Fundamentals of Instrument
Flying
AST 243
Barnhart
3 Fundamentals of Instrument
Flying
• Cross check (scan)
• Interpretation
• Control
• Let’s look at each in more depth
Scan
• There are several methods to instrument
scan- select the one which works for you
• Hub and spoke
• Left to Right- text style
• Combination of each
Scan ctn.
• Some common errors :
• Fixation
• Omission
• Emphasis
Interpretation
• Interpretation involves ascertaining exactly
what the instrument in telling you
• A knowledge of how each instrument
functions is helpful here ie:
– Does an AI indication in the blue mean a
climbing aircraft?
– Does an altimeter which is unwinding indicate
a nose down pitch?
Control
• The physical step in instrument flying-
can’t happen without good cross-check and
good interpretation.
• Instrument flying should be done with a
light touch- two fingers and a thumb
• The three most important factors in aircraft
control are: TRIM, TRIM AND TRIM!
Two concepts common to
instrument flight
• Primary/support concept- Traditional, FAA
preferred.
– 1 instrument provides the pilot with primary
information along the three dimensions of
pitch, bank, and power.
– Other instruments support the primary
instrument
Two concepts ctn.
• The second method is the concept of
control-performance.
– Heavily used in the military and in the airlines
when flying heavy aircraft
– This method relies heavily on the AI
Primary/support concept
• Divides the panel into instruments of:
– Pitch
– Bank
– Power
– Each instruments vary from primary to
supporting depending upon aircraft
configuration
Primary Instruments
• The instrument which provides the most essential
information during a given flight condition
• The supporting instruments help maintain the
indications on the primary instruments
• Best method for light aircraft as it best prepares a
pilot for failure of one instrument (esp. the AI)
• The AI is always primary during transition from
S&L flight
Let’s examine this concept
further:
• In straight & Level flight Primary Pitch,
Bank & Power is:
– Pitch- Altimeter
– Bank- Heading Indicator
– Power- Airspeed Indicator
S&L flight
• Supporting instruments (pitch, bank, &
power):
– Pitch- VSI, AI, ASI
– Bank- TC AI
– Power- Tach. MAP gauge
Level Turning Flight
• Primary pitch, bank, and power is:
– Pitch- Altimeter
– Bank- TC
– Power- ASI
– Supporting pitch, bank, and power is:
– Pitch- VSI, AI, ASI
– Bank- TC AI
– Power- Tach. MAP
Constant Rate Straight Climbs
• Primary (PBP):
– VSI, HI, ASI
– Supporting (PBP):
– ALT, ASI, AI/ TC, AI/ Tach
Constant Airspeed Straight
Climbs
• Primary (PBP):
– ASI, HI, Tach, MAP
– Supporting (PBP):
– AI, VSI, ALT./ TC, AI/ ASI
Constant Rate Straight Descents
• Primary (PBP):
– Pitch- VSI
– Bank- HI
– Power- ASI
– Supporting (PBP):
– Pitch- ALT, ASI, AI
– Bank- TC, AI
– Power- Tach.
Constant Airspeed Straight
Descents
• Primary (PBP)-
– Pitch- ASI
– HI
– Tach.
– Supporting (PBP):
– Pitch- AI, VSI, ALT.
– Bank- TC, AI
– Power- AS
Constant Rate Climbing Turn
• Primary (PBP):
• VSI, TC, ASI
Constant Airspeed Climbing
Turn
• Primary (PBP):
• ASI, TC, Tach
Constant Rate Descending Turn
• Primary (PBP):
• VSI, TC, ASI
Constant Airspeed Descending
Turn
• Primary (PBP):
• ASI, TC, Tach.
Identifying Failures
• Maintain Scan & interpretation- reject the
erroneous one or group
• Carry covers
• Pitot Static system failures were covered in
section A
Gyroscopic Failures
• Can present in a variety of ways (often
subtle):
– HI or AI can begin to indicate a slow turn
– May become erratic in their indications
– Failures may be intermittent and therefore
more difficult to catch
– Can request “No Gyro” handling by ATC
Partial Panel Flight
Whenever the term partial panel is used it
typically refers to flight with no gyros.
• This typically leaves us with the ALT,
ASI, TC, VSI, and the Mag. Compass
• When this happens, make slow changes,
your transition instrument is lost
• Make all turns ½ standard rate on the TC
Partial Panel Ctn.
• Establish turns with the TC
• Make pitch changes with VSI, ASI, &
ALT
• Pitch control will be most difficult
• Remember not to fixate
• Increase your scan rate
Unusual attitude recovery
• Nose High
– Add power
– Forward pressure on yoke
– Correct any bank
– Return to level flight
Unusual attitude recovery ctn.
• Nose Low:
– Reduce power
– Level wings
– Recover from dive
– Return to level flight
Partial Panel Unusual Attitudes
• Use the TC to indicate turn direction
• Use the Pitot-Static Instruments for pitch
indications (passing through level flight
when the indications reverse).
– Hold pitch and wait for the indications to
stabilize
Partial Panel Stalls
• Reduce the Angle of Attack (AOA)
• Power to max. allowable
• Center the BALL!
Control/Performance Method of
Instrument Flight
• “Power + Attitude = Performance”
• Establish the desired pitch & bank attitude
• Set power as necessary (as per specific
aircraft) to maintain performance
• Relies heavily on the AI as large aircraft
have 1 to 2 back up AI’s
Control Performance Method
• Instruments are divided up into three
groups
– Control- Power indicators/ AI
– Performance- ASI, VSI, ALT, TC, AOA indic.
– Navigation- HSI, RMI, GPS, DME
Control Performance Method
• Control Instruments- a direct indication of
pitch and power
• Performance Instruments- Tell how the
aircraft is responding to the control
• Nav. Instruments- Tell where the aircraft is
in 3-D space or relative to a facility.
QUESTIONS?
