Attitude Instrument Flying

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Attitude Instrument Flying
 Overview
 Fundamental Skills
 Common Mistakes
 Control and Performance Method
 Primary and Supporting Method
 Flight Maneuvers

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Fundamental Skills
 Cross Check of instruments
 Instrument Interpretation
 Aircraft Control

 Necessary to use all skills together

 One missing skill will cause disaster

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Common Mistakes
 Omission
 Taking one or a few instruments out of the scan
 Try to use all instruments together to back up each
other and get the whole picture
 Fixation
 Even worse than omission
 Only concentrating on one instrument
 If that instrument is wrong, the pilot will never know

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Control and Performance Method
 Basic idea that Attitude + Power = Performance
 Utilizes a cross check which emphasizes certain
instruments in conjunction

 Examples (PA-28-161 (Warrior))

 Full Power plus +6º Pitch = 79 kts (Vy)
 2350 RPM plus +1º Pitch = 90 kts (Cruise)

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Control and Performance Scan

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Primary and Supporting Method
 Classifies instruments into three categories
 Pitch
 Bank
 Power
 Using these instruments according to the
maneuver flown helps the pilot to maintain
desired control of the aircraft

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Primary and Supporting Scan

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Basic Flight Maneuvers

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

 Straight-and-Level Flight
 Achieved by holding constant heading and altitude
 This is the first basic flying skill learned
 Important because it is the obvious default flying
mode for most flights in an airplane
 Especially good for cruise flight

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Straight Climbs and Descents
 Constant Airspeed
 Holding a climb or descent at the same airspeed
 Pitch angle is determined by airspeed indicator
 Rate of climb or descent is controlled with power
 Constant Rate
 Holding a climb or descent at a constant feet per minute rate
 Pitch angle is determined by vertical speed indicator
 Airspeed is controlled with power

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Turns
 Standard Rate Turns
 3 degrees per second
 360 degree turn takes 2 minutes
 Timed Turns
 Based on 3 degrees per second
 Start turn, start timer, stop turn, stop timer
 Compass Turns to Magnetic Headings
 Lead/Lag Compass Errors
 Use location latitude to determine the lag or lead

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

 Approach to Stall
 Recognize signs of approaching a stall
 Warning horn
 Slow speed
 Full aft yoke control
 Buffeting
 Stall recovery techniques when IMC
 Heading indicator and turn coordinator to control yaw
 Airspeed indicator to prevent secondary stall
 Attitude indicator and airspeed indicator to recover

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Unusual Attitudes and Recoveries
 Identifying unusual attitudes
 Nose high recovery– prevent stall
 Full Power
 Pitch down
 Roll wings level
 Nose low recovery – prevent over-speed and stress
 Power idle
 Roll wings level
 Recover from dive

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Partial Panel
 Loss of one or more instruments
 Cover up inoperative instruments to not be confused
 Use other instruments to maintain safe flight
 Notify ATC of problems
 Good idea to proceed with landing ASAP
 Possible need for ASR or PAR approach if in IMC

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics

Instrument Takeoff
 Taking off with zero visibility
 Not a great idea because not able to safely
land at departure airport if problem occurs
 FIT: WX (ceiling & Vis) must exceed the best
approach landing minimums (Ops manual)
 Once on runway, set heading indicator to
runway heading
 Use this to maintain direction on runway
FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics
Sources
 Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
 Instrument Flying Handbook
 Instrument Procedures Handbook
 Avidyne Company Website

FIT Aviation, LLC – College of Aeronautics