Instrument Scans

[JediNein]

Hi all!
This question is for the IFR current and proficient crowd, along with experienced CFIIs. How do y'all scan the instruments when maneuvering in IMC?

I'd like to know what you look for and how you look for it, and how many hours you've spent in IMC in the last month and total time.

I use an inverted-v scan of the A.I., VSI, and T.C. when maneuvering. A few times I've caught myself just seeing what needed to be done and doing it, but that's usually been after a few hours of actual IMC.

Thanks!
Jedi Nein

 

[sydeseet]

I always used the selective radial scan when maneuvering. It's the busiest of them all but when you're going for accuracy for short periods of time it's the mack daddy. These days I don't know the exact order or time spent on each instrument. It seems that as my experience has grown my concern for a textbook scan has been eliminated by a comfortable feel for the aircraft based on what I'm seeing, whatever scan may lead to that. Back in my active CFII days I could write an essay (or a lesson plan - oh wait, I did that once) on basic instrument scans but now I do what it takes. Or I let the auto-pilot do it for me, whatever works.

Scan safely..........

 

[bobbysamd]

Scans

Hub and spoke. The AI should be the focus of your scan with the other instruments to monitor performance. During stablized flight you'll be concerned with detecting variances from the condition you've set up so you use the AI to maintain and correct the pitch you set up and review the performance instruments that will give you the best indications of consistency or changes. You review them as often as necessary to ensure you are meeting or correcting the condition you want.

I realize that control-performance is heresy to the FAA, but it is how you fly the stuff you want to fly eventually.

Alitalia made us teach control-performance exclusively when I was at FSI. Lightplane pilots tend to be concerned about losing an instrument such as the ASI. But our Alitalia captains pointed out that in the aircraft our students would eventually be flying that they would always have an operating attitude reference.

 

[Toploader]

I just look at the PFD........ One stop shopping.

 

[cookmg]

I agree with fly chicago.

I am just an instrument student, but most of the time I just look at the instruments and interpret them. Richard collins talks about this more "natural approach" to the instrument scan. He also says that for certain parts of the flight it will be important to to have a very set scan because certain information is absolutely pertinent to that moment in flight.

I have noticed that I make the AI primary most of the time and as long as I keep my eyes moving (avoid fixation) I pick up any changes in the aircraft's attitude or performance.

Mike

 

[Typhoon1244]

I follow the flight director. Anything less is partial-panel as far as I'm concerned.

(Hmm. Maybe the Canadair is making me lazy...)

However, if I have to rough it, I agree with those who "hub-and-spoke" off the artificial horizon...or attitude indicator, if you prefer. (Guys with flight decks and flight attendants have attitude indicators. Those who have cockpits and stewardesses tend to use artificial horizons.)

 

[bigD]

On every GA plane I've flown, the altimeter, DG/HSI, and VSI were close enough to the Attitude Indicator to be able to easily see any needle movements while I pay the most attention to the AI. So like Bobby mentioned - I do a kind of hub and spoke system. Somewhere in there, I look to the right and scan the engine instruments and nav instruments. It all happens pretty quickly.

Like FlyChicaga said - it's all second nature by now. It's not like I sit and think about what I need to look at and when. It just all happens. Personally, I feel that developing consistency in your scan is more important than what specific scan you use.

I'm at about 500TT, 125 instrument, 30 actual, and about 2.2 actual in the last 30 days.

 

[Typhoon1244]

If I followed the flight director in my airplane I'd be 4 miles off course everywhere I went. D@mn Jetstreams

Jetstreams have flight directors???

 

[KigAir]

Wheels off ground = autopilot on.

 

[SIGman]

Modified Hub and Spoke based on the Control Performance Technique.

I'm convinced that most maneuvers (S&L, turns, climbs, descents can be condensed to a 3 inst. scan, with the Attitude indicator always there being included)- Not that we should limit it to 3, as all must be included for X-check purposes.

For instance- Straight and Level - Attitude, Heading/HSI, Altimeter.

Level Turn- Attitude, TC, Altimeter - Level turn to a heading is similar- just occasionally include the HI/HSI and as the heading gets closer, transition from the TC to the HI (you've already established the bank angle for the SRT)

Climb/Descent- Attitude, HI, VSI/ASI depending on the type of maneuver.

Climbing/Descending Turns- Attitude, TC, VSI/ASI

and so on.

I find this method of teaching Insturment scan makes the student fly with the most accuracy and even though the attitude indicator is emphasized, it actually makes the recognition of Partial Panel (they hardest part) very quick and easy.

Cheers,
D

 

[TDTURBO]

I noticed allot of other people on this board rely heavily on either flight directors or autopilots. I find myself doing the same, the only reason I hand fly an airplane is because I'm getting a proficiency check or I'm banging around the pattern.

I usually fly long x-countries so I always use the AP, a good reason for doing this is avoiding an altitude or heading violation. The downside is you lose your hand flying precision. To me at least, having my AP on the fritz is a no-go item, I can't imagine flying 1000nm without one in the clag, I can't even imagine doing it for 300 miles.

The new technology is good and bad in a way, it makes you lazy for sure but it makes a long trip less fatiguing. Staying proficient on FS2002 helps but there will come a day when flying IFR GA aircraft will be nothing more than programming a computer to handle every flight from start to finish. As it is I feel I’m just babysitting the AP.

It won't be long until VOR's are phased out, ADF is almost there and satellite navigation will rule. I'm not sure this will be a good thing, especially when you hear of the availability of electronic counter measures being employed by terrorists, not to mention the availability of this technology to the general public.

It must be hard for the airline people to stay precise hand flying a jet since they use the FMS to handle most of the tasks. Now that I think about it, how do you stay proficient?

 

[FL000]

It must be hard for the airline people to stay precise hand flying a jet since they use the FMS to handle most of the tasks. Now that I think about it, how do you stay proficient?

By flying raw data after we finish our newspapers and coffee.

 

[TXCAP4228]

I was trying to maintain a good scan but I keep getting distracted by Fly Chicaga's avatar! Dude, how many of those do you have?

As an instrument student I learned the hub and spoke centered on the AI but I don't think I scan like that now. My scan depends on what I am going I guess. I will focus more on the TC and DG when turning, more on the DG, A/S indicator, VSI and Altimeter when climbing or descending. It just sort of come naturally to do it that way.

Straight and level, DG and Altimeter.

Wow, a flight director. How cool would that be? I'm not sure which I would like more - Fly Chicaga's avatar or the flight director....

I'm not a high time pilot by any means.
51.4 hood, 12.9 actual, 1.8 actual in the last month.

 

[TXCAP4228]

I'd rather stay on the gorund and have her sit in my lap.