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Aerospace/Aviation/"disc" lever in some ac

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Expert: - 4/16/2011


Question
Hello,

I am an aviation detailer in MN and have been on some Gulfstreams (GIII, GIV, GV) and other aircraft and have seen red handled levers labeled "Pitch Disc" and "Roll Disc". I like learning how aircraft work, and my curiosity leads me to asking: What are those things for? :)

Thanks,
Jeff

Answer
Hi Jeff,
I am getting the information for this from my husband who has worked on Embraer 145 aircraft. He believes these handles are the Pitch Disconnect and the Roll Disconnect. If the systems on the Gulfstream is anything like the systems on the Embraer, it is likely that they disconnect the left and right ailerons (roll disconnect) and left and right elevators (pitch disconnect). It is definitely an abnormal situation to have to pull one because it would mean that a flight control has gotten jammed, and if the handle is pulled, then you can still operate the free control. On the Embraer, once the roll disconnect handle is pulled, the captain's position now only operates the left aileron and the first officer's position only operates the right aileron, and the same for the pitch disconnect. This would require a lot of coordination between the flight crew but at least provides some measure of safety in the event part of the flight control system gets jammed. The aircraft would still be hard to control, but would probably not go totally out of control.
I hope this helps!
Laura

Aerospace/Aviation

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Laura Laster

Expertise

I can help with questions about aviation disasters, aircraft operations especially general aviation and King Air information, aviation safety, and education questions on how to get into an aviation career. I can also answer general aviation questions as I am a commercial multi-engine pilot. I cannot answer questions about flight training or MBA schools in countries other than the USA or provide advice for non-US citizens interested in flight training. I cannot answer questions advising you what school to choose. I have no experience with aeronautical engineering so I cannot answer questions relating to engineering or schooling for aeronautical engineers. PLEASE don't ask me questions about any kind of engineering because it is outside my area of expertise, and I will NOT answer your question. I also cannot help you to choose a master's program for study as I do not have a master's degree in aviation. I cannot help with MBA advice.

Experience

I have been studying aviation disasters through doing my own research and a lot of reading since I was 13 or 14 years old. I am very interested in aviation safety and also am a commercial, multi-engine pilot. I am a dispatch manager at a private university working in their flight training department. I also have worked as an operations mamager at a small charter airline and was involved in getting the airline certificated under Part 121 rules. I was formerly a flight operations division manager for a company operating a large fleet of King Air aircraft (60) and so I have some business aviation experience as well as having flight instructed for one year after college. My operations manager job frequently involved coordinating international trips for aerial survey clients and hiring qualified pilots to fly aerial survey missions.

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science with Flight Management Concentration: LeTourneau University (2004) :: Dispatch Certificate: Sheffield School of Aeronautics (2010) :: Commercial Pilot: Single and Multi Engine Land, Instrument Rating :: Flight Instructor: Single, Multi and Instrument :: Ground Instructor: Basic and Advanced

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