Flying Training

How to Prevent Landing Errors Due to Optical Illusions

Airplane Flying, Flying Training

To prevent these illusions and their potentially hazardous consequences, pilots can: Anticipate the possibility of visual illusions during approaches to unfamiliar airports, particularly at night or in adverse weather conditions. Consult airport diagrams and the Chart Supplements for information on runway slope, terrain, and lighting. Make frequent reference to the altimeter, especially during all approaches, […]

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Airplane approach and landing

Use of Flaps | Airplane Approaches and Landings

Airplane Flying, Flying Training

The following general discussion applies to airplanes equipped with flaps. The pilot may use landing flaps during the descent to adjust lift and drag. Flap settings help determine the landing spot and the descent angle to that spot. [Figure 1 and Figure 2] Flap extension during approaches and landings provides several advantages by: Producing greater

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Safety Considerations and Continuing Education

Airplane Flying, Flying Training

Safety Considerations In the interest of safety and good habit pattern formation, there are certain basic flight safety practices and procedures that should be emphasized by the flight instructor, and adhered to by both instructor and learner, beginning with the very first dual instruction flight. These include, but are not limited to, collision avoidance procedures

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RNAV Approach Types | Instrument Procedures

Flying Training, Instrument Procedures

RNAV encompasses a variety of underlying navigation systems and, therefore, approach criteria. This results in different sets of criteria for the final approach segment of various RNAV approaches. RNAV instrument approach criteria address the following procedures: GPS overlay of pre-existing nonprecision approaches. VOR/DME based RNAV approaches. Stand-alone RNAV (GPS) approaches. RNAV (GPS) approaches with vertical

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Types of Approaches | Instrument Procedures

Flying Training, Instrument Procedures

In the NAS, there are approximately 1,105 VOR stations, 916 NDB stations, and 1,194 ILS installations, including 25 LOC-type directional aids (LDAs), 11 simplified directional facilities (SDFs), and 235 LOC only facilities. As time progresses, it is the intent of the FAA to reduce navigational dependence on VOR, NDB, and other ground-based NAVAIDs and, instead,

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Descent Rates and Glidepaths for Nonprecision Approaches

Flying Training, Instrument Procedures

Maximum Acceptable Descent Rates Operational experience and research have shown that a descent rate of greater than approximately 1,000 fpm is unacceptable during the final stages of an approach (below 1,000 feet AGL). This is due to a human perceptual limitation that is independent of the type of airplane or helicopter. Therefore, the operational practices

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Sources of Flight Training

Airplane Flying, Flying Training

The major sources of flight training in the United States include FAA-approved pilot schools and training centers, non-certificated (14 CFR part 61) flying schools, and independent flight instructors. FAA-approved schools are those flight schools certificated by the FAA as pilot schools under 14 CFR part 141. [Figure 1] Application for part 141 certification is voluntary,

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Descents | Instrument Procedures

Flying Training, Instrument Procedures

Stabilized Approach In IMC, you must continuously evaluate instrument information throughout an approach to properly maneuver the aircraft or monitor autopilot performance and to decide on the proper course of action at the decision point (DA, DH, or MAP). Significant speed and configuration changes during an approach can seriously degrade situational awareness and complicate the

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Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) Briefing

Flying Training, Instrument Procedures

A thorough instrument approach briefing greatly increases the likelihood of a successful instrument approach. Most Part 121, 125, and 135 operators designate specific items to be included in an IAP briefing, as well as the order in which those items are briefed. Before an IAP briefing can begin, flight crews must decide which procedure is

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Vertical Navigation | Instrument Procedures

Flying Training, Instrument Procedures

One of the advantages of some GPS and multi-sensor FMS RNAV avionics is the advisory VNAV capability. Traditionally, the only way to get vertical path information during an approach was to use a ground-based precision NAVAID. Modern RNAV avionics can display an electronic vertical path that provides a constant-rate descent to minimums. Since these systems

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