Instrument Rating – Helicopter › III. Air Traffic Control (ATC) Clearances and Procedures › Task A. Compliance with Air Traffic Control Clearances

IH.III.A.S5

Skill

Maintain the applicable airspeed ±10 knots, headings ±10°, altitude ±100 feet; track a course, radial, or bearing within ¾-scale deflection of the course deviation indicator (CDI).

Practice questions Ask the tutor

Study note

Get a short, cited explanation of this element written from the FAA handbooks: the core idea, the numbers that matter, common test traps, and a quick self-check.

From the FAA library

Instrument Flying Handbook p. 8-5
Chapter 8: Helicopter Attitude Instrument Flying › Straight-and-Level Flight › Airspeed Indicator
first neutralizing the controls and allowing the pitch attitude to stabilize, then readjusting the pitch attitude by noting the indications of the other pitch instruments. Occasionally, the VSI may be slightly out of calibration. This could result in the instrument ... indicating a slight climb or descent even when the helicopter is in level flight. If the instrument cannot be calibrated properly, this error must be taken into consideration when using the VSI for pitch control. For example, if a descent…
Instrument Flying Handbook p. 8-8
Chapter 8: Helicopter Attitude Instrument Flying › Turn Indicator › Power Control During Straight-and-Level Flight
airspeed is changing, adjust the pitch attitude to maintain a constant altitude. A constant heading should be maintained throughout the change. As the desired airspeed is approached, adjust power to the new cruising power setting and further adjust pitch attitude ... maintain altitude. The instrument indications for straight-and-level flight at normal cruise and during the transition from normal cruise to slow cruise are illustrated in Figures 8-9 and 8-10. After the airspeed stabilizes at slow cruise…
Aeronautical Information Manual p. 4-4-7
Chapter 4. Air Traffic Control › Section 4. ATC Clearances and Aircraft Separation › 4-4-10. Adherence to Clearance
give priority to an aircraft, the pilot of such aircraft must, when requested by ATC, make a report within 48 hours of such emergency situation to the manager of that ATC facility. g. The guiding principle is that the last ... clearance has precedence over the previous ATC clearance. When the route or altitude in a previously issued clearance is amended, the controller will restate applicable altitude restrictions. If altitude to maintain is changed or restated, whether prior to departure…
Instrument Flying Handbook p. 8-12
Chapter 8: Helicopter Attitude Instrument Flying › Straight Descents (Constant Airspeed and Constant Rate) › Entry
Straight Descents (Constant Airspeed and Constant Rate) A descent may be performed at any normal airspeed the helicopter can attain, but the airspeed must be determined prior to entry. The technique is determined by the type of descent, a constant ... airspeed, or a constant rate. Entry If airspeed is higher than descending airspeed, and a constant airspeed descent is desired, reduce power to a descent power setting and maintain a constant altitude using cyclic pitch control. This slows the helicopter…
Instrument Flying Handbook p. 8-6
Chapter 8: Helicopter Attitude Instrument Flying › Straight-and-Level Flight › Attitude Indicator
turning, make a small change of bank attitude to center the turn needle and stop the movement of the heading indicator. In coordinated flight, the heading indicator gives an indirect indication of a helicopter’s bank attitude. When a helicopter ... turns. When the lateral axis of a helicopter is level, it flies straight. Therefore, in coordinated flight when the heading indicator shows a constant heading, the helicopter is level laterally. A deviation from the desired heading indicates a bank…