B2102 FLIGHT 1.0 hours airborne + briefings

Instrument Departures and Enroute Procedures

IFR departure execution and enroute transitions

OBJECTIVE

Enable trainees to execute IFR departures and enroute transitions in the T-38 Talon using instruments and communications, integrating flight planning with real-time adjustments, to develop skills in maintaining control and compliance during the initial and cruise phases of IFR flight at KSPS.

CONTENT

Pre-Flight Briefing and Preparation

  • • Review of prior ground lessons on comms, planning, and instruments; discuss sortie objectives including weather analysis for actual IMC if available.
  • • IFR flight planning: Trainees lead preparation and filing of a local or short enroute IFR plan using DD Form 1801, incorporating SID if applicable and alternate considerations.
  • • Safety and contingencies: Emphasis on hood/IMC transitions, lost comms procedures (AVE-F), and IP takeover protocols.

T-38 ENROUTE PERFORMANCE

Cruise Mach: 0.8-0.9
Cruise Altitude: FL250-FL450

Airborne Procedures and Maneuvers

  • • IFR clearance and departure: Obtain and read back clearance, execute instrument takeoff (ITO) or standard departure, transitioning to enroute with ATC handoffs.
  • • Enroute operations: Level-offs at assigned altitudes, airspeed changes, basic navigation to a fix or waypoint, and adjustments for vectors or route amendments via comms.
  • • Integration elements: Simulate lost comms scenarios, maintain instrument scan during transitions, and practice phraseology for requests.
  • • Return procedures: Standard arrival or radar vectors back to KSPS, emphasizing situational awareness.

Post-Flight Debrief

  • • Performance evaluation: Analyze flight data for tolerances, comms accuracy, and decision-making; address any deviations or errors.
  • • Trainee feedback: Discussion on integration of planning with execution, and preparation for navigation-focused flights.

SORTIE TASKS

No controller required. No instructor required. Fly on VATSIM IAW VATSIM regulations. ATC online is strongly encouraged for IFR comm practice.

Pre-Sortie

  1. 1Plan an IFR route with a departure procedure (SID or heading/altitude) and at least one en route fix; file on VATSIM and connect
  2. 2If ATC is online, obtain IFR clearance using CRAFT format and read back in full; if not, depart on planned routing

Sortie

  1. 3Execute instrument departure; maintain ±100 ft and ±10° during the climb-out
  2. 4Contact Departure and Center as appropriate; make all required position reports with correct phraseology
  3. 5Level off at cruise altitude; sustain instrument scan and maintain en route tolerances throughout
  4. 6Navigate to at least one en route fix using instruments; comply with any ATC heading or altitude amendments (or self-assign if no ATC)
  5. 7Return to home field via radar vectors or own navigation; fly approach and land full-stop

Post-Sortie

  1. 8Log the sortie in the vTAC flight log system

Approved Callsigns

KENT — local IFR at KSPS
JAVET — if routing to KTIK (Tinker)
ARCAS — if routing to KDYS (Dyess)
EURO · ENJEP · RAMA — out-and-back, destination not listed above
BURNY — if destination is KLBB (Lubbock)
FIDO — if destination is KAFW / NAS Fort Worth

COMPLETION STANDARDS

Trainees will demonstrate proficiency in instrument departures and enroute procedures through successful sortie completion. Trainees must:

  • • Execute accurate departure (±100 ft altitude, ±10° heading during climb)
  • • Demonstrate proper IFR comms with full readbacks and no critical errors
  • • Effectively handle enroute adjustments per AETCMAN 11-251 standards

Completion: Instructor confirmation of progression readiness

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