Checklist – Just Flight PA28 Arrow III

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Pre-flight checks

  • Door > OPEN (unlock upper and lower door hatches then push door)
  • Baggage Door > OPEN (use EFB)

Pre-flight inspections

  • Magneto selector > OFF
  • Landing gear > DOWN
  • Parking brake > ON
  • Avionics > OFF
  • Mixture lever > IDLE CUT-OFF
  • Battery master > ON
  • Fuel gauges > CHECK (36 gallons per tank)
  • Landing gear lights > confirm (three green lights)
  • Navigation lights > ON
  • Rotating beacon lights > ON
  • Anti-collision lights > ON
  • Landing lights > ON
  • All exterior lights > confirm ON; then turn OFF
  • Annunciator lights > confirm (illuminated)
  • Low voltage light > confirm (illuminated)
  • BATT MASTR > OFF
  • Flight controls > check full and free movement
  • Flaps > check extend/retract fully
  • Elevator and rudder trims > move to centre/neutral position
  • Switch to external view and carry out visual inspection of the aircraft
  • Wheel chocks and tie-downs > check VISIBLE
  • Towbar > confirm NOT CONNECTED/VISIBLE
  • Battery > RECHARGE (if discharged)
  • Oil quantity > REFILL (if less than 8 quarts)

Starting the engine

  • Chocks and tie-downs > REMOVE
  • Baggage door > CLOSE (use EFB)
  • Passenger door > CLOSE (pull and shut; then LATCH)
  • Parking brake > SET
  • Circuit breakers > all pushed in
  • Fuel selector > rotate to LEFT position
  • Propeller > move to FULL FORWARD position
  • Throttle > 1/4 OPEN
  • Alternate air > confirm CLOSE
  • Avionics > confirm OFF
  • Battery master > ON
  • Navigation lights > ON
  • Rotating beacon lights > ON
  • Fuel pump > ON
  • MIxture lever > FULL RICH (check fuel flow); then IDLE CUTOFF
  • Magneto/start selector > START (check area clear); then RELEASE
  • Mixture lever > FULL RICH (when engine starts)
  • Oil pressure and temperature > check rising
  • Alternator > ON (check associated warning light extinguishes)
  • Throttle > adjust to maintain 1,400 to 1,500 rpm
  • Vacuum gauge > check within given limits (normal – 4.8 to 5.1 inHG; max 6.0 inHG)
  • Fuel selector > switch RIGHT; then LEFT (to check both tanks operating)

Configuring the avionics

Configure avionics for departure.

  • Heading bug > maintain runway heading
  • VOR frequency > tune NAV 1 and NAV 2
  • NAV/GPS source switch > check set to NAV
  • Function switch > RMT (remote) position
  • DME selector switch > set to NAV 1

Taxi

Start taxiing to the runway threshold.

  • Parking brake > RELEASE
  • Throttle > apply power slowly to start rolling
  • Steering > use rudder pedals and brakes (for tight turns).
  • Gyroscopic instruments > check operation by means of alternate turns (horizontal attitude, heading, and turn and bank indicators)
  • Stop at holding point
  • Carry out power (ground) check)

Power (ground) check

  • Parking brake > SET
  • Propeller lever > FULL FORWARD
  • Carry out magneto check

Magneto check

  • Throttle lever > advance to obtain 2,000 rpm
  • Magneto selector > rotate to LEFT position (note RPM drop); then back to BOTH position
  • Repeat the process for the right magneto.

Other checks

  • Vacuum, oil temperature, oil pressure, and ammeter readings > check within limits
  • PRESS-TO-TEST button > confirm all annunciator lights illuminate
  • Mixture lever > set to FULL RICH (full forward)
  • Fuel selector > set to the fullest tank
  • Carry out propeller check.

Propeller check

  • Throttle lever > advance to obtain 2,000 rpm
  • Propeller lever > cycle twice, moving it aft towards the high pitch/low RPM position then forwards towards the low pitch/high RPM position.
  • Note the RPM drop on tachometer.
  • Reset lever to FULL FORWARD position.
  • Carry out alternate air check.

Alternate air check

  • Alternate air knob > pull and check manifold pressure doesn’t drop; then push in again.

Fuel system check

  • Fuel pump > OFF (confirm fuel pressure within green sector)
  • Throttle > reduce to idle; check for rough running

Before take-off checks

  • Battery master > ON
  • Alternator > ON
  • Fuel selector > select fullest tank
  • Fuel pump > ON
  • Alternate air lever > CLOSE
  • Mixture lever > FULL FORWARD position
  • Propeller lever > FULL FORWARD position
  • Flaps > set to 10 degrees (first stage)
  • Magneto selector > confirm BOTH position
  • Landing lights > ON
  • Anti-collision lights > ON
  • Pitch trim wheel > set to neutral/centre position
  • Passenger/baggage doors > confirm LOCKED
  • Flight controls > full and free movement
  • Pitot heat > ON
  • Left and right > check clear
  • Approch and runway > check clear
  • Taxi onto the runway

Take-off

  • Line up with the runway centre line and then come to a stop.
  • Smoothly apply full power (use rudder to keep it running down the centre line)
  • at 65 knots > raise the nose of the aircraft
  • once safely airborne > tap the brakes and then raise the landing gear
  • Maintain climb speed of approx. 90 knots (hold runway heading)
  • at 300ft AGL > retract flaps

Climb

  • Pitch > adjust to maintain 90 knots climb speed and maintain heading
  • at 1,000ft > switch OFF fuel pump and landing lights.
  • at 2,000ft > check VOR/DME
  • OBS knob > rotate on the HSI until CDI needle centres with a TO flag visible
  • Bring aircraft onto the selected course (tracking inbound to VOR)
  • Autopilot > ENGAGE (A/P ON position) and maintain course to VOR
  • Heading switch > move to HDG ON position
  • Coupler radio selector > check/set to NAV 1
  • Navigation/approach coupler knob > set to NAV (navigation hold mode)
  • Adjust pitch to maintain climb (Autopilot does not control aircraft pitch)

Cruise

  • Altitude hold mode > ENGAGE (click ‘PIPER’ label above nav/approach coupler knob – not available in real life Piper AutoControl IIIB)
  • Reduce throttle to obtain 23 inHG on manifold pressure gauge
  • Reduce propeller lever to obtain 2,200 rpm on the tachometer (typical cruise power setting)
  • Fuel tank > monitor quantity; switch every half hour; do not exceed imbalance of 10 US gallons (enable auto fuel selector from EFB for convenience)
  • Check/monitor distance to next VOR/waypoint.
  • Flight info > use EFB for real time for info
  • with 5 miles to run > rotate OBS knob on VOR 2 until CDI needle centres with a TO flag visible; then move coupler radio selector to NAV 2.
  • DME selector > set to NAV 2 to monitor distance to next VOR
  • Rotate heading bug on HSI to match up current heading; then rotate the navigation/approach coupler knob to HDG position.
  • Use heading bug to track towards next waypoint.

Descent

  • Propeller lever > move to fully forward (high RPM) position
  • Throttle lever > reduce to obtain 15 inHG on the manifold pressure gauge (check airspeed start to decrease)
  • at 110 knots > start the descent; disengage altitude hold mode; pitch down to obtain -500ft/min descent rate.
  • Adjust throttle to maintain 110 knots.

Approach and landing

  • at 1,000ft > reduce vertical speed to enter flight level and increase throttle as the aircraft levels out to maintain airspeed
  • Autopilot > disengage (HDG OFF and A/P OFF)
  • Landing light > ON
  • Fuel pump > ON
  • Propeller lever > fully forward
  • Mixture lever > fully forward
  • Fuel selector > set to fullest tank
  • at base leg > reduce airspeed to 100 knots and extend flaps to 10degrees position
  • Landing gear > extend (confirm three greens)
  • Reduce airspeed further to 85 knots
  • Flaps > extend to 25degrees position
  • Begin a descending turn to position on final for runway.
  • once established on final > extend flaps to 40 degrees (fully down) position
  • Reduce power to begin slowing to a touchdown speed of approx 75 knots
  • as the aircraft arrives over the runway > flare; raise nose gently above horizon; reduce throttle to idle and touch down smoothly
  • Apply gentle braking once aircraft slowed to fast walking pace
  • Exit runway
  • Flaps > RAISE
  • Landing and anti-collision lights > OFF
  • Fuel pump > OFF
  • Pitot heat > OFF

Shutdown

  • Taxi to nearest avaialable parking spot
  • Parking brake > ENGAGE
  • Avionics > OFF
  • Throttle lever > IDLE
  • MIxture lever > IDLE CUTOFF (to shutdown engine; disengage mixture lock)
  • Magneto selector > OFF (once engine comes to a stop)
  • Navigation lights > OFF
  • Rotating beacon lights > OFF
  • Alternator > OFF
  • Battery > OFF (to disconnect electrical power)
  • Fuel selector > FUEL OFF position
  • Passenger/baggage doors > OPEN

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