1. Radio Instrument (RI) Basics
Created: 23 Jun 2016
Updated: 23 Jun 2016
T6BDriver.com

2. Objectives
Be familiar with navigation instruments inclusion to instrument scan
Have an understanding of the Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) parts and operational concepts
Have an operational understanding of the Bearing Pointers
Be familiar with radial intercept indications for both double-the-angle intercepts (DAI) and 45 degree intercepts
Comprehend and be able to apply the “6-Ts”

3. Instrument Scan
Control-Performance Concept of attitude instrument flying breaks instruments into 3 main areas:

4. Instrument Scan
Control-Performance Concept of attitude instrument flying breaks instruments into 3 main areas:
Control Instruments – provide an indication of attitude & power (pitch/bank/torque)

5. Instrument Scan
Control-Performance Concept of attitude instrument flying breaks instruments into 3 main areas:
Control Instruments – provide an indication of attitude & power (pitch/bank/torque)
Performance Instruments – provide an indication of aircrafts actual performance (altitude/airspeed/heading)

6. Instrument Scan
Glide Slope Indicator
Control-Performance Concept of attitude instrument flying breaks instruments into 3 main areas:
Control Instruments – provide an indication of attitude & power (pitch/bank/torque)
Performance Instruments – provide an indication of aircrafts actual performance (altitude/airspeed/heading)
Navigation Instruments – provide an indication of aircrafts position/orientation to navaids (CDI/bearing pointer/DME/ILS)
Localizer
DME
CDI
Bearing Pointer

7. Instrument Scan
Control-Performance Concept of attitude instrument flying breaks instruments into 3 main areas:
Control Instruments – provide an indication of attitude & power (pitch/bank/torque)
Performance Instruments – provide an indication of aircrafts actual performance (altitude/airspeed/heading)
Navigation Instruments – provide an indication of aircrafts position/orientation to navaids (CDI/bearing pointer/DME/ILS)
I21XX block taught basic instrument scan utilizing control & performance instruments

8. Instrument Scan
Control-Performance Concept of attitude instrument flying breaks instruments into 3 main areas:
Control Instruments – provide an indication of attitude & power (pitch/bank/torque)
Performance Instruments – provide an indication of aircrafts actual performance (altitude/airspeed/heading)
Navigation Instruments – provides an indication of aircrafts position/orientation to navaids (CDI/bearing pointer/DME/ILS)
I21XX block taught basic instrument scan utilizing control & performance instruments
I22XX block incorporates navigation instruments into scan
Do not stare at the nav instruments!
Scan & read them like you would performance instruments

9. Course Deviation Indicator (CDI)
Part of the Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
CDI

10. Course Deviation Indicator (CDI)
Part of the Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
Top-Down view for pictorial presentation of course to aircraft

11. Course Deviation Indicator (CDI)
Part of the Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
Top-Down view for pictorial presentation of course to aircraft
PFD Source Line Selection Key (LSK)
Indicates the driving navigational source for the CDI
Can be VOR/LOC, FMS, or Off (show no CDI)

12. CDI Navigational Source
Select VOR/LOC navigation as source is indicated by white coloring

13. CDI Navigational Source
Select VOR/LOC navigation as source is indicated by white coloring
PFD Source indicates VOR or LOC (in white)
CDI Nav Source

14. CDI Navigational Source
Select VOR/LOC navigation as source is indicated by white coloring
PFD Source indicates VOR or LOC (in white)
Annunciators show tuned frequency & DME (in white)
Tuned Freq
DME

15. CDI Navigational Source
Select VOR/LOC navigation as source is indicated by white coloring
PFD Source indicates VOR or LOC (in white)
Annunciators show tuned frequency & DME (in white)
CDI is displayed (in white)
CDI

16. CDI Navigational Source
Select VOR/LOC navigation as source is indicated by white coloring
PFD Source indicates VOR or LOC (in white)
Annunciators show tuned frequency & DME (in white)
CDI is displayed (in white)
Course Selection LSK appears at bottom (in white)
Selected Course

17. CDI Navigational Source
Select FMS navigation as source is indicated by magenta coloring (more in the I32XX block)

18. CDI Navigational Source
Select FMS navigation as source is indicated by magenta coloring (more in the I32XX block)
PFD Source indicates FMS (in magenta)
CDI Nav Source

19. CDI Navigational Source
Select FMS navigation as source is indicated by magenta coloring (more in the I32XX block)
PFD Source indicates FMS (in magenta)
Annunciators
Desired Track (DTK) – as set by FMS
Waypoint name (magenta)
Along Track Distance (ATD) – distance between waypoints
FMS phase of flight (ENR, TERM, & APR) – indicates CDI scale
Desired Track
Waypoint Name
ATD
FMS phase of flt

20. CDI Navigational Source
Select FMS navigation as source as indicated by magenta coloring (more in the I32XX block)
PFD Source indicates FMS (in magenta)
Annunciators
Desired Track (DTK) – as set by FMS
Waypoint name (magenta)
Along Track Distance (ATD) – distance between waypoints
FMS phase of flight (ENR, TERM, & APR) – indicates CDI scale
CDI is displayed (in magenta)
CDI

21. CDI Components
Head
Oriented to compass rose for pictorial view to aircraft
Indicates selected course when PFD Source is VOR/LOC
Indicates desired track when PFD source is FMS
Head

22. CDI Components Head Tail
Oriented to compass rose for pictorial view to aircraft
Indicates selected course when PFD Source is VOR/LOC
Indicates desired track when PFD source is FMS
Tail
Tail

23. CDI Components Head Tail Deviation Bar & Scale
Oriented to compass rose for pictorial view to aircraft
Indicates selected course when PFD Source is VOR/LOC
Indicates desired track when PFD source is FMS
Tail
Deviation Bar & Scale
Indicates lateral deviation from selected course or track
Pictorial in nature
Dots indicate scale – (VOR) 1 Dot = 5 radials / 2 Dots = 10 radials
Deviation Bar
Deviation Scale

24. CDI Components Head Tail Deviation Bar & Scale TO/FROM Arrow
Oriented to compass rose for pictorial view to aircraft
Indicated selected course when PFD Source is VOR/LOC
Indicates desired track when PFD source is FMS
Tail
Deviation Bar & Scale
Indicates lateral deviation from selected course or track
Pictorial in nature
Dots indicate scale – (VOR) 1 Dot = 5 radials / 2 Dots = 10 radials
TO/FROM Arrow
Indicates if the selected course takes the aircraft to or from the navaid
TO/FROM Arrow

25. CDI Operations
Always T-I-M the desired navaid first

26. Required Course to follow
CDI Operations
Always T-I-M the desired navaid first
Determine what course to enter
Can be given by approach procedure or navigational chart
Required Course to follow

27. CDI Operations Always T-I-M the desired navaid first
Determine what course to enter
Can be given by approach procedure or navigational chart
Going TO or FROM a navaid makes a difference in your desired course you will enter for the CDI display

28. Outbound Course is same as Radial
CDI Operations
Always T-I-M the desired navaid first
Determine what course to enter
Can be given by approach procedure or navigational chart
Going TO or FROM a navaid makes a difference in your desired course you will enter for the CDI display
FROM a navaid – Course and radial are the same
Outbound Course is same as Radial

29. Inbound Course is reciprocal of Radial
CDI Operations
Always T-I-M the desired navaid first
Determine what course to enter
Can be given by approach procedure or navigational chart
Going TO or FROM a navaid makes a difference in your desired course you will enter for the CDI display
FROM a navaid – Course and radial are the same
TO a navaid – Course is reciprocal of radial
“Inbound turn it around”
094
Inbound Course is reciprocal of Radial

30. CDI Operations
Ways to compute reciprocal heading
Add/subtract 180

31. CDI Operations Ways to compute reciprocal heading
Reciprocal of radial 160? __
Reciprocal or course is 340
Ways to compute reciprocal heading
Add/subtract 180
+2/-2 method
Reciprocal of radial 330?
-2 +2__
Reciprocal or course is 150

32. CDI Operations Ways to compute reciprocal heading Add/subtract 180
+2/-2 method
Enter radial into CRS and look at tail of CDI needle
Reciprocal of 360 radial?
Enter 360 in CRS
Look at Tail
Reciprocal is 180

33. CDI Operations Ways to compute reciprocal heading Add/subtract 180
+2/-2 method
Enter radial into CRS and look at tail of CDI needle
Use relevance to needle or benchmark
Reciprocal of 020 radial?
Radial is 20 deg to right
Go 20 deg to left
Reciprocal is 200

34. Enter desired course in W4
CDI Operations
Enter the desired course
Press LSK under CRS display
UFCP keys W4 for data entry (note symbol in pic)
Enter desired course
Course LSK
Enter desired course in W4

35. CDI Operations Enter the desired course Direction of turn
Press LSK under CRS display
UFCP keys W4 for data entry (note symbol in pic)
Enter desired course
Direction of turn
Top-down view and pictorial
Which way does the aircraft have to turn to get to the CDI bar?

36. CDI Operations Tracking/Corrections (no ground track pointer)
CDI bar centered when exactly on selected course
CDI bar deviates to indicate off course
Wind is from direction of bar (from the right in picture)
Pictorial direction of turn to get back on course (right)
Fly heading that will re-intercept course and center CDI bar
Need to be aware of how much correction is being used (7 deg to the right in picture)
As CDI bar returns to center, take out half of the drift correction (bracket technique)
Do not return to original heading (360) as you will go off course again
Now holding 3 deg of right drift correction to stay on course (distance between heading & CDI)

37. CDI Operations Tracking/Corrections (with ground track pointer)
CDI bar centered when exactly on selected course
Note that Grnd Track Ptr shows wind corrected track is pushing aircraft to left of heading & course
CDI bar deviates to indicate off course
Wind is from direction of bar (from the right in picture)
Pictorial direction of turn to get back on course (right)
Fly heading that will re-intercept course and center CDI bar
Turn to get both heading & Grnd Track Ptr to correct side of CDI
As CDI bar returns to center, turn to place Grnd Track Ptr over CDI head (“light the candle”)
Now holding 3 deg of right drift correction to stay on course (distance between Heading & Grnd Track Ptr)

38. Heading shows correction back to course
CDI Operations
Tracking/Corrections (with ground track pointer)
Use caution when heavy winds are present causing large drift corrections
Ensure both heading and ground track pointer indicate a correction back to course
Possible to have a heading showing a correction while ground track pointer does not
Heading shows correction back to course
Ground Track Pointer shows insufficient correction to get back on course

39. CDI Operations Station Passage Main indication is TO/FROM flag flip
Supporting indication when Bearing Pointer present - Pointer moves thru 3/9 O’Clock position
Aircraft proceeding TO station
Aircraft passed over and now proceeding FROM station

40. Bearing Pointers Part of the Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
Top-Down view for pictorial presentation of station/waypoint from aircraft

41. Bearing Pointer Navigational Source
Bearing Pointer Line Selection Key (LSK)
Indicates the driving navigational source for the pointers
Can be VOR, FMS, or OFF (show no needle)
Source LSK
Source LSK

42. Bearing Pointer Components
Single needle with circle at head
Always colored green
Can select VOR, FMS, or OFF (no needle)
Normal selection is VOR for standardization
#1 Pointer
Source LSK
#1 Pointer Identifier & Info
#1 Pointer
Head
#1 Pointer
Tail

43. Bearing Pointer Components
Single needle with circle at head
Always colored green
Can select VOR, FMS, or OFF (no needle)
Normal selection is VOR for standardization
#2 Bearing Pointer
Double needle with diamond at head
Always colored cyan (fancy word for light blue)
Normal selection is FMS for standardization
#2 Pointer
Source LSK
#2 Pointer Identifier & Info
#2 Pointer
Head
#2 Pointer
Tail

44. Bearing Pointer Operations
Always T-I-M the desired navaid first

45. Bearing Pointer Operations
Always T-I-M the desired navaid first
Aircraft position is always on the tail of the needle at whatever distance the DME indicates
Aircraft is on the Battle Ground VOR Radial 016

46. Bearing Pointer Operations
Always points directly at the station or waypoint
Aircraft heading does not matter
Pictorial in nature on HSI

47. Bearing Pointer Operations
Needle movement
Consider movement relative to aircraft heading
Head of needle always falls
Tail of needle always rises
“Heads will fall, Tails will rise”
Head of needle will “fall” away from aircraft heading
Tail of needle will “rise” toward aircraft heading

48. Bearing Pointer Operations
Needle movement
Consider movement relative to aircraft heading
Head of needle always falls
Tail of needle always rises
“Heads will fall, Tails will rise”
Desired course
No CDI to indicate your desired course to track
Use heading bug to set desired course (technique)
Gives a pictorial representation of where needle should be
Set hdg bug to desired track

49. Bearing Pointer Operations
Corrections
Turn direction indicated by “Tail – Radial – Turn”
Do not use Course….must use Radial
Example Outbound
Note that Course and Radial are the same going outbound
Go from Tail to Desired Radial = Turn direction

50. Bearing Pointer Operations
Corrections
Turn direction indicated by “Tail – Radial – Turn”
Do not use Course….must use Radial
Example Outbound
Note that Course and Radial are the same going outbound
Example Inbound
Note that the desired Course is 180…which is the 360 Radial
Have to look at bottom of HSI for correction direction
Go from Tail to Desired Radial = Turn direction

51. Bearing Pointer Operations
Corrections
Turn direction indicated by “Tail – Radial – Turn”
Do not use Course….must use Radial
Example Outbound
Note that Course and Radial are the same going outbound
Example Inbound
Note that the desired Course is 180…which is the 360 Radial
Have to look at bottom of HSI for correction direction
Station Passage
Indicated when needle passes the 3 or 9 o’clock
Needle remains below the 3/9 o’clock
Need passes 3-9 line and remains in bottom half of HSI

52. Bearing Pointer Operations
Tracking/Corrections
Use heading bug to mark desired course (technique)
Use tail-radial-turn to identify direction of correction
Use understanding of needle movement to verify proper correction
Identify winds by “Tail – Radial – Wind”
Turn back to a heading that takes out half of the correction (bracket technique)
Needle remains on desired course
Turn to a correction heading to the right of the desired course
Verify tail should “rise” back to desired course
Want to maintain a desired course outbound of 190
Mark course with hdg bug
Wind has blown aircraft off course
Wind coming from right (Tail-Radial-Wind)
Turn right to correct (Tail-Radial-Turn)

53. Intercept Angles
Cover understanding about intercept angles & what look like…NOT procedures

54. Intercept Angles
Cover understanding about intercept angles & what look like…NOT procedures
Used to intercept desired course inbound, outbound, or over a station

55. Intercept Angles
Cover understanding about intercept angles & what look like…NOT procedures
Used to intercept desired course inbound, outbound, or over a station
Two intercepts primarily used
Double the Angle Intercept (DAI) – Correct using angle double the displacement from course (45 deg max)
45 Degree Intercept – Use a 45 degree angle to the desired course

56. Intercept Angles
Cover understanding about intercept angles & what look like…NOT procedures
Used to intercept desired course inbound, outbound, or over a station
Two intercepts primarily used
Double the Angle Intercept (DAI) – Correct using angle double the displacement from course ( 45 deg max)
45 Degree Intercept – Use a 45 degree angle to the desired course
Corrections are always made FROM the desired course
Could be CDI head
Could be course marked with heading bug
Do not correct from the bearing pointer!

57. Intercept Angles Double the Angle Intercept (DAI)
Used when close to the station or when you don’t want a big correction that will overshoot course
Set an intercept angle that is double the angle off the desired course (not to exceed 45 degrees of correction)

58. Intercept Angles Double the Angle Intercept (DAI)
Used when close to the station or when you don’t want a big correction that will overshoot course
Set an intercept angle that is double the angle off the desired course (not to exceed 45 degrees of correction)
Determining and setting a DAI inbound
10 Deg off course
20 Deg from course
Need a 20 deg correction back to course
A DAI back to course is now set
Note Bearing Pointer is only used to determine radials off
Note correction is made from desired course, not the bearing pointer
Note head of bearing pointer is between correction heading and desired course and will “fall” back to desired course

59. Intercept Angles Double the Angle Intercept (DAI)
Used when close to the station or when you don’t want a big correction that will overshoot course
Set an intercept angle that is double the angle off the desired course (not to exceed 45 degrees of correction)
Determining and setting a DAI outbound
10 Deg off course
20 Deg from course
Need a 20 deg correction back to course
A DAI back to course is now set
Note Bearing Pointer is only used to determine radials off
Note correction is made from desired course, not the bearing pointer
Note tail of bearing pointer is not between correction heading and desired course but will “rise” back to desired course

60. Intercept Angles 45 Degree Intercept
Used when away from the station or when you can make a big correction without risk of overshooting
Set an intercept angle that is at 45 degrees (use benchmarks)

61. Intercept Angles 45 Degree Intercept
Used when away from the station or when you can make a big correction without risk of overshooting
Set an intercept angle that is at 45 degrees (use benchmarks)
Setting a 45 degree intercept inbound
Off course
45 Deg from course
Need a 45 deg correction back to course
A 45 deg correction angle back to course is now set
Note correction is made by placing the desired course at the 45 benchmark
Note head of bearing pointer is between correction heading and desired course and will “fall” back to desired course

62. Intercept Angles 45 Degree Intercept
Used when away from the station or when you can make a big correction without risk of overshooting
Set an intercept angle that is at 45 degrees (use benchmarks)
Setting a 45 degree intercept outbound
Off course
45 Deg from course
Need a 45 deg correction back to course
A 45 deg correction angle back to course is now set
Note correction is made by placing the desired course at the 45 benchmark
Note head of bearing pointer is not between correction heading and desired course and will “rise” back to desired course

63. The Six Ts
Used as a memory jogger to help accomplish required tasks at various points

64. The Six Ts
Used as a memory jogger to help accomplish required tasks at various points
Used at main instrument approach points (IAF & FAF) as well as intercepts & holding

65. The Six Ts
Used as a memory jogger to help accomplish required tasks at various points
Used at main instrument approach points (IAF & FAF) as well as intercepts & holding
6 Ts:
Time
Turn
Transition
Twist (twister-cept)
Talk

66. The Six Ts
Used as a memory jogger to help accomplish required tasks at various points
Used at main instrument approach points (IAF & FAF) as well as intercepts & holding
6 Ts:
Time
Turn
Transition
Twist (twister-cept)
Talk
Know them cold and be able to run thru them!!

67. The Six Ts
Time
Note clock time (technique – call out the minutes….”18 after”)
Start clock as required

68. The Six Ts
Time
Note clock time (technique – call out the minutes….”18 after”)
Start clock as required
Turn
Turn to new course as required

69. The Six Ts
Time
Note clock time (technique – call out the minutes….”18 after”)
Start clock as required
Turn
Turn to new course as required

70. The Six Ts
Transition
Begin altering airspeed, altitude, or configuration if required

71. The Six Ts Transition Twist (twister-cept)
Begin altering airspeed, altitude, or configuration if required
Twist (twister-cept)
Set CDI to new course
Set intercept to new course as required

72. The Six Ts Transition Twist (twister-cept) Talk
Begin altering airspeed, altitude, or configuration if required
Twist (twister-cept)
Set CDI to new course
Set intercept to new course as required
Talk
Report to ATC as required

73. Summary
Be familiar with navigation instruments inclusion to instrument scan
Have an understanding of the Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) parts and operational concepts
Have an operational understanding of the Bearing Pointers
Be familiar with radial intercept indications for both double-the-angle intercepts (DAI) and 45 degree intercepts
Comprehend and be able to apply the “6-Ts”