Reserve altitude

On Friday, May 26, 2017 at 8:46:28 AM UTC-4, MNLou wrote:
Hi Evan -

Would you please expand a bit on why you think it is better to set reserve altitude to zero?

Thanks!

Lou

I think the idea behind reserve altitude is somehow simplify thinking about getting home. Unless you have a positive number for your arrival, don't start your final glide. However, I think it does the opposite. Every pilot I know (and me when I used a reserve) would be thinking " I have a thousand feet over a thousand feet (reserve)". So when it was supposed save math, it really complicates it. No big deal on a fat glide, but the real problem is when it is not working out on final.

So you are on final glide, things go south, and now you are "under glide". You could be in a reasonable position, but you are seeing a very worrying -270 ft on the display. Is it safe to stay on glide, or do you need to really worry. Much better to have set your "goal" to arrive at 1000 ft, have no reserve, and then when it does not work out, you are seeing exactly what you want (or don't want) to know, you are 730' over. If your panties are in a bunch, and you are trying to add a reserve (was it 1000, or 800ft) to your negative glide number, it is just the distraction you don't want.

Set the reserve to 0, and head home at your comfort level + the amount you used to have in your reserve. It will be a much better display if you end up with a squeaker...

Rick