Originally Posted by
SharkyBN584
I take off, climb to my minimum altitude to turn, hit HDG and dial in the heading. Yea, it's a little more work when you've got both engines...but when you go single engine and start deviating from clearances (i.e. now you would rather go straight out to get some altitude and speed on your side before yankin' and bankin') it's an easy. Hit HDG and you're good to go without having the lateral mode stuck in TO.
My preference could also be swayed by the fact that on the 145, 9 times outta 10 you're blasting off in HDG mode and have to have the heading bug pointed down the runway, otherwise the FD is going to turn you somewhere you don't want to go yet. There is no "TO" lateral mode on that thing. The closest thing to it is ROL and I don't know of any company that wants you blasting around in that mode, CRJ or ERJ operator.
I don't know about other ERJ operators but our SOP is to take off in the TO sub-mode with HDG and low-bank selected. So, yes you almost always take off in heading mode with the runway heading bugged. I've flown with one or two who like to take off in ROL mode then select HDG at acceleration height or whenever they want to make the turn with the heading already selected so that all you have to do is hit the HDG button and don't have to spin the bug to the assigned heading.
Personally, I think having HDG selected at takeoff works great for 2-engine departures and its less button pushing (meaning chances of hitting the wrong button in your haste) if you bag an engine going off a runway with an engine-out special departure procedure. Nothing like being buttholes and elbows at 500 feet AND having to fight with the FMC panel
I'm sure there are some guys out there *cough* ExperimentalAB
*cough* who would kickoff the FD and yell "yehaw, we's going for a ride!" but I prefer a little help from the FD so I can free up some brain bytes.