Unicom
August 2006 Issue
Unicom: 08/06
Turbulence Flap
I am a retired aeronautical engineer and active CFI. I conduct many aviation safety seminars and teach, among other subjects, safety aspects for operating in turbulence. I have a comment regarding “Taking It Slow” (May 2006).
In this article, author Jeff Pardo states, “Then when it gets below VFE or VLE, you respectively can lower the flaps or landing gear, if so equipped. That will slow you down more, of course.”
Extending the landing gear is okay, but suggesting that extending the flaps to slow down in turbulence is a good idea is, well, a very bad idea. Flaps, besides increasing drag, cause a considerable increase in the airfoil camber and, in some cases,...
To continue reading this entire article you must be a paid subscriber.
Subscribe to Aviation Safety
The monthly journal of risk management and accident prevention, is packed with useful, timely information on basic and advanced technique, accident analysis and, most important, practical articles on how you can develop the judgment that will keep you in the air and out of the NTSB's files.
Already subscribe but haven't registered for all the benefits of the website? Click here.
Subscriber Log In
Forgot your password? Click Here.