Who sets the altitude pre-selector?
#41
With otto on the PF sets the ALT, with otto off the PM sets it. The benefit that I see with this method is that with the AP on, one guy hears it, the other sets it. If there is a discrepancy, clarify with ATC.
#42
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Posts: 73
My one and only altitude deviation came when I was PF. We were cleared to 350. ATC ammended the clearance. I dialed in 320. The PM read back the clearance to ATC, then verified my 320 selection. When we climbed through 305 we were asked to state our altitude followed by an immediate right 90° turn. In the ASAP, both of stated we were certain the clearance was 320. They kindly replayed the tape, and the PM very cleanly responded to ATC to maintain FL300. I believe, if the PM set the altitude, this deviation would not have occured. My company still has the PF set the altitude when the autopilot is on, but if we switched, I would understand why.
#45
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: 7ERA
Posts: 1,216
Small point, but high workload is not defined. It may be at FL200 descending into LAX, and it may be 2000 ft going into JAN.
#46
I've used both methods and prefer to the PF setting the altitude bug when the AP is on. The critical part of the procedure is that both pilots agree on the new altitude not who sets the altitude.
How an airplane handles a level off with discression to a new altitude can affect the timing of the new altitude. On the Boeing you can set the bottom altitude in the altitude preselect and set the intermediate altitude in the MCDU but in the Embraer, CRJ, and Dornier (airplanes I'm familiar with) your best option might be to set the intermediate altitude in the preselect first then set the lower altitude once the airplane has leveled.
It is a lot easier to explain to the PM what you are doing than to explain what you want done and there is less opportunity for communication error.
How an airplane handles a level off with discression to a new altitude can affect the timing of the new altitude. On the Boeing you can set the bottom altitude in the altitude preselect and set the intermediate altitude in the MCDU but in the Embraer, CRJ, and Dornier (airplanes I'm familiar with) your best option might be to set the intermediate altitude in the preselect first then set the lower altitude once the airplane has leveled.
It is a lot easier to explain to the PM what you are doing than to explain what you want done and there is less opportunity for communication error.
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