Brakes?

Peter Dohm wrote:
Actually, I was taught that the parking brakes were essentially useless and
were difficult to set and worse to release; and AFAIK, I never did try
setting and releasing them.

I was taught to set the parking brake during the pre-flight. This meant
it couldn't roll after I untied it; the brake was released when I was
ready to taxi. It was set again during the run-up, and released, again,
when ready to taxi. Not as a substitute for keeping my feet firmly on the
brake pedals during the run-up, but as insurance in case I accidentally
lightened the pressure.

Interestingly, setting it was on the checklist, but releasing it wasn't.
It was pretty obvious when I forgot to release it.

.... Alan
--
Alan Gerber
PP-ASEL
gerber AT panix DOT com

Alan Gerber wrote:
I was taught to set the parking brake during the pre-flight.

I forgot to mention, this was in a Piper Warrior. I don't know if the
school has a similar procedure for Cessnas, or if there's something
different about their brakes.

.... Alan
--
Alan Gerber
PP-ASEL
gerber AT panix DOT com

"Alan Gerber" wrote in message
...
Alan Gerber wrote:
I was taught to set the parking brake during the pre-flight.

I forgot to mention, this was in a Piper Warrior. I don't know if the
school has a similar procedure for Cessnas, or if there's something
different about their brakes.

... Alan
--
Alan Gerber
PP-ASEL
gerber AT panix DOT com

My current thinking on the matter is that using the parking brake at least
once for each flight is a very good idea--and almost certainly reduces the
probability that it will either stick or leak. Basically, some of the best
day to day maintenance for a lot of things is simply to use them.

Peter

Now that I think about it, I always set the brakes because the only way
to know if there's a slight incline is to wait to see if it starts rolling.
Plus, you never know if someone will come around and lean on it.

--
-Ed Falk,
http://thespamdiaries.blogspot.com/