Cold & Dark? Why are so many switches still On?

[Snacko]

I am just curious... When I do a cold start, why are so many switches in the On/Test position? SAAHS Yaw, Pitch, Roll, Q Feel; Fuel Prop; Gen

 

I am not a pilot, so maybe there is a reason? Is it because the last pilot was drunk? Or maybe just lazy? Or is this just one of the many ignored bugs in this aircraft? :cry:

Edited November 9, 2018 by Snacko

[seagull1606688860]

Uh I've been wondering about this as well good question!

[Repth]

The deck crew will prep the plane for launch before the pilot takes control of the aircraft. It's indeed that way on purpose.

[Harry.R]

^ as above. The pilot would do an external walk around, strap in, put the 'brick' in and carry out the start sequence, the groundcrew would already have proved systems/checked line items.

[Charly_Owl]

For the same reason the ground crew doesn't leave every circuit breaker in the aircraft open ;)

[Snacko]

Hmm.. OK, thanks for the info. Never expected that answer. I would expect the pilot would set all switches since he's checking them.

 

I assume they aren't worried he'll forget those things.. So there must be some reason for this procedure.

 

Are all aircraft in DCS prepped like this for a cold start?

[Nealius]

Are all aircraft in DCS prepped like this for a cold start?

 

I think it's mixed. The F/A-18 has quite a few switches already set, as do the UH-1 and F-86. The Mi-8 on the other hand is like starting up a Saturn V rocket.

[Buckeye]

Hmm.. OK, thanks for the info. Never expected that answer. I would expect the pilot would set all switches since he's checking them.

 

I assume they aren't worried he'll forget those things.. So there must be some reason for this procedure.

 

Are all aircraft in DCS prepped like this for a cold start?

 

 

 

It’s being double checked. Ground crew does it first before the pilot is going through his startup process/checklist, then the pilot is verifying each is in the correct position as part of his startup.

 

Solid redundancy.

 

 

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[baltic_dragon]

The switches are now set in a way they should be according to NATOPS. They will either be left that way duiring shutdown by previous pilot or set up by Plane Captain. And as others said that is to make sure all is working as intended.

[fjacobsen]

Note that on many (if not most) aircraft, You don´t turn everything Off to make it Cold and Dark.

 

 

Often they are Off/Auto or Off/Norm.

Some systems are only turned Off if they fail etc..

[DmitriKozlowsky]

It is a close air suppourt tactical aircraft, not a passenger jet. Ability to go from cold to flying fangs out, in short time is sort of important. On flightline, missionized aircraft would be on external power and their INS aligned. Weapons would be preset as per flight plan.

In Harrier, unless INS is working, you can't do AG, and multiple HUD ques are unavailable. Sitting on tarmac for 3 minutes , burning fuel is not always available. If flight is scrambled,without aligned INS, pilot has to do InFlightAllignment, followed by AGM-65G alignment . While on his way to target area. E does not need alignment. TPOD , I think gotta check, needs working and aligned NAV system to function.

[AG-51_Sabot]

I don't know, when I was a P/C in the Navy (78-84) we never left switch's in the "On" position after we did our Pre/Post flight, but then again we were running NC-8's and Huffer's for power and air instead of the battery and APU.