SARASOTA STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

This will serve as a chronological outline of the various tasks and procedures used during an IFR flight. While this gives a general outline, it can not cover every situation presented during a flight. Every effort should be made to complete the Pre flight section (steps 1-7) before the flight begins. Ideally, should have your pre flight planning, walk around, and flight plan completed prior to the flight.

Pre flight

Weather

An instrument pilot is always assessing the weather. Even if not going anywhere, they are continually assessing conditions for potential flights. You never know when you will be called upon to take a short notice trip.

  1. GFA for times associated with the trip
  2. TAF compared to METAR to see if things are developing as forecast
  3. TAF compared to alternate minima to see if you have a useful alternate
  4. Winds aloft. Consider the effect on heading in the hold, enroute, and approach
  5. NOTAMs especially critical for single runway airports and night flying
  6. Closest good VFR, critical data after a complete electrical failure in IMC
  7. Compare weather to your personal minimums and complete a risk assessment
  8. Complete IFR Navlog, weight and balance, and flight plan – Can be done electronically
  9. File flight plan with the Area Control Centre via phone 1-888-358-7526 or local 780-890-8304. They will generally need a 30 minute lead time to get the plan into the system so co-ordinate a departure time that is feasible. The flight plan can also be filed by internet, through the navcanada or fore-flight website, once you set up a user account.

Route Review/Planning

  1. Review Altitudes, Tracks, and Distances
  2. Nav Aids that will be used for tracking and identifying intersections and/or turning points.
  3. Review relevant approaches along the route
  4. Review Missed approach Procedures
  5. Calculate critical take off and performance data including:
  6. Take off Distance
  7. Accelerate stop distance (Take off Ground Roll + Landing Roll)
  8. Rate of Climb
  9. Rate of Climb Single Engine
  10. Compare aircraft performance to Departure procedures and requirements

Aircraft

Use the Aircraft Flight Manual to your greatest advantage

  1. Review Systems, speeds, and procedures for departure and approach
  2. Pre-flight Inspection
  3. Cockpit organization is a must
  4. Checklist
  5. Terminal Chart
  6. CAP
  7. Flight Plan/Planning
  8. Notepad
  9. IPAD
  10. Should all be accessible to you and be always kept in the same place

COMPLETE CABIN CHECKS THRU TO ENGINE START

PRE TAXI CHECKS

  1. BREAKERS
  2. Braille check all breakers prior to and after engine start and application of the alternator. This allows you to identify any popped breakers
  3. AVIONICS MASTER
  4. On

All system annunciations should be cleared within one (1) minute of power-up.

On the PFD, the AHRS system displays the ‘AHRS ALIGN: Keep Wings Level’ message and begins to initialize.

The AHRS should display valid attitude and heading fields within one (1) minute of power-up.

The AHRS can align itself both while taxiing and during level flight.

When the MFD powers up, the MFD Power-up Page displays the following information:

• System version

• Copyright

• Checklist filename

• Land database name and version

• Obstacle database name and version

• Terrain database name and version

• Aviation database name, version and effective dates

When this information has been reviewed for currency (to ensure that no databases have expired), the pilot is prompted to continue.

Press the ENT key to acknowledge this information and proceed to the Navigation Map Page. When the system has acquired a sufficient number of satellites to determine a position, the Navigation Map Page appears, showing the aircraft current position.

  1. COMM
  2. Use COMM 1 for all transmissions on the ground and in the air.
  3. COMM 2 can be used for all non essential communication such as checking ATIS, calling a FBO, and alerting a Flight Service Station/Aerodrome Traffic Frequency that you are inbound but still working Centre
  4. Copy ATIS and call for Clearance on appropriate frequency

  1. Ensure volume is sufficient by pushing on the volume knob of the Comm radio
  2. Ensure that the intercom volume is sufficient and squelch is adjusted as appropriate
  3. To adjust squelch the manual squelch button must be pushed and then the intercom button must be pushed to ensure the letters SQ show up in the bottom right corner of the audio panel. Squelch can then be adjusted for the pilot and passengers using the respective inner/outer intercom knob.

Clearance Delivery

  1. Can be done prior to or after Engine Start
  2. Refer to the AIM for IFR Training flight procedures. You will usually be cleared to the final destination (CYXD) and usually by the route filed.
  1. Your first call from the aeroplane to ATC will follow this format:
  2. (Ident) IFR (destination), (initial crusing altitude)

Example: Clearance Delivery, Cessna 182 FUTT, IFR Edmonton City Centre, Six-Thousand

  1. ATC will give you your clearance and if nothing is changed, you need only read back the transponder code or “squawk” code. (However, you should always include the departure, as some airports have multiple departures). Also, at locations not served by ATC only a FSS you must read back the entire clearance.
  2. Example:
  3. FUTT is cleared to the City Centre Airport, City Six Departure, Flight Planned Route, Squawk 4265
  4. Your readback should be Cleared City Four Departure Squawk 4265 FUTT
  5. They will reply with “Readback correct” and give you an altimeter setting.

  1. NAV ½
  1. VOT TEST (NAV ½)
  2. Tune in the NAV 1 to VOT frequency found in CAP
  3. Switch the CDI to Nav ½
  4. Activate the Headphone for NAV 1/2 to listen for the ATIS
  5. Set CDI to 360. Should be within +/- 4 degrees with FROM indication
  6. Set CDI to 180. Should be within +/- 4 degrees with TO indication
  7. Turn off Headphone for NAV ½

  1. VOR Check can also be accomplished at an airport that has a run up or designated location indicating a radial bearing and a distance. If time permits taxi to this location to check your VOR
  1. After VOT Test is complete
  2. Set Nav 1 for your desired Nav Aid Frequency and Track
  3. Set Nav 2 for Emergency return Approach Frequency and Track

  1. Set a bearing pointer 1 to gps or nav 1 depending on your method of navigation
  1. Pressing the PFD Softkey provides access to the BRG1 and BRG2 Softkeys. The BRG1 pointer is a single line pointer. The BRG2 pointer is a double line pointer. Press the BRG1 or BRG2 Softkey to cycle through selecting NAV1/2, GPS, or ADF for display using the corresponding pointer.

Always be mindful of a possible “stuck mike” situation by monitoring your tx and rx indications as shown below:

If the push-to-talk (PTT) switch becomes stuck, the COM transmitter stops transmitting after 35 seconds of continuous operation. An alert appears on the PFD to advise the crew of a stuck microphone.

In case of a COM system tuning failure, the emergency frequency (121.500 MHz) is automatically tuned in the radio in which the tuning failure occurred.

Pressing and holding the COM Frequency Transfer key for two seconds automatically loads the emergency COM frequency (121.500 MHz) in the active field of the active COM radio (the one with the transfer arrow).

  1. ALTIMETER
  2. Set PFD barometer

To select barometric pressure, turn the large BARO (outer) knob to select

the desired setting.

  1. SET Standby Altimeter
  2. Set Initial Altitude in Alt Select Window

Turn the ALT knobs to set the Altitude Reference Bug. The small ALT knob sets the hundreds and the large ALT knob sets the thousands. This altitude also appears in the Altitude Reference Box above the Altimeter.

  1. Set Altimeter in KAP 140 and set Initial Altitude
  1. BARO setting - Enter barometric setting using the rotary knobs OR if correct as displayed, press BARO.
  1. After 3 seconds, the Altimter will switch to Altitude. Use the ALTITUDE SELECT knob - ROTATE until the desired altitude is displayed.
  1. Set Transponder

Transponder Operation

Pressing the XPDR softkey displays the second-level softkeys:

  • STBY – Selects standby mode
  • ON – Selects Mode A (replies do not include altitude information)
  • ALT – Selects Mode C (Replies to altitude interrogations include the standard pressure altitude received from an external altitude source. The transponder also responds to interrogations from TCAS-equipped aircraft.
  • VFR – Sets 1200
  • IDENT – Activates the Special Position Identification (SPI) Pulse
  • CODE – Displays the transponder code selection softkeys, which include digits 0-7 and BKSP

  1. GPS (Load Flight Plan)
  1. Create a New Flight Plan Using the MFD
  1. Press the FPL Key
  1. Turn the small FMS Knob to display the Waypoint Information Window.
  1. Turn the small FMS Knob to the right enter the first character of the identifier of the departure waypoint. Turning the knob to the left will access the FPL, NRST, and RECENT waypoint list.
  1. Turn the large FMS Knob to move the cursor to the next character field. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the desired identifier has been entered.
  2. Press the ENT Key.
  3. Repeat step number 3, 4, and 5 to enter the identifier for each additional flight plan waypoint.
  4. When all waypoints have been entered, press the FMS Knob to return to the Flight Plan Catalog Page. The new flight plan is now in the list.

  1. Load Airways as Required
  1. Press the FPL Key to display the active flight plan or display a stored flight plan.
  2. Press the FMS Knob to activate the cursor.
  3. Turn the large FMS Knob to highlight the waypoint before which the airway will be entered.
  4. Turn the small FMS Knob to display the Waypoint Information Window and begin entering the desired airways entry point.
  1. When the desired entry point is entered, press the ENT Key.
  1. Turn the small FMS Knob to display the Waypoint Information Window and begin entering the desired airway identifier.
  1. When the desired airway is entered, press the LD AIRWY Softkey.
  2. Turn either FMS Knob to scroll through the list of available exit points.
  1. With the desired exit point highlighted, press the ENT Key.
  2. With ‘LOAD?’ highlighted, press the ENT Key.
  1. Load the Departure if applicable
  1. Press the PROC Key.
  2. Turn the large FMS Knob to highlight ‘SELECTDEPARTURE’.
  3. Press the ENT Key.
  1. If a flight plan is active, the departure airport willbe displayed as the default. A list of availabledepartures is also displayed. If no flight plan isactive, use the FMS Knobs to enter the identifierof the desired airport. Press the ENT Key.
  2. Turn the large FMS Knob to highlight theDeparture field. Turn the small FMS Knob todisplay a list of available departures.
  3. Turn either FMS Knob to select the desireddeparture and press the ENT Key.
  4. A list of runways may be displayed for thedeparture. Turn either FMS Knob to select thedesired runway and press the ENT Key.
  5. A list of available transitions is displayed for thedeparture. Turn eitherFMS Knob to highlight thedesired transition waypoint and press the ENTKey.
  6. With ‘LOAD?’ highlighted, press the ENT Key. Thedeparture will be active when the flight plan isactive.

  1. Load the Arrival if applicable
  1. Press the PROC Key.
  2. Turn the large FMS Knob to highlight ‘SELECT ARRIVAL’.
  3. Press the ENT Key.
  4. If a flight plan is active, the destination airport will be displayed as the default. A list of available arrivals is also displayed. If no flight plan is active, use the FMS Knobs to enter the identifier of the desired airport. Press the ENT Key.
  5. Turn the large FMS Knob to highlight the Arrival field. Turn the small FMS Knob to display a list of available arrivals.
  6. Turn either FMS Knob to select the desired arrival and press the ENT Key.
  1. A second window is displayed listing available transitions for the arrival. Turn either FMS Knob to highlight the desired transition waypoint and press the ENT Key.

  1. A third window is displayed listing the available runways. Turn either FMS Knob to select the desired runway and press the ENT Key.

  1. With ‘LOAD?’ highlighted, press the ENT Key. If a flight plan is active, the selected arrival procedure is inserted after the destination airport and becomes part of the active flight plan. If no flight plan is active when the arrival is loaded, the arrival procedure will become the active flight plan.

  1. Load an Approach (Only for legs less than 30 min)
  1. Press the PROC Key.
  2. Turn the large FMS Knob to highlight ‘SELECTAPPROACH’.
  3. Press the ENT Key.
  4. If a flight plan is active, the destination airportwill be displayed as the default. A list of availableapproaches is also displayed. If no flight plan isactive, use the FMS Knobs to enter the identifierof the desired airport. Press the ENT Key.
  5. Turn the large FMS Knob to highlight theApproach field. Turn the small FMS Knob todisplay a list of available approaches.
  1. Turn either FMS Knob to highlight the desiredapproach. Press the ENT Key.

  1. The cursor will move to the TRANSITIONS field.Turn the large FMS Knob to highlight the desiredtransition waypoint and press the ENT Key. (The“Vectors” option assumes vectors will be receivedto the final course segment of the approach andwill provide navigation guidance relative to thefinal approach course.)
  1. Turn the large FMS Knob to highlight ‘Activate?’and press the ENT Key to activate the approach.Selecting ‘Load?’ will add the procedure to theflight plan without immediately using it fornavigation guidance.

  1. Complete a RAIM check with the anticipated arrival time
  1. Select the GPS Status Page.
  2. Press the FMS knob. Turn the small and largeFMS knobs to select the ‘WAYPOINT’ field.
  3. Turn the small FMS knob to display theWaypoint Information Page.
  4. Turn the small and large FMS knobs to enterthe desired waypoint. Press the ENT key toaccept.
  5. Turn the small and large FMS knobs to enteran arrival time and press the ENT key.
  6. Turn the small and large FMS knob to enter anarrival date.
  7. The cursor highlights the ‘COMPUTE RAIM’field. Press the ENT key to compute RAIM. Thefollowing options are displayed:
  8. ‘COMPUTE RAIM?’ if RAIM has not beencomputed for the current waypoint, time, anddate combination
  9. ‘COMPUTING AVAILABILITY’ if the RAIMcalculation is in progress
  10. ‘RAIM AVAILABLE’ if RAIM is predicted tobe available for the given combination ofwaypoint, time, and date
  11. ‘RAIM NOT AVAILABLE’ if RAIM is predictedto be unavailable for the given combination ofwaypoint, time, and date

RAIM Check can also be completed by other flight planning programs and does not necessarily need to be done in the aircraft.

Instrument Check

Prior to taxiing/departure a complete PFD check should be accomplished as per the following. It should always be done in the same order and may be easier to accomplish in Reversionary Mode as all data is captured on one screen:

Instrument Check Example:

Electrical is checked, fuel quantity sufficient, temperatures and pressures checked, nav radios are set, active waypoint is confirmed (for departure or flight plan), Comm is set, Altimeter 29.92 is set three ways giving 6000’ (pfd, standby, kap140), Altitude Selector set two ways (g1000/kap140), No alerts, Transponder set, GPS/VOR Nav Source on CDI, Bugged off Runway 20, Heading 203 is checked two ways (compass/HIS), ADI is up and erect, no flags -

Autopilot Check

Engage the Autopilot.

Choose HDG and ensure the servos are turning the ailerons in the correct direction for the Heading Bug position. Push HDG again to cancel

Choose ALT and select a vertical speed. The trim wheel should be moving in accordance with your selection.

Disengage the autopilot using the A/P Disconnect on the Yoke.

PRE TAKE OFF

Departure Review

  • Departure
  • Minimum Climb Rate
  • Direction of Turn
  • Cleared Altitude
  • Minimum Turning Altitude
  • Go/No Go Point
  • Engine Failure on Runway
  • Engine Failure below 1000’
  • Engine Failure above 1000’

Example: City 6 Departure off Runway 12, with a required vertical speed of 600fpm. Fly Runway heading up to 7000’ with a minimum turn altitude at 4500’. If we have any issues and are not past Xray or airborne we will abort the take off. Engine Failure below 1000’ we will land straight ahead. Otherwise we will plan for the return to the airport or field landing.

Take Off Clearance

Switch to Tower before you get to the runway and request clearance. Again brevity is key. For example: “Tower, FUTT holding short Runway 34”. If you require a slight delay on take off, ensure you communicate this to the tower

When they give you a take off clearance, (FUTT, contact departure 133.65 airborne, cleared for take off runway 30), read it back as follows: Departure 133.65 airborne, cleared for take off runway 30 FUTT.

At airports with intersecting runways and airplanes with similar call signs, always reading back the runway number and frequency is cheap insurance. It’s not unheard of for another aircraft to accept your clearance in busy airspace or an aircraft to depart the wrong runway by mistake.

TAKE OFF

Complete your hold short checks and taxi to the runway postion