I trust the clock more than the heading indicator. So what if you roll out a
few degrees off of exactly 180? If you are trying to escape weather or avoid
special use airspace, the name of the game is to go away, not to go away on
a specific heading. Anyone who can't remember that the second hand (gotta
have one, you know) was on the twelve, or whatever, should have his or her
head examined.

Bob Gardner
"Cecil Chapman" wrote in message
...
Question:

As part of the Private Pilot training there is a minimum of 3 hours of
hood/instrument training required.

One of the things which seems to be always taught (it was the way I was
taught and the way I am instructing) is the one minute standard rate turn
which is to be used by a Private Pilot if he/she gets theirselves into
some IMC, inadvertently.

No matter who I ask, I get the same technique (which is the way I was
trained during my PPL training); standard rate turn, one minute (3 degrees
per second times 60 equals 180 degrees). Aside from the scenario where
there is a vacuum system failure (where you lose the DG, for example),
what is so wrong with teaching them to look at the bottom of the heading
indicator and standard rate turn to that value? The answers I get when I
ask this question, vary from, 'I was just taught to use time', 'the pilot
is likely to forget the 180 degree heading they were supposed to roll out
on', etc...

I teach, by timing, just as I was taught, but still haven't got a
compelling answer as to why not have them look at the 'bottom' of the DG
and turn to that heading (standard rate)? For those I've spoken to that
have said, "they are more likely to forget the heading than mess up the
time", I can see that they could just as easily lose track of the time as
they could the clock.

Anyone have any 'whys' on this one?

--
=-----
Good Flights!

Cecil E. Chapman
CFI-A, CP-ASEL-IA

Check out my personal flying adventures from my first flight to the
checkride AND the continuing adventures beyond!
Complete with pictures and text at: www.bayareapilot.com

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery -

"We who fly, do so for the love of flying. We are alive in the air with
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- Cecil Day Lewis -