New IFR practice flight

Here is the IFR practice flight.

See above post for info on obtaining the charts with which to fly this.

Log as: Flight # 8930

*NOTE: USE ONLY YOUR PRINTED CHARTS FOR NAVIGATION. Do NOT use GPS or any Flight Planning tool – including the one built into MSFS.

• INSTRUCTIONS:
o PREFLIGHT:
 Have all necessary paperwork required for your trip (listed above).
 Make sure you have enough fuel for your trip +45 min reserve + fuel to any Alternate airport.
 NAV Lights = ON
 Beacon = ON before engine start
 After engine start
• Cowl flaps OPEN to full
• Pitot Heat = ON
• Radios sws = ON
• Set Altimeter
o CONFIGURE FOR DEPARTURE
 Tune NAV # 1 to AST VOR (114.0)
 Set in the AST 290 Radial
 Set Transponder to code 1123 and put on STBY
 Review the ASTORIA ONE DEPARTURE (again)
 Turn on Taxi light, and taxi to RWY 13

*NOTE: Things happen quickly during departure. Know what you need to do before you get there.

• DEPARTURE:
o Line up on the centerline of RWY 13
o Strobe lights ON when you take the active RWY
o Taxi light OFF
o Set HDG bug to RWY hdg = 130
o Set Autopilot to ALT = 7000 / VS = best rate for your aircraft
o Transponder to “ALT”
o Cowl flaps to ½
o Set Elevator trim for takeoff
o Ldg lights = ON
o Note the Time
• TAKEOFF
o At 200 feet Turn on the AP and select HDG and ALT & set VS
o At 800’ MSL, turn rt to hdg 330 and continue climb
o Intercept the AST VOR 290 Radial
 When you see the VOR needle start to move turn left
• IF:> Not at 1500’ yet = track outbound on the 290R
• WHEN:> at or above 1500’ = continue Left Turn and proceed DIRECT to the AST VOR (approx 090 hdg).
• Once you start this turn you may lesson the rate of climb if desired
o Proceed direct to the AST VOR = center the VOR needle and use the AP HDG bug for course corrections.
• When crossing the AST VOR
o Note the TIME
o Set in the course for V112 (095R) This is found on the ENROUTE chart where V112 emerges from the AST VOR.
 Use the Hdg bug to center up on the 095
 Then set NAV mode on AP – the AP will track outbound for you.
o Turn OFF Ldg light at 3000’ (small aircraft only)
o IF flying a piston engine aircraft – don’t forget to lean the mixture (or set to auto in MSFS).
o Set NAV#2 to UBG VOR (117.4) and course TO is 154 (334R). This if found where V165 merges with UBG VOR. The 334 is the RADIAL FROM UBG. You will be flying the 154 INTO UBG to track this.
• Flying the AIRWAY
o Level at 7000’ and set CRUISE power. Close cowl flaps.
o Unless there is a defined “changeover” point for navigating an AIRWAY you change FROM the VOR behind you to the VOR in front of you at the midpoint of the airway.
o Note the distance between AST and BTG (Battleground VOR) that make up V112 is 59nm (the 59 shown in the SQUARE BOX).
o Therefore you would switch over and begin navigating V112 using the BTG VOR at 29.5 nm.
o At 29.5 DME from AST – Tune in BTG (116.6) and set course TO 094 (274 FROM BTG)
o Center your NAV#1 needle on the BTG 094 TO and select NAV HOLD
• Turn onto V165 at PITER intersection
o Note the “21” just below the AIRWAY line of V112 between PITER and BTG VOR. This is the nm between PITER and BTG.
o As you approach PITER you will notice the needle on NAV#2 start to swing.
o If you are using the NAV HOLD mode of the AP navigating into PITER (TO BTG).
 Set your HDG bug to 154.
 When you get to 22DME from BTG (one nm west of PITER) – Select HDG, and the aircraft will begin it’s turn toward UBG.
o While the airplane is turning toward UBG
 Tune UBG (117.4) into NAV#1 and set COURSE to 154
 Center up on the 154 using the AP HDG bug
 Once established on TRACK – select NAV mode again.
• ARRIVAL phase
o Look at the APP plate for SALEM – LOC BC RWY 13.
 You will see a heavy black line from the UBG VOR to MCCOY intersection. This is called a Transition Route.
 Notice it states: 3100 NoPT / 183° (17.4) – this means=
• 3100 = minimum altitude along this route
• NoPT = No Procedure Turn required
• 183° = Radial FROM UBG to get to MCCOY int
• (17.4) = nm between UBG and MCCOY
 Notice that after you are past MCCOY and established on the LOC BC you can descend to 2200 feet.
o Notice the Altitude for the FAF (Final Approach Fix) at ARTTY is 2200’.
 So, while you are still 40-50nm from ARTTY you need to figure out what descent rate you need so as to arrive at ARTTY at 2200’ and slowed to APP speed.
• A non-pressurized aircraft should descend at about 500fpm.
• IF you are cruising at 7000’ then you have 4800’ to lose
• Add an additional 2-3 miles (for slower aircraft) to slow to APP speed.
• I.E.> GS=140 kts / 7000’-2200’=4800 / divide by 500 (rate of descent) = about 10 minutes / at 140 kts = about 23nm + 3nm = 26nm from ARTTY to start down.
• Count nm backward from ARTTY to get your 26nm: ARTTY to MCCOY is 6.1 + MCCOY to UBG is 17.4 = 23.5nm. Therefore you would start your descent at about 2-5 nm North of UBG VOR.
• APPROACH phase:
o STUDY the APP plate
 Note: This is a BC approach. Therefore the LOC will have REVERSE sensing
• This means you need to select the appropriate AP mode to fly it (BC or REV)
• OR> IF flying by hand or using the AP HDG mode you will need to turn in the opposite direction as normal to center the needle (need to turn away from the needle for a BC APP).

 NOTE: The BC signal is derived from the ILS front course and thus the course correction is based on the course (HDG) of the FRONT COURSE ILS. In this case it would be 313°. THUS reverse sensing.

 Additionally, you do not have a usable GS on a BC APP.
• Therefore you must again figure your own manual descent rate.
o The distance between the FAF (ARTTY) and the MAP (missed app point) is 5.0nm (5.8nm to the rwy). Use the AP VS mode to fly to the Min Descent Altitude.
 NOTE: IF> you have DME and can FIX JUVRO int your Min Descent Alt is: 600’ MSL
 IF: you do not have DME and thus cannot FIX JUVRO int, then your Min Descent Alt becomes 800’ MSL

I know this lesson is a bit wordy. As I mentioned at the beginning, it is constructed with the new pilot to IFR navigation in mind. Please use what each of you may need to learn something new.

IF you have any questions or comments please use either the SPA forum, or email me directly at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I will be happy to answer all questions I can find an answer for.

IF you would like to learn more in the next few days, then don’t discard the charts you printed for this trip. I will be posting comments and perhaps questions in the SPA forum in an effort to generate interest in IFR procedures.

Thank you for flying the practice IFR flight # 8930.
I hope you had FUN!