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courses:206a:instruments

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206A - Basic Instrument Flying

Pre-Lesson Reading

  • Instrument Flying Handbook Ch. 1 (Human Factors)
  • Instrument Flying Handbook Ch. 3 (Flight Instruments)
  • Instrument Flying Handbook Ch. 4 (Airplane Attitude Instrument Flying)

Standby Instruments & Principles

C172 G1000

  • Attitude Indicator (Vacuum)
  • Altimeter (Static)
  • Airspeed Indicator (Pitot/Static)

PA28R

  • Fully integrated standby instrument (AHRS)

Compass Principles

Basic Instrument Scan

Spatial Disorientation & In-Flight Illusions

(See Instrument Flying Handbook p.15)

The Leans – when a banked attitude, to the left for example, may be entered too slowly to set in motion the fluid in the “roll” semicircular tubes.

Coriolis Illusion – The pilot has been in a turn long enough for the fluid in the ear canal to move at the same speed as the canal.

Unusual Attitude Recovery

(See Instrument Flying Handbook p.5-31/p.100)

Nose Low v. Nose High

Common Errors

  1. Failure to keep the airplane properly trimmed. A cockpit interruption when you are holding pressures can easily lead to inadvertent entry into unusual attitudes.
  2. Disorganized cockpit. Hunting for charts, logs, computers, etc., can seriously detract your attention from the instruments.
  3. Slow cross-check and fixations. Your impulse is to stop and stare when you note an instrument discrepancy unless you have trained enough to develop the skill required for immediate recognition.

Safe Operations Under IFR

Flight Fundamentals

Magnetic Compass Turns

Timed Turns

Vertical S Maneuvers

This maneuver is a series of climbs and descents at a definite indicated rate.

  1. Climbing or descending airspeed should be established prior to entry.
  2. During the reversal of vertical direction, lead the altitude 40 to 60 feet in descents and 20 to 30 feet in climbs.
  3. Change the altitude 500 feet, 400 feet, 300 feet, then 200 feet, returning to the original altitude each time. After the 200-foot altitude change, return to the original altitude and level-off at climbing or descending airspeed (low cruise).
  4. Performing the Vertical S.
    1. From an exact altitude and climbing or descending airspeed, adjust power and pitch attitude to enter a climb or descent.
    2. As the power is adjusted in the entry, the airspeed indicator becomes primary for pitch.
    3. As the vertical speed approaches 500 feet per minute, the vertical-speed indicator becomes primary for pitch and remains so until the reversal of the vertical direction is started. As the vertical speed reaches 500 feet per minute, the airspeed indicator again becomes the primary instrument for power.
    4. As the reversal of the vertical direction is started, the airspeed indicator becomes primary for pitch and remains so until the vertical speed approaches the desired rate of 500 feet per minute.
    5. Stress the importance of trim and cross-check.
courses/206a/instruments.1534306128.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018/08/15 04:08 by evan