Propeller blast etiquette......

[RV7A Flyer]

I've always found that *if I can catch them before they've started up*, I can have a nice, quiet, polite conversation. I usually start with something like "Are you going to start up right here?" If they say yes, then I ask "Do you mind pulling your plane over *there*, so that your prop wash doesn't blast dirt/sand/gravel all over my aircraft?" I'll offer to help them (and point to where their prop blast is going to go...towards my plane). That usually works, but you have to catch them in time.

If they've already started, it's too late, other than to hold on to your plane/control surfaces and just shake your head at them after they gun it and taxi out.

AND, it certainly helps to set a good example...by not only pulling your plane out so that it doesn't blast others, but also gently making a point of it (e.g., at the gas pumps..."I'll pull my plane out over here so that I don't blast your aircraft").

But sometimes, there's no accounting for stupid...the guy who starts up while parked in the spot, with planes behind him, and he appears clueless that he's blasting not one, but TWO aircraft as he gives it way too much to start, then sits and listens to ATIS, configures his cockpit, etc., etc., then guns it to taxi out of the spot. Grrrr.....

[BMC_Dave]

Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002

Ok, it looks like the thread is drifting off topic just a bit.........

Yea, I was venting a bit, but my primary reason for the post was in hopes that if even just a few people read it and thought about it the next time they flew, it would have a worthwhile result.

Absolutely, prop blast is annoying and inconsiderate and this thread is a good reminder to think a little more about our taxiing. Thanks for bringing it up.

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by rolivi

How is it off topic in a thread scolding pilots to scold pilots?

Brings to mind: When you point your finger at someone there will be 10 more pointing back at you.

[Is there a propwash equivalent?]

Hmmmmm, I might be misreading you but that kind of sounds a bit like the attitude being described by some posting in this thread.
None of us (my self included) belong in the pilot seat if our ego elevates us above accepting input from other pilots if we are doing something that is impacting others.

[F1R]

From the start of this thread:

"What happened today (third time this week actually), and is far too common, is the RV-10 pilot used high power to do a 180 degree pivot turn (they were the only airplane parked on the ramp) which left their tail only about 60 from the open front of the hangar.

I am getting tired of cleaning out the hangar so often....."

3 times a week !
Perhaps some video cameras and posting morons of the week on you tube will alter behavior quickly. You need a couple of camera angles to catch the rocks and debris bouncing around inside the hangar along with the N number of the perp. I suspect MOST of the pilots have never had this happen to them or they would quickly add it to their must not ever do this list.

[DanH]

Some of it is just training...the wrong kind.

Many larger FBOs want to park arrivals close to the door, so the linemen park them in a conga line. Guarantees prop blast/jet blast, but pilots figure it's not their problem until they are on the receiving end. After all, the linemen load 'em and flag 'em out from right there.

Ok, so you taxi in, refuse the lineman's directions, and go park at the edge of the ramp, in the tiedown line with the overnights. When is the last time you saw a line crew pull an airplane out and turn it 90 degrees so the owner could crank? It doesn't happen. The owner may not be able to move a large bird himself, uphill against the drainage slope, even if he had a towbar in the airplane. He doesn't want the line crew pushing on the airplane, and they're not going after a tug. The usual response is "Oh, I'll flag you out".

A long time ago I managed a flight line where the shape of the ramp meant we parked arrivals in a conga line, and blasted the tiedown line turning them in.

Same ramp, years later, and I found myself hanging onto my Cub, breathing hot kerosene exhaust, while a big Lear spent 5 minutes trying to flip it. I assume he was speaking to clearance delivery. Big peeve of mine; go do calls and checklists at the end of the ramp!

Point is, folks who fly in and out of the bigger airports a lot have been acclimated to ignoring their own wake, while guys who base at Podunk Local and blow dirt in their neighbor's hanger tend to get personal attention.

[rv8ch]

Well, I have to confess some of you guys have been describing me, and I apologize!

One of the places I rent has their aircraft as shown in this photo, and everyone starts up while still in the tiedown location, and yes, I'm one. Sorry about that, won't do it again! In the future I'll drag it out after pre-flight and start up perpendicular to the parking areas in the "alley".



Thanks for the discussion, and again, apologies to anyone I have blasted.

[Dugaru]

I try to be careful, but I'm sure at some point I've failed to realize what was behind me before starting up. Good thread and a good reminder.

For the OP, it sounds like enough of a hassle that it might make sense to put up a big sign, black on yellow, maybe hanging from the hangar rafters and visible whenever your door is open: "Watch that prop blast!" Extra points if it includes a humorous graphic of cats and dogs etc. being blown through the air.

I have no doubt that a fair number of people will still ignore it.

[rmartingt]

I'm familiar with at least one airport where "they" put a large hangar or two right behind the runup area and tie down airplanes outside of it . There's just no real good way to do a runup there without blasting someone or something. About the best you can do is point away from any aircraft that are tied down, holding short, or taxiing, and aim at a hangar that's closed.

[V111Pilot]

Had a Bonanza taxi past our open hangar (next to his) and use high power to swing the nose out thereby dusting the heck out of our hangar, plane, and everything else. THEN he gets out and grabs his POWER TUG to push it in with! Aaaagh, I was so hot I had to walk away. Some people just don't get it and have zero situational awareness.

[Toobuilder]

Originally Posted by rv8ch

Well, I have to confess some of you guys have been describing me, and I apologize!

One of the places I rent has their aircraft as shown in this photo, and everyone starts up while still in the tiedown location, and yes, I'm one. Sorry about that, won't do it again! In the future I'll drag it out after pre-flight and start up perpendicular to the parking areas in the "alley".



Thanks for the discussion, and again, apologies to anyone I have blasted.

Well now don't beat yourself up too much... Depends how you do it and how wide the alley is. There's not much issue taxiing out of such a spot so long as you don't blast your way out of the spot and around the corner. A small increase in power to get rolling shouldn't hurt the airplanes on the other side of the taxiway, and common courtesy requires us to pull the throttle back to idle as we swing the tail through the airplanes on either side... So it can be done if you think about it. OTOH, a heavy twin on flat spotted tires is going to create all kinds of chaos if they try the same thing, but a light RV should be no issue.