Government of Canada navigation bar

Symbol of the Government of Canada

Primary site navigation bar

Flight Test Exercises - Ex. 30 - Instrument Flying

Note:  This item will require a suitable view-limiting device.

Aim

To determine that the Private or Commercial Pilot Licence applicant is able to control, and manoeuvre, the helicopter solely by reference to instruments.

A.  Full Panel

Description

The candidate will be required to fly the helicopter solely by reference to instruments using full panel.

Private Pilot

The candidate will be asked to:

  1. maintain coordinated straight and level flight for 2 minutes;

  2. carry out a level, rate-one turn through 180 degrees to a reciprocal compass heading; and

  3. on completion, maintain straight and level flight for a further 2 minutes.

Commercial Pilot

At various specified airspeeds, the candidate will be asked to:

  1. maintain coordinated straight and level flight;

  2. carry out climbs and descents at various rates; and

  3. conduct climbing, descending, and level rate-one turns to specific headings.

Performance Criteria

For a private pilot flight test, assessment will be based on the candidate's ability to control and manoeuvre the helicopter within:

  1. ±20° of the assigned heading;

  2. ±200 feet of the assigned altitude;

  3. ±20 knots of the assigned airspeed; and

  4. an angle of bank not to exceed 30°.

For a commercial pilot flight test, assessment will be based on the candidate's ability to control and manoeuvre the helicopter within:

  1. ±15° of the assigned heading;

  2. ±100 feet of the assigned altitude;

  3. ±15 knots of the assigned airspeed;

  4. ±200 feet/minute of the required rate of climb or descent when established; and

  5. ±10° of the specified angle of bank.

B.  Recovery from an Unusual Attitude

Description

Using full panel, the private pilot candidate will be required to promptly recover with minimum loss of altitude from one unusual attitude.

Using limited panel, without reference to the attitude indicator or the heading indicator, the commercial pilot candidate will be required to promptly recover with minimum loss of altitude from one unusual attitude.

Performance Criteria

Assessment will be based on the candidate's ability to:

  1. recognize promptly what the helicopter is doing by reference to available flight instruments;

  2. take immediate and correct recovery action;

  3. recover smoothly with minimum loss of altitude and without excessive airspeed fluctuations; and

  4. maintain coordinated flight.
Date modified:
2010-05-20