Max talks with Jason Blair, a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), focusing on multi-engine ratings, training challenges, and instructor considerations. Jason provides a detailed discussion about obtaining a multi-engine rating and the nuances that accompany it, including checkride requirements, common training mistakes, and safety concerns.
Multi-Engine Rating Overview
To ensure a smooth checkride process, Jason advises pilots to identify examiners qualified in both multi-engine airplanes and the specific make/model used for the test. Checkride delays are common when mechanical issues occur, so pilots should remain flexible.
Optimal Training Sequence
Jason discusses the most efficient path for multi-engine certification:
- Start with a Private Single Engine Land certificate.
- Add an Instrument Rating.
- Complete the Commercial Single Engine Land certification.
- Pursue the Multi-Engine Add-On.
This sequence saves pilots from unnecessary checkrides and ensures they progress efficiently.
Multi-Engine Training Challenges
One significant concern with multi-engine training is the higher-than-expected accident rate during instructional flights. Despite having two pilots onboard—one of whom is an instructor—Jason points out that about 18% of instructional accidents involve multi-engine aircraft. He attributes this to younger, less experienced instructors who lack significant multi-engine time. The complexity of the aircraft and simulated emergencies also create a higher-risk environment.
Jason emphasizes the importance of methodical teaching during multi-engine training, especially for maneuvers like VMC demonstrations (minimum controllable airspeed). These scenarios simulate engine failure and require precise control to prevent loss of directional control. Poorly executed VMC maneuvers can lead to catastrophic results.
Critical Multi-Engine Maneuvers
The VMC demonstration is a required checkride element and a known accident trigger. Jason describes the procedure:
- The aircraft is configured for the worst-case scenario: full power on the operating engine, gear down, and an unfeathered propeller.
- The candidate must maintain directional control as the airplane slows, recognizing the point at which control is lost and initiating recovery by reducing power and lowering the nose.
The single-engine approach is another critical maneuver, requiring pilots to manage performance while maintaining appropriate airspeeds, including blue line (VYSE) and red line (VMC). Jason stresses maintaining a slight bank (5 degrees) toward the operating engine to reduce VMC by as much as 15 knots.
Performance Considerations
Multi-engine aircraft introduce additional performance factors:
- Accelerate-Stop Distance: The runway length required to abort a takeoff after engine failure.
- Single-Engine Service Ceiling: The altitude at which the aircraft can no longer climb on one engine.
- Density Altitude: High-altitude airports or hot temperatures reduce climb performance, making single-engine operations more precarious.
Pilots must evaluate these factors carefully, particularly in light twins with limited power. Jason shares the practical challenge of operating underpowered twins, where engine failure during climb often means a gradual descent rather than sustained flight.
MEI Considerations
For Multi-Engine Instructors (MEIs), Jason provides advice on safety and instructional quality. MEIs must:
- Conduct training at safe altitudes, especially for VMC and engine-out maneuvers.
- Thoroughly understand aircraft systems, including emergency gear extensions and fuel management.
- Use methodical teaching techniques (“Think turtle, not octopus”) to avoid rushing critical maneuvers.
He encourages instructors to practice emergency procedures during annual inspections, such as manually extending the landing gear, to build confidence in real-world scenarios.
Safety Advice and Scenarios
Jason highlights real-world scenarios to illustrate common mistakes, including a time when a candidate mistakenly shut down both engines during a checkride. This underscores the importance of training pilots to respond methodically to emergencies rather than acting on rote memory.
He also discusses decision-making in engine-out situations, such as managing single-engine patterns and minimizing turns toward the inoperative engine to maintain control and avoid entering VMC conditions.
Conclusion
Max and Jason conclude by emphasizing the importance of building multi-engine proficiency through structured training and thoughtful instruction. Jason recommends his Multi-Engine Oral Exam Guide as a resource for candidates and instructors. He also stresses the need for DPEs, MEIs, and pilots alike to focus on safety, preparation, and understanding multi-engine systems thoroughly.
Jason invites listeners to visit his website (JasonBlair.net) for resources, articles, and checkride scheduling. The conversation wraps up with a lighthearted nod to Michigan’s unpredictable weather, which often keeps Jason grounded and available for insightful discussions like this one.
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