Scan Pattern - P-330

CHAPTER FOUR

T-34C CONTACT

For flight that is not restricted to cockpit references for setting aircraft attitudes, the following

flight instruments will comprise the group to be used as "crosscheck" or performance

instruments in succeeding chapters:

Attitude Gyro

Altimeter

Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)

Airspeed Indicator

Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI)

Turn and Bank Indicator (Turn needle and ball)

NOTE

For a complete discussion of these instruments, refer to the

Instruments FTI, Chapter One and NATOPS Section I.

406.

SCAN PATTERN

The tool that all pilots must employ to guard against midair collisions is an efficient scan pattern.

Division of attention, or scanning, is the "awareness" that a pilot must possess in order to fly

his/her aircraft effectively. It is quite obvious that you must:

Look outside the airplane to see where you are going.

Look at the aircraft with respect to the horizon to check and maintain a desired attitude.

Look inside the aircraft at the instrument panel to check for proper power settings, flight

instrument readings and for any signs of engine malfunction.

Combined with the diversified attention involved in the fundamental control of the aircraft is the

concern that must be devoted to flight safety-avoiding other aircraft. Behind the proper division-

of-attention techniques, which you learn in training, lies the foundation for the mandatory

alertness of the military pilot.

It might seem that the task of having to be aware of so many events and circumstances at the

same time is impossible. However, the ability to do so is an integral part of your flight training

and is developed more or less naturally. Of course, as in any endeavor, its development is

expedited by a conscientious effort to learn.

In order to divide your attention, your development of an efficient scan pattern will offer the

most efficient means by which you can readily ascertain required information and not dwell on

any one item with subsequent failure to notice other equally important details.

4-6

FUNDAMENTAL FLIGHT CONCEPTS