Partial panel flying
Partial panel: instrument flying with attitude indicator (AI) and heading indicator (HI) both unserviceable or not fitted.
- Attitude-plus-power principle still applies (
aeronautics/basic-instrument-manoeuvres). - Only the instruments used to find attitude change.
| Missing | Use instead | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| AI | Airspeed indicator (ASI), altimeter, vertical speed indicator (VSI) for pitch | Known cruise power + expected cruise airspeed = at or very close to cruise attitude |
| HI | Turn needle (turn coordinator or turn-and-bank) for direction and rate of turn; magnetic compass confirms heading | Wings level = ball centred + heading constant |
| Phase | Technique |
|---|---|
| Straight and level | Rudder controls yaw; aileron keeps wings level; watch needle for heading change; scan altimeter and VSI often (altitude error), ASI occasionally (pitch feedback); in turbulence, average the compass swing, do not chase deflections |
| Climb | Enter as full panel: attitude and power; interpret ASI for pitch; small pitch changes for small airspeed errors; rudder to stay straight |
| Descent | Enter as full panel: power then attitude; interpret ASI for pitch; small pitch changes for small airspeed errors; rudder to stay straight |
| Level-off | Lead the altimeter; ease pitch to stop on target altitude |
| Turn | Rate one or less; gentle aileron roll-in, neutralize at that rate; roll out at roll-in rate; set rate-one bank per aeronautics/turn-rate; scan needle for bank, altimeter and ASI for pitch |
| Timed turn | Turn to heading by time, not compass; time roll-in from a clock reference; rate-one timings in aeronautics/turn-rate |
Needle accuracy check: time a known heading change flown at rate one against the turn-rate timings. Faster or slower = needle off.
References
- TP 1102 Instrument Flying: Partial Panel, Scanning the Partial Panel, Partial Panel Straight-and-Level Flight, Partial Panel Climbing, Partial Panel Descending, Partial Panel Turns