On Feb 18, 9:33 pm, (Dane Spearing) wrote:
First and most important rule: Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS)! The more complex
of an organizational method you have, the more likely it is to fail.

I do use a kneeboard, with a pen holder on it. On the kneeboard is some
scratch paper, and usually the enroute chart I'm using at the moment.
I have a digital kitchen timer on the yoke for timing approaches along with
a simple clip below it for holding the approach plate in use. That way,
I don't have to divert my eyes too far from my scan when checking the
approach plate.

Do I write down every single clearance? No. Not if it's simple, like
"turn left to heading 270, descend and maintain 5,000". I also don't usually
write down approach clearances because you usually know what approach
they're going to give you ahead of time, and the last thing I want do to
during the approach phase of flight is take my attention away from the panel.
That said, sometimes those approach clearances can get fairly complex and it
may be worth jotting down the pertinent info.

For departure clearances, I have a sheet of blank paper on which I write
"CRAFTS" vertically along the left side for "Clearance, Route, Altitude,
Frequency, Transponder, Special" that I can fill in when given my clearance.

Keep your cockpit clutter to a minimum, and keep things as simple
as possible. The purpose of cockpit organization is so that you can
focus on the important things, like flying the airplane.

-- Dane

In article . com,

wrote:
What methods do you deploy? How many folks use a kneeboard? What
kind of timer (analog or digital stopwatch) do you use, and where do
you put it? Where do you keep the charts, approach plates, and
scratch paper? How many people write down every clearance, heading,
altitude and frequency change? How do you keep from dropping your pen
(or pencil)? Is it on a string? Where do you put in when not in
use? Velcro? Your pocket?

I've read the books, but I just wonder how people cope in real life.
Rod Machado talks about using a clipboard (with extra clips on the 3
other sides) in his excellent training manual. This seems like a good
idea to me.

Steve
PP ASEL
Instrument student

I had an excellent instructor tell me about the CRAFTS acronym almost
5 years ago, but I had forgotten all about it! Ethyl was in her 80's
and flew during WWII with the WASPs. She had both airplane and
helicopter instrument instructor ratings. She must not have weighed
more than 90 lbs, and had to sit on a pillow to see out. But she
would smack you on the right leg if you weren't using enough rudder!
In her day she taught most of the pilots in our town how to fly, but
Lord help you if you were on her bad side!

She finally retired about 2 years ago, and moved out of town with her
daughter. We miss her.

I agree with KISS principle. I'm hearing a lot of good ideas here.
My trouble for now is when I put on the IQ reducer (a.k.a. foggles) my
short term memory (and long term, and computing ability) tends to go
south, so if I don't write everything down I start doubting myself
halfway through that turn or altitude change (did he say a heading of
240 or 250?). I like the idea of using bugs and unused navigation
equipment to note the numbers.

Thanks!