Instrument Flight
Ground Procedures
GROUND PROCEDURES
Prior to taking off on an instrument flight, you must ensure that the instruments, navigation equipment,
radios, aircraft lighting, and the hood are in proper operational condition.
INSTRUMENT CHECKLIST
Before each IFR flight, ensure that all the instruments, communications gear, and navigational equipment
are in proper operating order by completing instrument checklist in NATOPs Chapter 19, reprinted below.
Check the following list of equipment while in the chocks, prior to taxi. Items marked with an asterisk must
be checked during taxi.
1. Check all communications and navigation equipment for correct operation.
2. Set navigation equipment to local station.
3. Check cockpit lighting, if necessary, and set as low as possible in order to retain night vision. Adjust
the kneeboard light for use in reading approach plates, charts, kneeboard cards, etc.
4. Vertical speed indicator (VSI) - ZERO (Note error if not zero. The aircraft is down for IFR flight if the
error exceeds +/- 100 ft.)
5. Mach-Airspeed indicator - ZERO
6. ADI - Adjust to mark on case, ensure pipper on horizon.
7. Altimeter - Set to field barometric pressure. (Note error if not equal to field height. The aircraft is
down for IFR flight if the error exceeds +/- 75 ft.)
8. Clock - Set and running.
* 9. Standby compass - Swings freely, fluid full.
*10. HUD, HSI, ADI heading indicators - Check for proper operation while taxiing.
11. Turn needle and slip indicator - Check for proper functioning in a turn.
RADAR ALTIMETER
Procedures for RADALT usage are outlined in the Wing SOP. Those paragraphs concerning instrument
flights are summarized below:
1.
Takeoff - the front cockpit RADALT bug should be set to the 100 to 200 ft range for low altitude
warning during climb out.
2.
En route - the front cockpit RADALT bug should be set at 5,000 ft (platform) if above 5,000 ft AGL;
and at the desired altitude; less by approximately 10 percent if below 5,000 ft AGL.
3.
Penetration - during penetrations, the front cockpit RADALT bug shall be set at 5,000 ft AGL (plat-
form) so the laws tone will serve as a warning to break the rate of descent. The bug should be
“stair-stepped” down, through assigned/desired altitudes until down to approach minimums for
instrument approaches.
NOTE: Set the bug at Height Above Touchdown for precision approaches.
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