Most of Namibia’s airfields are gravel fields. Narrow runways with varying sizes of rocks, sand and varying types of gravel.  Many aircraft operators have spent a lot of money on unnecessary propeller overhauls.

The following handout is to give you some tips on how to help you save your propeller.

Basically, there’s only one thing you have to keep in mind when you want to be save your propeller;
Avoid high power settings on the gravel with no speed or a slow speed.

There’s many techniques on how to achieve this. Here’s some important rules:

• Starting up. When starting up, make sure your plane is parked on even ground. Do not park it on an up slope. This way you can avoid revving the (cold) engine to get up the slope with all the passengers aboard. Rather pull the plane to even ground before you start up and upload the passengers.
• Use of run-up pad. If available pull the plane to a run-up pad before starting up. Remove loose stones from the area around the propeller. Obviously, only load the passengers in once on the pad.
• Run-up  If you really want to do a run-up on the gravel, you can. JUST DON’T HOLD THE BRAKES WHILE DOING A RUN-UP. You can however do a rolling run-up. If you are not familiar with this procedure ask your instructor to go and show it to you. I will give a short written explanation. Very slowly apply power while gaining a fast taxy speed. Emphasizing on slowly applying power. Once you’ve got your desired run-up power setting you might want to use a little bit of brakes in order not to go too fast and keep the plane under control. Now check your mags, set the mixture, cycle the prop or do whatever else you want to check during the power check. Once check is completed, reduce power and slow down. If necessary roll down the runway and turn around at the end to taxy back to turn around once again for take off.
• Taxying. Taxy with the stick all the way back to keep the distance between the prop and the ground as much possible. Taxying with first notch of flaps also helps.
• Turning around. When you turn around the airplane do not slow the plane to a stand stop before turning. This way you won’t have to give lots of power to turn the plane around (especially in a heavy C-210). Rather keep the speed up a little bit and “swing” it around. (Be careful doing this if the soil is soft for the nose wheel to dig in, or even worse to break of in the sand)
• Take off. When applying power for the take-off roll, do not apply full power too quickly. Apply power slowly until your speed picks up. Remember that once you’ve got plenty of rolling speed having full power won’t do any damage to the propeller.     

In the end it all comes down to common sense. Just think about the propeller and be careful with high RPM on the gravel at low speeds.

…see Africa….fly in Africa ! ! !