Conduct of the Flight

CHAPTER 3

AIR FORCE T-38 TRACK INTERMEDIATE

Flying en route to your first destination, about 100 miles out, you want to do the "WHOLDS"

check:

W Check the weather, PMSV, FSS, ATIS.

H Is there any applicable holding? Are we planning to do any holding? How will I enter?

O Obtain a clearance when I talk to the destination Approach Controller; how will I tell him

what I want?

L Letdown plate review, brief up the first approach into the terminal area (NMAILMAN

check).

D Descent check, if applicable.

S Compute Speed and Configuration, (in T-34, this will always be BAC.)

When briefing an approach always do the "NMAILMAN" check:

N Check for applicable NAVAIDs, are my NAVAIDs compatible with the entire approach

from IAF to missed approach procedure?

M Minimums, check for all minimums, minimum weather to fly the approach, Minimum

Sector Altitude, Emergency Safe, at or above altitudes, as well as MDA/DH for the

approach you are flying.

A Altimeter - check the altimeter setting, did you reset to local altimeter after descending

below FL180 (where the altimeter setting is always 29.92)?

I What is the inbound course? Can I dial it in right now if I am getting radar vectors or I

am on the arc?

L Letdown review/Lost Comm. Again review the flow of the approach plate, altitudes,

FAF, MAP, etc. How will the runway look when I break out of the weather? Is this a

backup to a GCA? What will I do if communications are lost?

M Review Missed Approach Procedure; do I have to coordinate for alternate Missed

Approach Procedure if I do not have compatible NAVAIDs?

A Recheck the altimeter setting, your life depends on it.

N Next approach, am I doing one? Do I have to coordinate with approach control for

"climbout instructions" for the next approach I want? (Climbout is different from missed

approach; missed approach is flown when you fly an approach with the intent to land and

did not break out of the weather; climbout is meant to sequence you back into the radar

pattern for more approach work and starts at departure end vice the Missed Approach

Point (MAP).

When executing a Localizer Approach, do a "LIDS" check:

L Dial in the localizer frequency, make sure you are toggled to VOR on the toggle switch.

I Inbound course, dial it in.

D DME, is it a separate channel for this localizer? (Like South Field, usually these are Y

channels.)

S Speed and configuration (this will always be BAC in the T-34).

Refer to AFM 11-217 Instrument Flight Procedures and other Air Force IPs for more memory

aids and techniques commonly used in the Air Force.

3-4 T-38 INSTRUMENT NAVIGATION