Flight Director Scenario — Client Edition

SCHEDULE:
Pre-brief: .5
Sim time: 2.0
Post brief: .5
Lesson time: 3.0 total

EQUIPMENT:
This scenario is best practiced in the Frasca simulator first, with techniques that can be applied to aircraft seamlessly. The appropriate approach plates and en-route charts will be provided for the airports in use.

OBJECTIVE:
The Flight Director is an outstanding tool at the pilot’s disposal, but only when used correctly. It is not any harder to control the Flight Director than it is to control the Autopilot, but mistakes are commonly made.

First, the main goal of this scenario is to ensure that the pilot is comfortable in various phases of flight when using the Flight Director.

Second, conscious decisions will be made by the pilot in command as to when the FD is appropriate vs. when to engage the AP or to simply turn both off and hand-fly the aircraft.

Third, the scenario includes some difficult Departure Procedures for the pilot to brush up on his or her skills.

ELEMENTS:
Scenario #1: KOTH – KMEF: This scenario requires the student to do the flight planning from OTH to MFR. Please do this before arriving for your lesson. Low ceilings prevail with tops at 18,000’. The freezing level is reported at 8,000’, with two pireps of light rime icing at 8,000’ currently.

Expect ATC routing prior to departure for your filed route. At MFR the ILS 14 approach can be expected.

Full stop landing.

Weather:
KOTH: 500’ OVC, 3 SM vis., wind 050 @ 16.
KMFR: Ceilings at 300’ OVC (AGL) with Ground Scud down to 100’, rain, 1 SM vis., and wind 170@06.

Scenario #2: KMFR – KSIY: The student will be placed on runway 4 with clearance as follows. Depart KSIY on Brute 5 DP, GRENA transition, Direct Siskiyou. GPS-A approach into KSIY.

Weather:
KMFR: Remains the same as previous scenario.
KSIY: Ceilings at 1,500’ OVC (AGL), 3 SM vis., and wind 170@17G25.

COMMON ERRORS:

• Failure to follow the FD indications.
• Failure to program the appropriate FD mode. When this happens the pilot is often flying what they know to be the correct course or heading, while the FD is showing them misleading indications.
• Failure to thoroughly examine all parts of the Departure Procedure (DP) and the Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP), BEFORE leaving the ground.
• Failure to select the appropriate runway and approach for the given conditions.

INSTRUCTOR’S ACTIONS:

• Review FD instructions and techniques in a classroom setting before getting into the simulator. This is to specifically include how the FD differs from the autopilot.
• Explain when a FD might be beneficial, and have a conversation as to when we might employ it vs. the autopilot.
• Review Circle to Land procedures.

PILOT’S ACTIONS:

• Use these scenarios as an opportunity to not only learn or re-enforce your FD habits, but also brush up on flying Departure Procedures. The procedures are complicated and intimidating, but with the help of your FD they should not be a problem.
• Stay ahead of the airplane and slow it down when necessary.