CFI Instrument Practical Test Standards, FAA-S-8081-9B, June 2001

VI. Flight by Reference to Instruments

Fundamentals

Attitude instrument flying means control of the aircraft's spatial position by using instrument's rather than outside visual references
Two basic methods:
1. Control and performance
   attitude + power = performance
   
   
2. Primary and Supporting
   Pitch instruments
   attitude indicator (AI)
   altimeter (ALT)
   airspeed indicator (ASI)
   vertical speed indicator (VSI)
   
   Bank instruments
   attitude indicator (AI)
   heading indicator (HI)
   magnetic compass (MC)
   turn coordinator (TC)
   Power instruments
   airspeed indicator (ASI)
   engine instruments
   manifold pressure gauge (MP)
   tachometer (RPM)
   For any maneuver or flight condition
   Primary instruments
   
   One in each group (pitch, bank, power)
   Provide most pertinent and essential information
   Indication stable with correct flight (shows greatest change with improper aircraft control)
   Secondary instruments
   
   Back up and supplement primary instruments
   Advantages
   
   Emphasized by FAA (Instrument Flying Handbook)
   Requires specific knowledge and interpretation of each individual instrument during training
   Helps avoid over-dependence on attitude indicator, facilitating partial panel flight
Fundamental skills
1. Cross-check
   Continuous, logical observation of instruments for attitude and performance information
   Proficient pilot adjusts scan rate and sequence to specific flight situation
   Common errors
   Fixation
   Omission
   Emphasis
2. Interpretation
   Appled knowledge of
   instrument construction and operating principles
   aircraft performance capabilities (POH)
   Learn what performance to expect and combination of instruments to interpret for each flight condition
3. Control
   Four components
   Pitch
   Bank
   Power
   Trim
   Common error - Tension - use relaxed touch

A. Straight-and-Level Flight

1. Exhibits instructional knowledge of teaching straight-and-level flight by describing
   a. The relationship of pitch, bank and power in straight-and-level flight
   Pitch varies with airspeed and load
   At constant airspeed, there is only one specific pitch attitude for level flight
   Uncorrected bank leads to decreasing pitch with increasing airspeed
   b. Procedure using full panel and partial panel
   Full panel
   
   
   
   Maintain constant altitude (+/- 100 ft) and heading (+/- 10°) at a given contstant airpseed (+/- 10 kt)
   Constant altitude
   • Adjust pitch to maintain assigned ALT with VSI = 0
   • Trim to relieve control pressures
   • Correct small deviations (< 100 feet) with pitch only
     • ½ bar width on AI
     • VSI < 200 fpm
   • Larger deviations may require use of pitch and power
     • Initial 1 bar width on AI
     • VSI = 2 x error in alt
   • VSI is primary pitch instrument during altitude corrections
   Constant heading
   • Adjust aileron and rudder pressures to keep HI constant, wings level on AI and TC with ball centered
   • Corrections of heading deviations
     Coordinated aileron and rudder
     Bank angle < number of degrees off and < standard rate (3°/sec)
   Constant airspeed - adjust power (MP, RPM) to maintain airspeed
   Prompt, smooth, small corrections
   
   

   SLF
   	Pitch	Bank	Power
   Primary	ALT	HI	ASI
   Secondary	AI, VSI	AI, TC	MP, RPM

   
   
   Partial panel (AI and HI inoperative)
   Maintain altitude with ALT, VSI, ASI
   Hold heading with TC level, centered ball, and MC
   
   

   SLF-Partial Panel
   	Pitch	Bank	Power
   Primary	ALT	TC	ASI
   Secondary	VSI	MC	MP, RPM

   
   
   c. Coordination of controls and trim
   Keep ball centered
   Trim to relieve control pressures
2. Exhibits instructional knowledge of common errors related to straight-and-level flight by describing
   a. Slow or improper cross-check during straight-and-level flight
   
   ALT needle tip 0, AI scale pointer (bank index) 0, ASI needle tip on speed,
   TC level & centered ball, HI needle tip center of bug, VSI needle tip 0
   b. Improper power control
   
   Learn/use MP that you know will result in approximate desired airspeed in SLF
   If airspeed changes, cross-check VSI, ALT before any power change
   c. Failure to make smooth, precise corrections as required
   
   Aim for precision: heading +/- 2°, airspeed +/- 2 knots, altitude +/- 20 feet
   Beware overcontrolling
   Use two step corrections
   1. Just enough control pressure to stop needle movement
   2. A bit more to start smooth correction
   d. Uncoordinated use of controls
   
   Keep the ball centered
   e. Improper trim control
   Trim to relieve control pressures
   Small, frequent adjustments
3. Demonstrates and simultaneously explains straight-and-level flight from an instructional standpoint
4. Analyzes and corrects simulated common errors related to straight-and-level flight

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