alternate static inside the cockpit.That's a nice feature. I thought static ports were less prone to freezing - most aircraft have no static heat.
It's on the back side of the pitot stack.
Please say "many light aircraft have no static heat" because quite a few do and just about all aircraft above 12,500 pounds do as well.That's a nice feature. I thought static ports were less prone to freezing - most aircraft have no static heat.