Excellent article on zero/zero takeoffs (“Cant See Nuthin,” October 2009). Another unmentioned consideration is visibility on the takeoff roll. On the early morning (oh-dark-thirty) ride to the airport, I could make out glimpses of the moon through a occasional break in the fog. I did a thorough preflight and powered up to launch. At approximately 35 knots, I lost sight of the runway environment entirely. 288
Final Words On Zero-Zero
Excellent article on zero/zero takeoffs ("Cant See Nuthin," October 2009). Another unmentioned consideration is visibility on the takeoff roll. On the early morning (oh-dark-thirty) ride to the airport, I could make out glimpses of the moon through a occasional break in the fog. I did a thorough preflight and powered up to launch. At approximately 35 knots, I lost sight of the runway environment entirely. I decided continuing the takeoff was a better choice than trying to abort and rotated the Skyhawk on the gauges at the proper speed. Completely losing sight of the runway before launch is a factor that should be added to previously mentioned considerations in the decision to go or not.
Key Takeaways:
- Pilots undertaking zero/zero takeoffs must be prepared for the complete loss of all visual cues during the takeoff roll and rely on instruments, such as the turn coordinator, to maintain aircraft attitude and heading.
- Accurate understanding of FAA traffic pattern terminology, specifically differentiating between "upwind" and "departure" legs, is crucial for operational safety and adherence to procedures like noise abatement.
- For critical flight situations, pilots should leverage all available safety tools, including using Maximum Elevation Figures (MEFs) for night flight terrain clearance and strictly adhering to the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) for go-around procedures.
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