Exercise 2 – Preparation for Flight and Action After Flight

Exercise 2 – Preparation for Flight and Action After Flight

GENERAL

  • There is no airborne lesson for this exercise – it is purely ground instruction. Thorough and efficient preparation before flight is essential for the safety and overall success of any flight and particularly for training flights. This preparation entails a check of equipment and aircraft, and careful planning and briefing for the flight to be undertaken. The learning process is gradual and progressive; thus the preparation for flight should be a feature of all lessons and the student must be allowed to play an increasing part until he is proficient. Although the External, Internal, Starting, Power and Closing down Checks are all, formally, part of Exercise 2, in practice you will teach them in conjunction with the early flight lessons.

MAPS

  • Ensure that your student always carries an in date topographical chart as required by the relevant regulation. He must become familiar with:
  1. The boundary of, and major landmarks in, the local flying area.
  2. Controlled, restricted and prohibited airspace.

At intervals check the student’s map for serviceability and currency.

PERSONAL DOCUMENTATION

  • Brief your student that he must carry a passport with visa or ID card, his Medical Certificate and Logbook with the flight endorsement (for solo student) with any appropriate endorsements, pilot insurance, radio telephony certificate, icao passed exam.

PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING

  • From an early stage, you should start teaching your students how to gather and assess essential planning information – such as weight and balance calculation , performance data, weather briefing , special usage areas (refer to FA briefing) – but avoid too much detail initially. You must also teach them how to operate the Authorization system and stress the importance of recording flight times accurately.

TECHNICAL LOGBOOK

  • You should explain the layout and purpose of the Technical Log and stress that is a legal document that must be completed accurately. Teach your student how to check and complete the document before and after flight. Before flying solo he must be able to check both the technical log and the other aircraft documentation correctly.

 

An example of filled form of technical logbook

 

EXTERNAL CHECKS

  • Point out the following:

    1. Position of the aircraft for starting; state of the ground, direction of slipstream 
    2. Availability of fire extinguisher.
    3. Importance of checking the immediate taxi path for obstructions which cannot be seen from the cockpit.
    4. Explain the pilot’s responsibility in respect of the external condition of the aircraft and how to check the items listed in the Checklist. During the check, stress that the propeller should always be treated as ‘live’.

     

INTERNAL CHECKS

  • On entering the cockpit, check that the student knows how to fasten and adjust his seat belt and how to adjust the seat position and height. Emphasize the importance of your student using the same position on every flight so that the “picture” (attitude) is consistent. After these preliminaries, carry out the Before Starting Engine checks (as listed in the checklist). During these checks, keep the student actively engaged; this helps him to familiarize himself both with the layout of the cockpit and the checks.

 

STARTING AND  WARMING UP

  • When demonstrating the starting procedure, emphasize the various safety precautions. Allow the student to start the engine for his first flight, as this small achievement boosts confidence and can make him more receptive to further instruction. During the warm up period, point out the engine instrument indications and the general nature of things going on in the immediate vicinity of the aircraft.

 

POWER CHECK

  • Power checks should be carried out as laid down in the Checklist. Explain the reason for each item.

Note: Try not to overload with an explaintations, remark an each item which you see it’s not clear for the student, and explain it in the debriefing 

CLOSING DOWN

  • Point out that the handling of aircraft engines necessitates a correct running down and stopping procedure in order to prolong the life of the engine and ensure its reliability. Carry out the running down and stopping procedure and emphasize the dangers of leaving the magnetos switched on. Emphasize the need to take all personal possessions from the cockpit and the need to leave it neat and tidy – in short, in the condition your student and you would like to find it in.
  • Teach the student how to complete the post-flight procedures, including filling in the technical logbook, flight dispatches, where to write for malfunctions of aircraft it can be the squawk in dispatch or direct email to the maintenance at [email protected]. The each student in school have to inform the duty instructor that he is entering a defect to the squawk line.

Note: pay attention that squawk will block the dispatch for the next flights in our MyFbo system. By email the maintenance responds quicker, mechanics  can fix the malfunctions before the next flight will start or suggest you if the aircraft must be grounded for a check.