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Aero-Tips 12.04.06

There's a feature of many aircraft intercoms that's not commonly used, but which has a great role to play in good single-pilot cockpit management. That feature is "pilot isolation".

The pilot isolation switch controls an intercom mode where the pilot can communicate with Air Traffic Control (ATC), but passengers in the airplane with headsets cannot hear nor speak to the pilot. Passengers will also not hear ATC when the isolation switch is activated, but they will be able to speak among themselves over the intercom. The idea is to permit a "sterile cockpit" where the pilot will not be distracted by passengers' conversations or questions.

When to use it

The pilot isolation switch is best activated just before takeoff. At a tower-controlled airport, activate this feature just before taxi if there is a lot of ground traffic or a difficult, unfamiliar taxi route, or just before calling tower for takeoff clearance when ready to go. Stay in isolation mode at least until transitioning into cruise climb and out of the busiest traffic areas.

Before landing, activate pilot isolation before entering the traffic pattern, if arriving VFR. If flying an approach, select this mode before setting up for the approach and, if you get out of isolation and into the general cabin chatter after setting up, before beginning the approach itself.

In all cases, stay in isolation mode until clear of the runway after landing or, if the taxi route is complicated, until ready to shut down.

Pitfalls

Pitfalls of the pilot isolation mode:

• Passengers may be concerned that you can't hear them, and they can't hear you. Brief passengers on when you'll use pilot isolation before you start engines.
• Passengers will not be able to effectively help with cockpit chores in pilot isolation mode.
• Passengers may not hear emergency instructions if you have to give them.

Aero-tip of the day: Know when and how to enter and exit pilot isolation mode with your airplane's intercom.

FMI: Aero-Tips