What is your climb technique....

[stefltt]

".... when your aircraft is very very light weight on short haul leg ? I tried a few flights of 30 minutes (TNCM-TFFR for instance at FL170), and if I tried to apply the FFRATS technique as discussed in the RFP forum (EPR mode 250kt V/S until FL100, then EPR mode V/S to accelerate to climb speed then EPR mode & IAS then M82 & V/S until cruise altitude when getting out of power), I cannot maintain the mandatory climb speed and my vertical speed is more than 4000fpm !!!!! The engines seem to be ""overpowered"". So how do you climb ? Do you climb in EPR mode ? or do you climb in SPEED mode and V/S ?"

[golfermd]

"Well, now that is a good question. However, nothing is normally all that straightforward with this great A/C. This is my technique. It works for me and I am comfortable with it. I am sure others have theirs and are comfortable with theirs. After liftoff, and have stablized and oriented myself, I switch modes from TOD to CLIMB. The autothrottle switch will then need to be turned back on, followed by selecting ""SPEED"". Once I have that set (and set to 250 IAS), I put the Altitude Select to ""ON"", then put it in climb rate mode (I don't use the IAS selction). My inital climb rate is about 2300 ft/min. When you have this accomplished, you can then go to fuel page and put the flow selectors into the climb mode. When I get to 10000', I decrease my climb rate to about 1000 ft/min and change my speed to 317 kts. After accelerating to this speed I change my climb rate to 2000 ft/min. As you get to higher altitudes, you will notice the aircraft cannot maintain that speed, so you will need to adjust your climb rate accordingly. I generally decrease my climb rates in increments of 500 ft/ min. Aircraft weight, temperature, etc..., will all impact on your climb rate above FL210. You will have to constantly monitor as you climb. Will be interesting to see how others do theirs..."

[Brogs]

"Hi Guys What i have found is the best technique when flying Long Haul with the Fuel and Payload at Max is to climb in steps,as you burn off Fuel increase your Altitude! and reduce your ROC to about 1200 fpm above FL250, it takes about 20-25 mins to get to FL330, I find that seems to the best way,and once in Cruise set the Fuel flow between 20-24 at about Mach.80 Safe Landings Mike"

[ubrownjr]

"I am experiencing the same problem especially when clearance altitude is below 10K! So far I have used speed mode during descents, approach and landings but will definitely try on the next takeoff. "

[wijnand]

"<!--QuoteBegin-ubrownjr+Oct 6 2005, 01:10 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ubrownjr @ Oct 6 2005, 01:10 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I am experiencing the same problem especially when clearance altitude is below 10K!  So far I have used speed mode during descents, approach and landings but will definitely try on the next takeoff. [right][snapback]5307[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Hi there, just to add my 2 cents, I usually climb out at V2+10, until 1500 ft AGL. Then I switch to CLB mode, set speed to 250 and lower the nose (still in VS mode) and let the speed increase to 250, retracting flaps acording to the speedbugs. At 10000 ft, I set speed to climbspeed 300 - 320, depending on weight etc, and lower the nose some more. When the needle indicates the climbspeed I switch to IAS-mode and call the stewardess for a cup of coffee! What I reaaly don't understand yet is this: in RL, on what grounds do the pilots decide whether to use Derated I or II on the FRATTS, or simply use only the reduced TO-setting by using the wheel, or a combination of both?? Happy flights and landings, Wijnand "

[pbenoit]

"Here is how I climb out: (and there are as many ways to do this as there are people on the planet.) 1. Flying HEAVY is always a good thing ... the whale responds well when heavy .. 730K++ (of course depending on segment length, fuel, cargo, etc.) 2. I plan an initial alt of 290 because being heavy it is tough to get over that altitude. 3. I never used derated thrust (ooops shouldn't say that I suppose ..) but being heavy, you have to watch the runway length ... and a derated T/O doesn't sound good to me with only a few hundred feet to spare. 4. I have finally (after many years) learned to fly by hand using the FD for guidance and using trim to control speed and climb . I use EPR mode, and FFRATS to control the throttle ... but trim to maintain speed and climb rate ... at 1500'agl go from TOD to CLB ... pitch down to get to 250 .. set speed to 250 ... turn to your first fix if ATC says it's ok .. if I am very heavy, I sometimes ask for 280 kts climb. so I use trim to keep speed at 250 or 280. (I always use Radar Contact 3 and FDC) 5. nearing 10000, I pitch down, increase speed to 317 or so ... once stable in climb and speed, I will turn on the AP and first use VS ... then using VS ... pitch down or up to get the speed diamond close to the set speed ... once just a bit below the diamond, I choose IAS ... IAS usually works well up to 270-280 ... where it starts to porpoise a bit ... I then use VS to get to 290. 6. At cruise I use SPEED mode to hold speed. And use SPEED mode all the way to the ground. Works well for me. Search avsim for Matt Zagoren and make sure you get his great 742 doc ... great because it has step climb data and great landing speed and flap data. I've watched enough 742 videos to see that most of the time the aircraft is flown by hand up to at least 10000 if not higher before using the AP. Who knows ... whatever works for you is a GOOD THING ... but it is always fun to try new methods. Over the years I have been able to fly Stellan Hillmerby's excellent DC9 using only VS and HDG AP functions ... controlling the throttle manually .. always a challenge ... my next big challenge for the whale is to try manual throttle control for the approach ... Well, cheers to everyone!!! Paul Benoit KSAN/1159 RFP Team"