### Introduction Now that you've mastered the fundamentals, we're tackling transitions between the standard phases of IFR flying. The climb and cruise phases will be familiar, but flight at 90kts, with different flap settings, is common throughout an instrument approach. Using an aircraft [[gait chart]] allows us to quickly change between these different phases, without chasing our instruments. Depending on the weather, you may need slightly different pitch or power settings, but those changes should be intentional and numeric. (E.g. 2° pitch down is too fast today, let's try 1°.) Start to verbalize these changes, as well as any anticipatory countdowns like minutes or miles: you are your own copilot when flying single-pilot IFR. **Pre-Lesson Reading/Homework:** [[~ IRA Pre-Lesson Reading]] **Builds On:** [[IRA1.2 Instruments and Attitude Flying]] **Schedule:** Ground 0.5 hour, simulator and/or airplane 2.5 hour ### Lesson Elements 1. [[SRM]] as an instrument pilot 1. [[VVM]] and "[[Two Most Important Things in Aviation|next two things]]" 2. Verbalize flows and checklists, and any changes 1. Verbalize thoughts to act as own co-pilot 3. Callouts of 1000', 500', 200', 100' before a level off or [[DA]] 4. Callouts for time or miles until the next waypoint or phase change 5. Appropriate management of all resources (in and out of aircraft) available to the single pilot 6. How can resources be organized before the flight for better [[SRM]]? 2. [[CRM]] including crew communication and coordination ([[AC 120-51]]) 1. Communications Processes and Decision Behavior^[Briefings, Inquiry/Advocacy/Assertion, Crew Self-Critique (Decisions and Actions), Conflict Resolution, Communications and Decisionmaking] 2. Team Building and Maintenance 3. [[Task Saturation]] 1. ![[Task Load vs Pilot Capabilities.jpeg]] 2. Prepare for high workload periods during times of low workload 3. If falling behind airplane or need more time 1. "stop, think, slow down, and prioritize" - [[PHAK Ch2]] 2. [[Aviate, Navigate, Communicate]] 3. Slow the plane down to 90kts instead of cruise speeds 4. Request a [[IFR Radio Communication Examples#Delay Vector|delay vector]] or, similarly, request to continue holding 4. > [!quote] From [[Standby for Name When Task Saturated|The Finer Points video]] > There will come a day when I ask you what your name is, and you tell me to standby. 4. Common IFR maneuvers 1. Most IFR flights have similar phases 2. Gait chart gives initial pitch/power/configuration 3. Gait chart also helps us avoid chasing the instruments! 4. Common maneuvers listed in activity below 5. Common Errors 1. Forgetting to use mental checklists 2. Rushing to keep up with the plane 3. Diverting attention during maneuvers like turning, or before reaching altitude 4. Not recognizing [[fatigue]] and [[task saturation]] #### Airplane or Sim Activity > [!quote] From [[IFR Muscle Builders]] > In the opening phases of World War II, our country was feverishly training pilots for war. Thousands of cadets earned coveted US Army Air Corps wings. Six months later, half were dead. Investigation revealed that deaths attributable to VFR into IMC far exceeded combat losses. IMC was more dangerous than the enemy. > > Realizing this, the Air Corps strengthened its instrument training program. Beyond needle-ball-and-airspeed, students had to learn the attitude and heading indicators, compass, and clock and fuse them into what became attitude instrument flying. To stimulate the development of a composite scan, they developed Patterns A, B, and the vertical S. > [!warning] Diagrams linked below are not meant to be read by the student > Feel free to show them to communicate the goals, but CFI interprets the diagram and narrates through each step of these as they're flown (narrating "[[Two Most Important Things in Aviation|the next two things]]") 1. Common IFR Maneuvers 1. Climb Vy to specific altitude, with vectoring turns 2. Transition to cruise climb, with vectoring turns 3. Level off, cruise configuration, vectoring turns 4. Timed turns 5. Cruise descents, vectoring turns 6. IAF Inbound Level (90kts, 0 fpm), vectoring turns 7. IAF Inbound Descent (90kts, -800 fpm), vectoring turns 8. Prec Appr to DA (90kts, -450 fpm), approach configuration 9. Non-Prec Appr to MDA (90kts, -800 fpm), approach configuration 10. Level off, approach configuration 11. Full power climb at Vy and clean up^[[[5 C's (Going Missed)]]] 2. Simulated Engine Failure 3. [[Pattern A.png|Pattern A]] 4. [[Oscar Pattern]] 1. Great [[Oscar Pattern#^the-finer-points|overview video]] from [[The Finer Points]] 2. Pattern image at [this timestamp](https://youtu.be/GwymtvCgBOk?si=Y4FsAZx-aEjMNPf9&t=103) 5. [[Pattern B and Vertical S.png|Pattern B and Vertical S]], description in [[IFR Muscle Builders]] 1. 500 fpm first, then 400, 300, and 200. 2. Challenge: Complete this at 90 kts ### Completion Standards Student must become proficient at transitioning between the phases of flight used on a typical IFR flight. Maintain heading within 10°, altitude within 100 feet, airspeed within 10 kts. *Return to [[~ IRA Lesson Plan Outline|Table of Contents]]^*