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