Cockpit Procedure Trainers/Flight Simulators

CHAPTER ONE

T-34C CONTACT

moment. You will find yourself surprised at the amount of information your eyes will transmit

to your brain during a quick SCAN of your surroundings. Planning ahead will also equip you to

take immediate and appropriate action should an emergency occur.

Confidence in your aircraft, your instructor, and most importantly yourself, is another

essential element of flying. The basic ingredient to acquiring the confidence necessary to

professionally pilot an aircraft is knowledge and efficient analytical application of that

knowledge. The aircraft you are flying has been engineered to provide you with every safety

feature known to the industry. The risks beyond the control of the pilot are minimal. Fire is an

extremely rare occurrence. Engines are inherently reliable. In-flight collisions are rarities that

are completely avoidable if you stay alert. With the above points in mind, it is readily apparent

that the chance of an aviation accident caused by other than incompetence, disobedience or poor

judgment is remote. Remember that 70 percent of all fatal accidents are due to 100 percent pilot

error. With all this going for you, do not let human frailty or overconfidence develop,

particularly while your experience is limited. The instant that a pilot begins to lose that feeling

of respect due an aircraft, he has reached a stage when anything can happen and usually does.

Good pilots are never caught unprepared in an emergency situation. They know and understand

emergency procedures COLD! Humble confidence and perseverance will go a long way in

striving for those Wings of Gold.

Occasionally physiological problems arise during the course of a flight. Airsickness,

fatigue, hypoxia, food poisoning and dehydration can overcome a pilot and result in reduced

situational awareness and even complete incapacitation. Pilots must not only recognize these

symptoms in themselves but also in other crew members. At any time, the non-affected crew

member should be ready to take the controls, and if necessary, fly to a safer environment (i.e.,

higher altitude, away from other aircraft and clouds) to include termination of the flight.

Airsickness is common during early Contact flights and, even though it is not usually

incapacitating, it affects judgment and reduces situational awareness. If this occurs, inform your

instructor.

111.

COCKPIT PROCEDURE TRAINERS/FLIGHT SIMULATORS

Cockpit procedure trainers (CPT) have proven to be a valuable asset in helping students learn the

physical attributes necessary to become a good pilot. Before you climb into the T-34C for the

first time, you will have practiced the use of checklists and emergency procedures several times.

There are three types of procedure trainers available for your use; a static trainer located at your

squadron, the 2C42 CPT, and the 2B37 flight simulator. In addition to the syllabus training you

will receive in the CPTs, you should utilize the static trainers to practice at every opportunity.

Practice will pay off with better grades, self-confidence, and a more professional performance.

2C42/2B37 FLIGHT SIMULATOR. The 2C42/2B37 synthetic flight trainer is specifically

designed to give the SNA a device in which to perform cockpit orientation and instrument flight.

The simulator may or may not have full motion. The instruments and flight controls in the

simulator behave exactly as those in the aircraft. If there is a discrepancy in the device, it is the

responsibility of the aircrew (you) to provide maintenance data. Normally this consists of telling

the simulator instructor about the problem. Do not be complacent about discrepancies on a flight

simulator.

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INTRODUCTION TO T-34C CONTACT