Straight and Level Flight (Instrument)

Objective: To develop the student’s ability to fly the aircraft with reference to the instruments.
Content: Before Flight:

  • Attitude indicator as Direct Indication of pitch attitude in level flight
    • Must be adjusted according to other direct indications of level flight
  • Altimeter as Indirect Indication of pitch attitude in level flight
    • Rate of change indicates magnitude of deviation from level attitude

During Flight:

  • Instructor or student adjusts pitch based on AI to observe relationship between AI position changes and actual aircraft pitch changes
    • Use half-bar-width, full-bar-width, and one-and-one-half-bar-width adjustments on AI to demonstrate this
  • Instructor ensures student has relaxed grip on controls to allow for better feel of subtle control pressure changes
  • Instructor ensures student is using trim properly by having student release controls occasionally
  • Instructor or student adjusts pitch and observes resultant altimeter rate-of-change

See Instrument Flying Handbook C.5

Completion Standards: The lesson is complete when the student demonstrates knowledge through a written or oral exam and is able to perform straight-and-level flight with reference to the instruments to the satisfaction of the instructor and in accordance with the current Practical Test Standards for the student’s stage of training.
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