An Cosantóir

21 programme, expanding further into military operations and nuances where required. It follows the airline pilots training schedule quite closely with 14 subjects, that students must understand, assimilate the knowledge and pass examinations. This takes between six to seven months and during this time, students also learn about further aspects of military leadership, as every pilot is also an Officer. Only then will the students begin to train in the simulator, and this is not for the purpose of flying training alone. In PC-9M some of the emergency systems controls are based in the front section of a cockpit, where the student sits. Instructors need to know, that each student knows how to operate the emergency landing gear lever or firewall (fuel) shutoff system. Only then can the training move on into the actual aircraft cockpit. Flying lessons start from the basics. Effects of the controls, straight and level flying, climbing, descending, and turning. Following this the pilots will move on into "circuit work". This part of training teaches the students how to depart from and approach the airport. It begins with a take-off and a climb. Following this the aircraft is turned onto a "crosswind leg", which is either a left or right 90 degrees turn, while still climbing to a circuit altitude. Then the pilot will fly parallel to the runway, which is called "downwind leg". During this stage, the student is required to carry out pre-landing checks, while communicating their position to the Air Traffic Controller. Another turn onto "base leg" is a 90 degree change of heading towards the runway, followed by a reduction of throttle to slow to the correct approach speed. Flaps are lowered to approach setting while the aircraft descends toward the runway. The last turn is called the "finals turn" which, as the name suggests, aligns the aircraft with the centreline of the runway – "finals" or final approach. Small, timely corrections on finals facilitate a stabilised approach, which is shortly followed by a reduction in engine power to allow the aircraft tyres touch on to the runway for landing. While on approach, the pilot controls the speed of the aircraft with the pitch setting and the rate of descent with the throttle. Students PILATUS PC-9M A PC-9M begins its lift off the runway in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnell must learn how to fly each stage of the circuit pattern and most importantly how to handle the aircraft in both good and bad weather conditions. After as little as 20 hours, thanks to use of the simulator, students are then ready to complete a first solo flight in the circuit. This again allows for all the theory and emergency procedures training to be carried out in the simulator, so when the student eventually gets into the cockpit, there is no time or fuel wasted on the ground. Stalls and spins build a solid foundation and the confidence required for learning basic aerobatics. Later in the training, pilots are required to carry out full spins with up to 6 rotations, while flying solo. With its great stability, the PC-9M must be forced (with specific control inputs) into a spin and forced to remain in this flight condition. Control input must remain constant during the spin because once the pilot releases the control inputs, the aircraft's inherent stability characteristics produce a natural tendency to exit the spin. With some other training aircraft, the stall and subsequent spin can be a very dangerous situation at any stage of flight. The PC- 9M is designed to recover from a spin with minimal pilot input required and therefore minimal height loss. Flying manoeuvres like these, build confidence and knowledge of the aircraft and are a vital element of safety training. Knowing the effects of and how to recognise the onset of the stall and then spin, allows the pilot to react to it and prevent it from developing, especially during aerobatic manoeuvres. As training progresses, more dynamic aerobatic and max performance manoeuvres are introduced. A light but positive touch is required towards the end of the course when flying in formation with another PC-9M aircraft at speeds greater than 200 knots Navigation is a significant part of the syllabus, with substantial amount of time allocated to instrument flying training. While students learn how to fly medium-level VFR (Visual Flight Rules, where navigation is maintained by the means of map and terrain features), the PC-9M is equipped with very advanced IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) equipment. This not only allows it to fly in all weather conditions but also carry out ILS (Instrument Landing System) approaches and landings. All aspects of training allow the student to build the required skill of "airmanship" The 104 Squadron badge, proudly worn by every pilot in the Squadron

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