Basic Attitude Instrument Flying

OBJECTIVE

•     To develop the pilot’s technique, confidence, and respect for basic attitude instrument flight.

---

ELEMENTS

• Instrument crosscheck, instrument interpretation, and aircraft control 
  
• Instruments used for pitch, bank, and power control, and how those instruments are used to maintain altitude, heading, and airspeed 
  
• Trim procedure 

COMPLETION STANDARDS

• Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to instrument flying during straight-and-level flight 
  
• Maintains straight-and-level flight solely by reference to instruments using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and coordinated control application 
  
• Maintains altitude, ±200 feet ; heading, ±20°; and airspeed, ±10 knots 
  
• Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to instrument flying during constant airspeed climbs 
  
• Establishes the climb configuration 
  
• Transitions to the climb pitch attitude and power setting on an assigned heading using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and coordinated control application 
  
• Demonstrates climbs solely by reference to instruments at a constant airspeed to specific altitudes in straight flight and turns 
  
• Levels off at the assigned altitude and maintains that altitude, ±200 feet ; maintains heading, ±20°; maintains airspeed, ±10 knots 
  
• Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to instrument flying during constant airspeed descents 
  
• Establishes the descent configuration 
  
• Transitions to the descent pitch attitude and power setting on an assigned heading using proper instrument cross-check and interpretation, and coordinated control application 
  
• Demonstrates descents solely by reference to instruments at a constant airspeed to specific altitudes in straight flight and turns 
  
• Levels off at the assigned altitude and maintains that altitude, ±200 feet ; maintains heading, ±20°; maintains airspeed, ±10 knots 
  
• Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to attitude instrument flying during turns to headings 
  
• Transitions to the level-turn attitude using proper instrument crosscheck and interpretation, and coordinated control application 
  
• Demonstrates turns to headings solely by reference to instruments; maintains altitude, ±200 feet ; maintains a standard rate turn and rolls out on the assigned heading, ± 10°; maintains airspeed, ±10 knots
  

 

COMMON ERRORS

• Improper “fixation,”“omission,” and “emphasis” errors during instrument crosscheck 
  
• Improper instrument interpretation 
  
• Slow scan rate 
  
• Improper control applications 
  
• Failure to establish proper pitch, bank, or power adjustments during altitude, heading, or airspeed corrections 
  
• Gripping yoke 
  
• Faulty trim procedure 
  
• Improper entry or level-off procedure 
  
• Improper entry or rollout procedure 
  
• Thinking these sessions are equivalent to instrument rating and proficiency 
  

THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Hands off yoke 
• Do 180° turn, but is not always the best option. Climb? Descend? Combination? 
• This is an emergency 
• Get on ground, now! 
• Worry about consequences later, after returning back to the planet 
• ATC can help, but you have to get yourself out of it. 
• Move head as little as possible. If have to move the head, do so very slowly while fixated on attitude indicator. 
• The flight instruments MUST be in working condition in order for the student to have a chance at surviving inadvertent IMC. 
• Dark night, no moon, over a barren landscape or ocean can be actual IMC. 
  

STUDY

• Hudson’s “Instrument Flying Made Easy” 
  
• “Airplane Flying Handbook” Ch. 16 
  
• “Instrument Flying Handbook”