Basic Instrument Maneuvers
Instrument Flight
changes. Maintain the nose attitude of 10 degrees noseup until climb speed is attained. Five KIAS prior to
climb speed, increase nose attitude to intercept and maintain climb speed, approximately 15-20 degrees
nose up.
Throttle: MRT
Nose wheel steering: Maintain directional control
Rotation: 5 KIAS prior to lift off, 10-12 degrees noseup (Do not exceed 17 units)
Lift-off: See NATOPS for chart
Gear: Positive climb on VSI and altimeter, and when safely airborne, 100 ft AGL minimum
CAUTION: The gear uplock mechanism can be overridden with 20-50 pounds of force applied
to the gear handle.
Flaps/slats: After gear, minimum of 300 ft AGL and 140 KIAS, wings level
CAUTION: Landing gear and flaps/slats should be fully retracted before reaching limit speed
of 200 KIAS.
LEVEL OFF CHECK
After level off, compare front & rear cockpit airspeed and altimeter (i.e. “ONE FIVE THOUSAND, MARK;
TWO FIFTY, MARK”). If required, perform time hack: “Standby for time hack; THREE, TWO, ONE,
HACK.” The time hack can also be performed on deck and checked at altitude.
CONSTANT AIRSPEED CLIMBS AND DESCENTS
Constant airspeed climbs and descents will introduce you to the principle that changing the aircraft nose
attitude (pitch) is the primary method of controlling airspeed when your aircraft is climbing or descending.
Thus, the critical and challenging component of these maneuvers lies in establishing a pitch angle that
results in a climb or descent with little or no change in airspeed. You will use constant airspeed climbs
during departure and constant airspeed descents for cruise and penetration descents.
Because you are using nose attitude (pitch) to maintain airspeed during these maneuvers, the primary
instruments to scan are the ADI for pitch and bank control and the airspeed indicator for performance. You
will need to start picking up the altimeter in your scan as the maneuver progresses so that you can identify
the point at which you’ll transition to level flight. Your scan should center on the ADI and altimeter during
the period from lead point to assigned altitude because you will be trying to arrive at a pitch attitude that
represents level flight at the same time you reach your altitude. To perform a smooth level off at the
correct speed, you will always need to start your transition to level flight by coordinating power and nose
attitude.
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