PAST and COMBATS: Multi-Engine Rating Memory Items to Know
A crucial part of earning a multi-engine rating is understanding what truly happens when an engine fails. Knowing the theory is not enough — you must understand how performance, control, and aerodynamic forces change instantly when thrust becomes asymmetric. Two core multi engine memory items — P.A.S.T. and C.O.M.B.A.T.S. — are designed to help pilots […]
Engine Failure During Takeoff – Multi-Engine Transport Category Jet Aircraft
In the early years of jet transport aviation, engine reliability was nowhere near today’s standards. During the 1960s, inflight shutdown rates were estimated at roughly 40 per 100,000 flight hours. Statistically, that meant a large jet fleet could expect regular engine failures across its operational life. While modern high-bypass turbofan engines have reduced that number […]
Is Two Safer Than One?
For many pilots, adding a second engine feels like adding safety. But is two safer than one in a twin engine aircraft? The answer is not automatic. While a twin engine airplane provides redundancy, it also introduces aerodynamic and operational complexity that can increase risk if not properly managed. The reality of twin engine aircraft […]
WHY LOSING ONE ENGINE ON TAKEOFF IS MORE DANGEROUS FOR TWIN-ENGINE AIRCRAFT
At first glance, a twin-engine aircraft appears inherently safer than a single-engine airplane. The logic seems simple: if one engine fails, the other one should keep the aircraft flying. However, an engine failure on takeoff twin engine aircraft scenario is one of the most demanding and aerodynamically unstable emergencies in multiengine aviation. In fact, during […]
Engine Inoperative Principles in a Twin Airplane
Single-engine and multiengine airplanes behave fundamentally differently during a powerplant failure. An engine inoperative twin airplane scenario introduces aerodynamic forces that do not exist in a single-engine aircraft. This is precisely why the FAA requires a separate multiengine rating. While a single-engine pilot manages glide performance after an engine failure, a twin-engine pilot must manage […]
How To Fly Twin Engine Aircraft At Single Engine Performance Levels
Twin-engine airplanes certified under FAR 23 do not have the same single-engine performance guarantees as transport category aircraft certified under FAR 25. This distinction is critical for understanding real-world single-engine performance in light twin-engine aircraft. In particular, light twin-engine airplanes weighing less than 6,000 pounds and having a VS0 of 61 KCAS or less are […]
Flying Twin-Engine Aircraft
Flying twin-engine aircraft opens the door to a new level of capability, responsibility, and decision-making, both in real-world aviation and in Flight Simulator. Compared to single-engine flying, a twin-engine aircraft offers higher cruise speeds, greater payload capacity, and multiple independent systems designed to enhance redundancy and operational flexibility. Twin-engine aircraft are commonly chosen by pilots […]
Determining the Critical Engine (PAST)
Before we discuss how we determine the critical engine on a multi-engine airplane, it is important to clearly define the term critical engine.The critical engine is the engine which, when lost, most adversely affects the controllability of the airplane. This definition focuses specifically on aircraft control, not performance, climb capability, or altitude. To determine which […]
The new CS-23 – smart and flexible rules that support innovation
CS-23 twin engine requirements are defined within the EASA Certification Specifications for small aeroplanes and represent a fundamental shift in how twin-engine aircraft are designed, certified, and ultimately operated. The modern interpretation of CS-23 twin engine requirements moves away from rigid, prescriptive design rules and instead focuses on demonstrable safety outcomes, particularly in asymmetric and […]
What Is A Light Twin, Anyway?
A clear understanding of what is a light twin aircraft is essential for any pilot transitioning into multi-engine flying. The term light twin is often used loosely, but in aviation it has a very specific meaning rooted in FAA certification rules, weight limits, controllability requirements, and real-world engine-out performance. These factors determine not only how […]