Altitude issues | TheaterFire

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Al-tahoe@reddit

Do you have an understanding that you’re not done trimming until your airspeed stabilizes?

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So when I was training for my IR, I had this problem. My instructor was after my butt to hold altitude. Back when I was training we had the "Red Boards"/AOPA Forums which was a very active place for pilots to share - a more active forum than Pilots of America. Well, he posted a question on the Red Boards about a IFR student he had that did everything well, but couldn't hold altitude. I happened to hop on the Forums and read his question. I felt the shame, and humiliation, although not naming me, it was obvious, to me, who he was asking about. After reading that I was determined to not allow my altitude to change by 50 feet either way.

I anticipated my plane, trimmed as needed and focused my scan, holding altitude and not allowing any changes.

You can do it, just be determined, focus and trim accordingly.

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EliteEthos@reddit

I tell people that you’re essentially learning to fly all over again with a different skill set.

It’s normal. Just remember that small corrections go a long way. If it’s trim, make the correction… then wait to see if that resolved it. If not do more… then wait. Same goes for power. Same goes for intercepting courses. Small corrections.

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Mad_Rooster_7164@reddit

Sounds like you are focusing on the VSI and making corrections, which are very delayed.

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N40189@reddit

So very true. VSI is not designed to hold alt only to verify correct climb or decent rate. Don't waste scanning time looking at it unless it becomes a primary instrument to climb/descend at a given rate.

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jimcarroll_cfi@reddit

The problem is called fixation. You are not moving your gaze correctly & trying to ‘fix’ issues whatching the performance indicator. The solution is to focus on control+performance flight.

In a fixed pitch prop, the attitude indicator and rpm guage are your control instruments, the asi, alt, vsi, dg & tc are your performance indicators.

When a performance indicator says a change is needed (say your altitude is low by 200’), you make a power change (increase rpm), and pich up on the ai (say +3 degrees on a 172), then continue scanning — do NOT return to the altimeter…keep scanning other intruments.

Even at 500’ per minute climb, it will take almost 30 seconds to recover lost altitude, so keep scanning.

See Chapter 6 of the Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA 8083-15B).

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AlexJamesFitz@reddit

Learn your pitch and power settings. Once you've set power, pick a pitch you think will keep you level and trim for it. Change your pitch slightly as needed and trim again.

Basically, set a pitch, see what happens, and make little corrections from there.

Same applies to flying an approach. Fly a heading, see what it does to your needle, correct from there. (Also use other data sources, of course, like DTK/TRK on your GPS.)

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MNSoaring@reddit

A useful lesson I had with my IFR instructor was to go out on a windless day and we wrote down all the power/pitch settings for:

Cruise at 100kts

Descent of 500’/min clean

Level at IAF at 90kts

Level with 1st notch of flaps At 90kts

Descent of of 500’/min with 1st notch of flaps

I then made a chart that got taped to the visor.

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1Crownedngroovd@reddit

I think you would be a very rare pilot, if you didn't have some kind of issue , maybe even several, during your instrument training. Same is true for full motion simulator and type training. Everyone does. All you can do is stick with it, understand a lot of things will only get better through repetition, and chair flying. By chair flying, I mean sitting and mentally going through all the motions, call outs, memory items, and in your case, visualizing all the things you need to do for maintaining altitude.

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TxAggieMike@reddit

Describe your scan pattern.

Are you trimming?

Are you frequently changing power? Using the friction lock to not change power?

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f1racer328@reddit

Has anyone taught you how to do an instrument scan? Depending on what you’re flying (glass or steam) can dictate which technique you use.

You should also have known pitch and power settings. 2300 rpm at 3° nose up (I am making these numbers up, haven’t flown a 172 in a while) will give you 90 knots for example.

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SaratogaFlyer@reddit

This happened to me at the beginning of instrument training. You will get past it. Just remember to keep your scan and trim, trim, trim

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

Im about 6 flight lessons into instrument and things are going very good,learning approaches and the standard flight planning things. What I have found myself constantly having issue with is holding altitude I dont know why but once I put the foggles on my trim skills become useless and im slipping +- 100ft any advice is appreciated!

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