When To Switch Tanks?

In the Top Five Tips and Traps article of the November 2017 issue, I disagree slightly with the statement that once an engine is started, take off on the selected tank and only switch to another one while airborne. The premise is a good one, but I have been in the habit of immediately switching tanks after engine start. My theory being that if the engine started fine on one tank, that tank is probably fine.

Editorial Staff

Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A revised fuel tank switching procedure suggests switching tanks after engine start but before taxiing to verify both tanks work and prevent errors before takeoff.
Pilots flying at high altitudes (above 10,000 feet MSL) are advised to use a pulse oximeter alongside supplemental oxygen to actively monitor blood oxygen levels and prevent hypoxia.
The article notes that advanced cockpit technology, while improving safety, can also tempt pilots into flying in conditions beyond their VFR capabilities.
Discussions on advanced aircraft like single-pilot jets are deemed relevant for pilots considering transitions to any turbine-powered aircraft, including increasingly accessible turboprops.

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In the “Top Five Tips and Traps” article of the November 2017 issue, I disagree slightly with the statement that “once an engine is started, take off on the selected tank and only switch to another one while airborne.” The premise is a good one, but I have been in the habit of immediately switching tanks after engine start. My theory being that if the engine started fine on one tank, that tank is probably fine.

By switching tanks before I even start moving for the run-up, I avoid the problem of improperly switching tanks just prior to takeoff while still effectively proving that both are working. This procedure could be suitably modified to work with more than two tanks.