REFLECTOR: "Text" Pilot

[Richard J. Gentil]

With our latest "Text" Pilot now airborne I thought it might be worth talking about the uses of a smart phone on the first flight:

First off, before you do your taxi test, preflight the aircraft as if you were going to fly it. Have a plan for what you are going to do on the first flight. Do a full run up and systems check, etc. 

Camera feature: Picture of the gauges, flight instruments, and position of the control surfaces. Videos are cool but the readings of all your systems are more valuable. 

If you have a Bluetooth headset, you can be in communication with a mechanic or pilot on the ground that can go over with you what you should be looking for or give reports of the exterior of the aircraft as you fly over. Make sure your brief the plan for the flight with the person on the ground before you go so you are both on the same page.

******All of this provided you have the time. "Don't drop the airplane while flying the mike."*******

Since I had a plan in case during my high speed taxi testing it turned into the first flight, which it did due to 20kt (45 degree off the centerline of the runway) gust of wind, it was very helpful to have a person on the ground making sure I did everything we had briefed prior to my departure. 

Richard 

Sent from my iPhone 4 Classic