Airline: BRITISH AIRWAYS
A/C: De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300S Twin Otter
Reg Nr.: VP-FBL
You cannot access this briefing during a Flight, so be sure to print it out or take notes before clicking the OK button. This text is identical to the test flight as decstibed in the main manual.
BRUSSELS NATIONAL TO LONDON CITY
To get you fully acquainted with the Twin-Otter we have chosen a test flight in which you will learn all the Twin-Otter's functions, habits and performance.
The flight will depart from Brussels international airport, runway 7R and via a sharp right turn it will take you westbound. Climbing to a cruising altitude of 12000ft you will reach the North Sea coast over the Belgium coastal city of Kokzijde, home of the Belgian air Force Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters. Once over the North Sea you will proceed to the city of Dover, well known for its spectacular cliffs (be sure to use LAGO TerraMesh for maximum detail here). Once at Dover it will be just a short hop to London City were you will land on runway 10, making a spectacular turn over the London area followed by a LCY 5.5° glide-path approach.
COCKPIT PREPARATION
-------------------
The first thing to do is make sure that the aircraft has power and that the avionics are working so that radio's can be tuned and engines can be started.
Check the following items:
Battery switch ON
DC master switch ON
Battery Voltage At least 20V
Bus DC switch ON
Generator switches OFF
Radio power switches ON
Now that we have electrical power and working avionics tune your COM radio to 132.475 MHz to receive the current weather via the Automated Terminal Information System (ATIS). A shortcut is to press the test button on the COM2 radio. It will tell you the following information:
Wind: 81° / 8Kts
Clouds: 4900ft scattered
Visibility 20 miles
Temperature 15°C
Dew point 15°C
Altimeter 29.92 inch / 1013mB
Runway in use 07L
Engine Start
No change to our plans following this ATIS. Using the "Flights | Flight Planner | Load.." you can now load the flight plan "Twin Otter Test Flight" in our (non standard) GPS system. It's time to start the engines and line up runway 07R. To change to the overhead panel press [SHFT]-[3] or press on the "OVERHEAD SWITCHES" text on the lower left part of the main panel. We are now ready to start the engines so look left and right to see if no one is standing between the prop blades. Check and perform the following items:
Propeller levers FULL
Mixture levers RICH
Throttle levers IDLE
Beacon ON
Ignition select switch BOTH
Starter select switch LEFT
Engine ignition switch IGNITION MANUAL
Left Generator ON
Engine ignition switch CLOSE COVER
Repeat for Right Engine
If everything went well the engines are running. Now check if they are stabilized. If all indications are in the green and stable do the after start actions. Check and perform then the following items:
Starter select switch Neutral position
Engine ignition switch Cover closed
Generator switches ON
Anti collision lights ON
Position lights ON
Taxi lights ON
Trim Neutral
DEPARTURE
---------
Now slowly taxi to the runway. Departure will be from rwy 07R. At 500ft Above Ground Level (AGL) a right turn will be made to the "OZ" Non Directional Beacon (NDB). Once overhead "OZ" proceed at 275° to intercept the 288° inbound radial to the "KOK" VOR, this will take you directly over the "MAK" NDB.
Overhead the "KOK" VOR turn left to intercept the 279° outbound track, which is also the 279° inbound to the "DVR" VOR. Cruise altitude will be 12000ft. Radio frequencies: Check and perform the following items:
NAV1: Kokzijde "KOK" VOR / 114.50Mhz / 288°.
NAV2: Brussels "BUB" VOR / 114.60Mhz
ADF: Oscar Zulu "OZ" NDB / 314Khz.
We have just been cleared to line up rwy 07R so move the (blue) Propeller levers fully forward to get normal RPM ([CTRL]-[F4]) and an slightly advance the power levers to get the aircraft moving. Once on the runway, select flaps 10 and check all engine indications are in the green. You are now ready for take-off.
TAKE-OFF
--------
Once cleared for take-off, perform the final checks. Check and perform the following items:
Landing lights ON
Propeller levers Full forward
Flaps 10 degrees
Take-off clearance Received
Landing lights ON
Keep increasing the power levers until the engines are stabilized at almost 100 pct Torque. Rolling down the runway rotate the aircraft to a 10° nose up attitude when you've reached 80Kts. Once airborne, climb to 500ft at 100 knots and then turn right almost 180° to proceed straight to the "OZ" NDB. The course to the any NDB can be seen in the RMI single needle. After the turn start you flap retraction. Climb speed without flaps up should be 110kts at a rate of climb of 1500ft / min.
Overhead the "OZ" NDB turn right to 269° to intercept the 288° radial to the "KOK" VOR. The radial can be set using the selector knobs on either the NAV1 & Glideslope indicator or the autopilot panel. Change the ADF frequency to the "MAK" NDB (360.5Khz)
CRUISE
------
You should have reached 12000ft well before the "KOK" VOR. Reduce the torque to 90% (with the throttle) and prop rpm to 1900rpm to achieve a comfortable cruise speed.
Overhead the "KOK" VOR change the NAV1 frequency to the "DVR" VOR (114.95Mhz / 179°). Put Kokzijde in NAV2 to check NAV1 readings.
Overhead "DVR" change the NAV1 frequency to the Detling "DET" VOR (117.30Mhz) and put Dover in NAV2 to make sure your course is correct. Inbound course to "DET" should be 291°.
DESCENT
-------
Overhead "DET" it is already time to descent. Let's start with a descent briefing. Expected landing runway is 10, thankfully wind and clouds are as favorable as in Brussels so a nice approach can be expected. Runway 10 has a 5.5° glide path and approach will be at 20 degrees flaps / 85 Kts. Full flaps will be selected at 500ft AGL.
Radio frequencies: Check and perform the following items:
NAV1: London City ILS DME "LST" / 111.15Mhz /097°.
NAV2: Detling "DET" VOR / 117.30Mhz
ADF: London City "LCY" NDB / 322Khz.
Overhead "DET' continue at 291° and retard the power levers to achieve a torque reading of 40 % and descent to 2000ft. When the small needle on the RMI is at 235° turn right to Intercept the 235° inbound course to the "LCY" NDB (fly direct to the NDB) to get at the airport.
At 2000’ keep the torque low to let the speed reduce to 100Kts overhead the "LCY" NDB. At 100Kts select flaps 20.
Overhead "LCY" turn left to 290°. After 3 minutes start a left turn to 115° to intercept the localizer for rwy. 10. Once stabilized on the localizer reduce the speed to 85Kts and select full flaps. Now capture the glide-slope and start a descent. You are now ready for the landing.
LANDING
-------
Check and perform the following items:
Propeller levers Full forward
Flaps 40 degrees
Landing lights ON
Landing clearance Received
Now touch down and use the brakes to slow the aircraft down. Turn off the runway, taxi to the parking and move your mixture levers fully back to the "cutt-off" position.
PARK
----
After your passengers have disembarked switch 'the aircraft off' .Check and perform the following items:
Mixture levers CUTOFF
Propeller levers FULL FORWARDS
Power levers IDLE
Generator switches OFF
Bus DC switch OFF
Generator switches OFF
Radio power switches OFF
DC master switch OFF
Battery switch OFF
Inverter switch Opposite
Ignition 1 or 2
Autopilot power OFF