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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” 

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