Basic Instrument Maneuvers
Instrument Flight
Recovery:
Throttle: MRT
Speed brakes: Retract
Nose attitude: Lower until 23-24 units AOA achieved, level wings
AOA: Maintain at 23-24 units
Altitude: Maneuver complete when positive rate of climb confirmed on VSI and altimeter
UNUSUAL ATTITUDES
An unusual attitude is any aircraft attitude you encounter inadvertently. It may result from inattention to
scan, instrument failure, vertigo, turbulence, or a combination of factors. Although the severity of the
unusual attitudes you’ll encounter during instrument flight will probably not be as extreme as those that
occur during tactical maneuvering, the recovery techniques are basically the same.
There are several general rules that apply to all unusual attitude recoveries. First, neutralize the flight
controls (center the stick and rudder peddles). Second, analyze and evaluate the situation before
initiating a recovery. Third, if your aircraft is in a dive, reduce power and, if required, extend the speed
brakes to aid in airspeed control, then roll the aircraft in the shortest direction to wings level. Fourth, when
nose-high, hold your wing position while adding MRT and retracting the speed brakes until the nose is
below the horizon and airspeed reaches 150 KIAS.
General procedures:
Controls: Neutralize
Attitude: Analyze and evaluate to determine best recovery
Airspeed: Limit in dives
Bank: Eliminate when nose-low; Hold constant when nose-high
Nose-High Recovery
Your primary concern when recovering from a nose-high unusual attitude is to maintain the AOA between
5 and 10 units. At slow speeds, very slight back stick pressure will cause a rapid increase in the AOA.
Additionally, uncoordinated aileron and rudder inputs at slow speeds can introduce enough adverse yaw
and increased AOA on the rising wing to cause a departure from controlled flight.
When given control of the aircraft, simultaneously neutralize the flight controls and analyze the situation by
scanning the appropriate instruments (i.e., ADI, AOA, airspeed, and altimeter). To recover from a nose-
high condition, advance power to MRT and retract the speed brakes to minimize loss of airspeed.
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