Originally Posted by
freezingflyboy
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.
We're the same way...TO submode heading low bank. There's exceptions to it, but none of them include ROL mode.
The CRJ is a lil' different though. You have a TO lateral mode that basically maintains whatever heading you were on when you lifted off and maintains that until you select something different. We also lift off in white needles (that's pink needles for you 145 guys) so you can't twist in the departure heading with the course selector since it's coupled to the FMS.
I was always a big fan of the scratchpad for departure headings. I also use it for long taxi clearances (i.e. "Taxi Alpha Echo Romeo hold short of 22R" would get put into the scratchpad AER//22R).