Essential Skills Checklist

Chapter 2: Electronic Flight Instruments 10. Determine which sources drive which displays or
instruments, and where the selection controls are
Primary Flight Display located.

1. Correctly interpret flight and navigation instrument 11. Determine and understand how to use and program
information displayed on the PFD. optional functions and equipment installed with FMS/
RNAV basic unit.
2. Determine what “fail down” modes are installed and
available. Recognize and compensate appropriately En Route
for failures of the PFD and supporting instrument
systems. 1. Select and monitor the en route portion of the
programmed flight route, determining waypoint
3. Accurately determine system options installed and
arrival, approving turn anticipation, and waypoint
actions necessary for functions, data entry and
sequencing.
retrieval.
2. Approve or select the correct course automatically
4. Know how to select essential presentation modes,
displayed or manually tuned.
flight modes, communication and navigation modes,
and methods of mode selection and cancellation. 3. Determine if the FMS makes fuel calculations and
what sensors and data entries are required to be made
5. Be able to determine extent of failures and reliable
by the pilot.
information remaining available, including procedures
for restoring function(s) or moving displays to the 4. Ensure that the track flown is that cleared by air traffic
MFD or other display. control (ATC).
5. Determine that the display CDI sensitivity is
Chapter 3: Navigation satisfactory for the segment being flown.

Flight Planning En Route Modifications

1. Determine if the FMS is approved for the planned 1. Proceed directly to a waypoint in the programmed
flight operation. route.
2. Determine if your FMS can be used as a primary 2. Cancel a programmed or selected waypoint or fix.
navigation system for alternate requirements. 3. Select a different instrument procedure or transition.
3. Understand how entries are made and canceled. 4. Restart an approach sequence.
4. Understand how each unit is installed, and how it is 5. Immediately find the nearest airport or facility.
programmed or jumpered for optional functions.
6. Edit a flight plan.
5. Determine which navigation sources are installed and
functional. 7. Enter a user waypoint.

6. Determine the status of the databases.

7. Program the FMS/RNAV with a flight plan, including
en route waypoints, user waypoints, and published
instrument procedures.
8. Review the programmed flight route to ensure it is
free from error.
9. Find the necessary pages for flight information in the
databases.

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Descent Course Reversals
1. Determine the descent airspeed to be used with 1. Select a type of course reversal procedure.
concern to turbulence, aircraft descent profile, and 2. Determine the correct sequence of mode control
powerplant cooling restrictions. actions to be accomplished by the pilot.
2. Program, observe, and monitor the top of descent,
descent rate, and level-off altitude. Missed Approaches
3. Plan and fly a descent to a crossing restriction.
1. Acknowledge a missed approach procedure.
4. Recognize and correct deviations from a planned
2. Set the FMS/GPS for a return to the same approach
descent path, and determine which factor changed.
to fly it again.
Intercept and Track Course 3. Select a different approach while holding at a missed
approach holding waypoint.
1. Program and select a different course to the active
waypoint. 4. Program an ATC specified hold point (user waypoint)
for selection after the published MAP/hold procedure.
2. Select the nonsequencing waypoint function (OBS,
Hold, or Suspend) to select a specified navigation Ground-Based Radio Navigation
point.
1. Select any type of ground-based radio navigation
3. Reactivate the sequencing function for route
approach.
navigation.
2. Correctly tune and set up the conventional navigation
Holds receiver for the procedure in number 1.

1. Select a preprogrammed holding pattern, or 3. Correctly monitor the navaid for proper identification
nonsequencing mode. and validity.

2. Select and set up a non-preprogrammed holding 4. Correctly select and be able to use the desired
pattern inbound course. navigation source for the autopilot.

3. Determine the proper sequence of software commands Chapter 4: Automated Flight Control
for the holding pattern, transition to approach,
approach, and MAP navigation.
Climbs and Descents
Arcs 1. Use the FD/autopilot to climb or descend to and
automatically capture an assigned altitude.
1. Select an approach procedure with an arc.
2. Determine the indications of the ARM or capture
2. Select the course, or determine that automatic course modes, and what pilot actions will cancel those
CDI setting will occur. modes.

GPS and RNAV (GPS) Approaches 3. Determine if the system allows resetting of the armed
or capture modes or if manual control is the only
1. Load and activate a vectored GPS or RNAV (GPS) option after cancellation of these modes.
approach.
4. Determine the available methods of activating the
2. Select a vectored initial approach segment. altitude armed or capture mode(s).
3. Determine the correct approach minimums and 5. Determine the average power necessary for normal
identify all pertinent mode transitions. climbs and descents. Practice changing the power to
4. Determine the published missed approach point these settings in coordination with making the FD/
(MAP), courses, altitudes, and waypoints to fly. autopilot mode changes.
5. Determine how missed approach guidance is
selected.

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 6. Determine and record maximum climb vertical speeds Miscellaneous Autopilot Topics
and power settings for temperatures and altitudes.
1. Demonstrate the proper preflight and ground check of
Ensure the values are in agreement with values in
the FD/autopilot system.
the AFM/POH for the conditions present. Make
note of the highest practical pitch attitude values, 2. Demonstrate all methods used to disengage and
conditions, and loading. Remember powerplant disconnect an autopilot.
factors (e.g., minimum powerplant temperature, bleed 3. Demonstrate how to select the different modes and
air requirements) and airframe limitations (e.g., VA in explain what each mode is designed to do and when
setting power). it will become active.

Course Intercepts 4. Explain the flight director (FD) indications and

autopilot annunciators, and how the dimming function
1. Use the FD/autopilot to fly an assigned heading to is controlled.
capture and track a VOR and/or RNAV course.
2. Determine if the FD/autopilot uses preprogrammed Chapter 5: Cockpit Information Systems
intercepts or set headings for navigation course
interceptions. Multi-Function Display
3. Determine the indications of navigation mode armed 1. Program the multi-function display to show data
conditions. provided by any aircraft system.
4. Determine parameters of preprogrammed intercept 2. Determine how many data displays can be
modes, if applicable. combined in one display.
5. Determine minimum and maximum intercept angle 3. Know how to select the PFD displays on the MFD,
limitations, if any. if available.
4. Determine which data displays can be overlaid onto
Coupled Approaches
the PFD and the MFD.
1. Use the FD/autopilot to couple to a precision
approach.
2. Use the FD/autopilot to couple to a nonprecision
approach.
3. Use the FD/autopilot to couple to an RNAV
approach.
4. Determine the power setting required to fly the
approaches.
5. Determine the power settings necessary for level-
off during nonprecision approaches and go-around
power settings for both precision and nonprecision
approaches.
6. Determine the speeds available for the minimum
recommended powerplant settings (useful for
determining if an ATC clearance can be accepted for
climbs, altitudes, and descents).

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