Instrument Pilot Course of Instruction

Flight and Ground Instruction Curriculum

Steve Sconfienza, Ph.D.

Airline Transport Pilot

Flight Instructor: Airplane Single and Multiengine; Instrument Airplane

cell: 518.366.3957

e-mail: docsteve@localnet.com

  1. Pre/Post-Flight Ground Instruction

    (Prior to each flight: in addition to Pre-and Post-Flight Briefings for Flight-Specific Instruction & Evaluation)

    1. Preflight Preparation Procedures

      1. Overall review of Federal Aviation Regulations (Title 14, Code of Federal Regulaions [14 CFR])
        • Part 61, §61.57: "Recent Experience"; §61.65: "Instrument Rating Requirements"
        • Part 91, Subpart B: "Flight Rules"; Subpart C: "Equipment, Instrument, and Certificate Requirements
      2. Aricraft Certificates and Documents
      3. Aircraft Airworthiness Requirements
      4. Aircraft IFR Inspections & Equipment Requirements
      5. Aircraft Performance and Limitations
      6. Operation of Aircraft Systems
      7. IFR Pilot Requirements
      8. Aeromedical Factors
      9. IFR Flight Planning
      10. Weather Information
      11. National Airspace System

    2. Preflight and Postflight Procedures

      1. Preflight Inspection
      2. Cockpit Management
      3. Engine Starting
      4. Before Takeoff Check
      5. After Landing, Parking, and Securing

  2. Instrument Flight Instruction

    1. Basic Aircraft Control

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        1. Pitch / Power / Bank
        2. Attitude (pitch) + Power = Climb/Level/Descent
          • Power Settings and Attitude
          • Trim = Attitude
          • Primary Instruments:
            • Altimeter
            • Vertical Speed Indicator
            • Airspeed Indicator
            • Tach/Manifold Pressure
        3. Banks: Turns & Headings
          • Direction of Flight
          • Turns: Standard Rate Turns
          • Primary Instruments:
            • Heading Indicator
            • Turn Coordinator
            • Magnetic Compass

      2. Flight Instruction

        1. Instrument Taxi Checks
        2. Level Flight
        3. Turns
        4. Turns to a Heading
        5. Constant Rate Climbs and Descents
        6. Constant Speed Climbs and Descents

    2. Speed Control and Basic Flight Maneuvers

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        1. Power Control
          • Level Flight: Power = Airspeed
          • Trim = Attitude (constant Altitude)
          • Primary Instruments:
            1. Tach/Manifold Pressure
            2. Altimeter
            3. Vertical Speed Indicator
        2. Pitch Control
          • Level Flight: Pitch = Altitude
          • Trim = Attitude (constant Altitude)
          • Primary Instruments:
            1. Altimeter
            2. Vertical Speed Indicator
        3. General VFR Maneuvers Review: Stalls/Spins/Steep Turns
        4. Unusual Attitude Recoveries
          • Pitch Low:

            (FIRST: Reduce load factor)

            1. Level Wings
            2. Reduce Power
            3. Raise Nose
          • Pitch High:

            (FIRST: Avoid a stall)

            1. Lower Nose
            2. Level Wings
            3. Add Power

      2. Flight Instruction

        1. Level Flight
          • Airspeed Control: Slow Flight through Normal Cruise
          • Turns
            • Turns to a Heading
            • Timed Turns
        2. Constant Rate Climbs and Descents
          • Airspeed Control: Slow Flight through Normal Cruise
          • Turns
        3. Constant Speed Climbs and Descents
          • Turns
        4. Power-Off Stalls (straight and turning)
        5. Power-On Stalls (straight and turning)
        6. Spin Awareness
        7. Steep Turns
        8. Unusual Attitudes

    3. Partial Panel

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        1. Introduction to Partial Panel Instrument Flight: Missing Instruments
          • Missing Support Instruments: e.g.,
            • Attitude Indicator
            • Vertical Speed Indicator in level flight
            • Turn coordinator on a constant heading
          • Missing Primary Instruments: e.g.,
            • Altimeter in level flight
            • Heading Indicator
            • Vertical Speed Indicator in a climb/descent
            • Airspeed Indicator
            • Turn Coordinator in turns
        2. Magnetic Compass
          • Turning Error to North or South: ANDS (Anticipate North, Delay South)
          • Accelleration Error heading East or West: ANDS (Accellerate North, Decelerate South)
        3. Partial Panel Unusual Attitudes
          • Airspeed Increasing

            (FIRST: Reduce load factor)

            1. Reduce Power
              • Tach/Manifold Pressure
            2. Level wings
              • Turn Coordinator
              • Heading Indicator
              • Compass
            3. Pitch up
              • Airspeed Indicator
              • Altimeter
              • Vertical Speed Indicator
          • Airspeed Decreasing

            (FIRST: Avoid a stall)

            1. Lower nose
              • Airspeed Indicator
              • Altimeter
              • Vertical Speed Indicator
            2. Level Wings
              • Turn Coordinator
              • Heading Indicator
              • Compass
            3. Add Power
              • Tach/Manifold Pressure

      2. Flight Instruction

        1. Level Flight
          • Airspeed Control: Slow Flight through Normal Cruise
          • Turns
          • Turns to a Heading
          • Compass Turns
        2. Constant Rate Climbs and Descents
          • Airspeed Control: Slow Flight through Normal Cruise
          • Turns
          • Turns to a Heading
          • Compass Turns
        3. Constant Speed Climbs and Descents
          • Turns
          • Turns to a Heading
          • Compass Turns
        4. Power-Off Stalls
        5. Power-On Stalls
        6. Steep Turns
        7. Unusual Attitudes

    4. Precision Flight Maneuvers

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        • Vertical S
          • Vertical S
          • Vertical S1
          • Vertical S2
        • Basic Instrument Flight Patterns
          • Racetrack Pattern
          • Procedure Turn
          • Standard 45° Procedure Turn
          • 80/260 Procedure Turn
          • Teardrop Patterns
          • Circling Approach Patterns
            1. Pattern I
            2. Pattern II

      2. Flight Instruction

        • Vertical S, S1, S2
          • Full panel
          • Partial panel
        • Basic Instrument Flight Patterns
          • Full panel
          • Partial panel

    5. VOR: Basic Operation

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        • VOR Checks
          • VOT
          • Ground
          • Airborne
          • Dual-System
        • VOR operation
          • orientation
          • radials
          • intercepting to/from
          • tracking to/from

      2. Flight Instruction

        • VOR Checks
        • VOR operation
          • orientation
          • radials
          • intercepting to/from
          • tracking to/from

    6. ADF: Basic Operation

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        • ADF operation
          • orientation
          • bearings
          • intercepting to/from
          • tracking to/from

      2. Flight Instruction

        • ADF operation
          • orientation
          • bearings
          • intercepting to/from
          • tracking to/from

    7. GPS: Basic Operation

       [IF AIRCRAFT SO EQUIPPED]

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        • orientation
        • tracking to/from

      2. Flight Instruction

        • orientation
        • tracking to/from

    8. Holds

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        • Holding Entry and Patterns
        • VOR Holds
        • DME Holds
        • NDB Holds
        • Intersection Holds

      2. Flight Instruction

        • VOR Holds
        • NDB Holds
        • Intersection Holds

    9. Non-Precision Approach Procedures

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        • Approach Procedures
        • Approach Segments
        • Procedure Turns
        • DME Arcs
        • Final Approach Fixes
        • Circle to Land
        • MDAs
        • Missed Approach Points
        • Missed Approach Proceduress

      2. Flight Instruction

        • VOR Approach
        • NDB Approach

    10. IFR En-Route Procedures

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        • Filing an IFR Flight Plan
        • IFR Clearance
        • IFR Departure Procedures
        • IFR En-route Procedures
        • IFR Arrival Procedures

      2. Flight Instruction

        • IFR Cross Country flight (simulated IFR only) with non-precision approachs

    11. Precision Approaches

      1. Pre-Flight Preparation

        • ILS Approach initial flight segments
        • ILS Approach geometry
        • ILS Approach flight considerations

      2. Flight Instruction

        • ILS Approach

    12. Cross Country Flight

      • Required one dual flight of:
        • 250 nautical miles total distance along airways or as directed by ATC
        • An instrument approach at each airport
        • Three different kinds of approaches using navigation systems (i.e., no visual approaches)

    13. Flight Test Preparation

      • Three hours minimum
      • Within preceding two calendar months of the month of test

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rev. 7/2010

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Steve Sconfienza, Ph.D.

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