Tasks P-2016, P-2017, P-2018 Aircraft Familiarization Aircraft Controls Aircraft Instruments Weight and Balance Scanner Course #2 Aircraft Structure and Controls Scanner Course #2 Aircraft Familiarization Why do I need to know this stuff anyway? Terminology Structure Control surfaces Instrumentation Limitations Scanner Course #2 The Airplane CAP typically uses C172 and C182. Scanner Course #2 Aircraft Terminology Right Aileron Right Flap Right Wing Nose Gear Propeller Main Gear Left Wing Landing Light Left Aileron Left Flap Elevator Trim Tabs Rudder Vertical Stabilizer Empennage Scanner Course #2 Ailerons provide roll control Right Aileron UP Left Aileron DOWN Right wing goes down Left wing goes up Scanner Course #2 Elevators provide pitch control Center of Gravity Center of Gravity Scanner Course #2 The rudder controls yaw RUDDER PEDAL RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL LEFT CENTER of GRAVITY Scanner Course #2 Trim tabs neutralize control pressures Scanner Course #2 Aircraft Instruments Scanner Course #2 Instrument Panel Scanner Course #2 Flight Instruments Magnetic Compass Primarily a backup Doesnt require any power Installation problems Bank angles and speed changes can cause a compass to show the wrong heading Scanner Course #2 Flight Instruments Heading Indicator (Directional Gyro) Gyro-driven heading indicator Quick response to turns Stable indications Electrical or vacuum-driven Will drift, requires periodic re- alignment Scanner Course #2 Flight Instruments Altimeter Usually set to show pressure altitude above Mean Sea Level (MSL) Accurate altitude is dependent on the altimeter setting.
Scanner Course #2 Flight Instruments Turn Coordinator Really two instruments Miniature aircraft shows turn rate only - does not show bank angle Inclinometer shows quality of turn - Coordinated, slip, skid Scanner Course #2 Flight Instruments Attitude Indicator Provides a horizon reference Hash marks indicate bank angle Scanner Course #2 Airspeed Knots or MPH Colored markings Shows aircraft performance Flight Instruments Scanner Course #2 Flight Instruments Vertical Speed Climb or descent rate Has a lag due to design Use with altimeter Scanner Course #2 Engine Instruments Tachometer Markings green arc Indicates power Scanner Course #2 Other Engine Instruments Gauges Fuel (accurate at empty) Oil Temperature and Pressure Vacuum and Generator Exhaust Gas Temperature Instruments vary from aircraft to aircraft Scanner Course #2 Comm, VOR and DME radios Navigation/Communication Radio Primary and Standby Frequencies Communications Navigation Comm 1 Comm 2 Nav 1 Nav 2 DME Scanner Course #2 Comm Antennas Normally mounted on top One for each radio Scanner Course #2 Nav Antennas Cat whisker style One for each nav Scanner Course #2 Navigation Instruments VOR ADF VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR-DME, VORTAC) Indicates direction to/from ground transmitter relative to magnetic North Automatic Direction Finder (NDB) Direction toward ground transmitter relative to airplane nose Scanner Course #2 Other Antennas Loop (directional) ADF Marker Beacon Scanner Course #2 UHF Antenna Blade type (may be spike) Transponder & DME [If mounted up front, may interfere with DF] Scanner Course #2 Global Positioning System Satellite based navigation Apollo GX55 Can provide search pattern course guidance and lat and long of target Scanner Course #2 GPS Antenna Line of sight, so mounted at the very top Comm antennas can interfere with the weak signals, so they are tested for interference GPS Scanner Course #2 Direction Finding Receiver Used for electronic ELT searches Scanner Course #2 CAP FM Transceiver
Scanner Course #2 Audio Panel Scanner Course #2 Transponder Scanner Course #2 Static wicks Mitigate buildup of static electricity (interferes with comm) Wings, elevators, vertical stabilizer Take care when walking around Scanner Course #2 Weight and Balance and Operations Scanner Course #2 Weight and Balance The wings generate a limited amount of lift Maximum weight for an aircraft is set by the manufacturer Pitch stability is affected by the location of the center of gravity The pilot computes weight and balance and controls it by loading the aircraft correctly -If incorrectly loaded: the pilot may not be able to raise the nose during take off or the aircraft may be unstable and difficult or impossible to control in the air Lift Weight Force from horizontal tail surface Scanner Course #2 Weight and Balance Excessive weight adversely impacts performance: Longer take off and landing distance Reduced climb performance Reduced ability to withstand turbulence and wind shear forces Out of Forward C.G. limits can cause: Reduced up-elevator authority (ability to raise the nose) Can eliminate the ability to flare for landing Out of Rear C.G. limits can cause: Reduced down-elevator authority (ability to lower the nose) Can make stall recovery difficult or impossible Scanner Course #2 Mission Aircraft Operations A CAPF84 or CAPF104 must be completed Altimeter settings will be from a source within 50 NM or the closest source available and updated hourly. Airspeed will be no lower than 1.3 times aircraft stall at zero flaps and 30 degrees of bank.
Scanner Course #2 Mission Aircraft Operations Search altitudes are limited to no lower than 500 feet above the surface (except for counter drug vessel identification). Search aircraft on missions over water must plan to be over a suitable airfield with at least 90 minutes of fuel on board at normal cruise speed.