Traffic Pattern Checklist
James Albright (a former G450 driver)
Updated: 2013-01-10
There are two times you may find yourself using the traffic pattern checklist and the caveats are different:
1. A Traffic Pattern.
We did these for a living in the Air Force, it seemed for every hour of operational we had an hour a training. As an instructor, you had to have it all together to get the syllabus requirements finished while keeping the airplane right-side-up. As a civilian Gulfstream G450 pilot, you spend very little time training and it is that much more important to have it all together before you blast off with a student in either seat.
2. A Short Hop Between Airports.
If you are flying between two airports and will never go above 10,000 feet you may find the traffic pattern checklist to be advantageous. Simply use your normal checklists up to the Line Up, then the traffic pattern checklist through landing. After landing go back to your normal checklists.
When I am in the left seat for short hop I tell the other pilot, "checklist of your choice." Invariably, they will go through the normal checklist flow. I usually opt for the traffic pattern checklist. It gets the important stuff done and frees me up to look outside and monitor the pilot flying. (That's my job when in the right seat.)
Everything here is from the references shown below, with a few comments in an alternate color.
[G450 Airplane Flight Manual §2-07-10]
Takeoff:
Prior to takeoff, as a minimum, you should have programmed the FMS to level off at the pattern altitude and briefed the pattern to be flown. If time permits on the ground, you should also program the arrival procedure and landing init. It would be helpful to have already briefed the approach and aircraft configuration.
For your initial takeoff, you should accomplish the normal before engine start, taxi, and line up checklists. You should commence the use of the traffic pattern checklist once airborne.
Gear ... UP
You should get the ground spoilers off first, or as soon as the gear is up.
Flaps ... UP
I recommend setting 10° flaps after takeoff and selecting manual 180 knots. Once pattern altitude is reached and landing init is accomplished, auto speeds can be selected.
Guidance Panel ... SET
Climb Power ... SET
GND SPLR ... OFF
Pattern:
You need to ensure the student levels off, stabilizes the airplane at pattern altitude in proper trim. A common mistake is to level off without trim and enter a shallow descent.
Approach Briefing ... ACCOMPLISHED
If the student is behind or tends to give long, meandering briefs, you can do the briefing: "This will be a visual pattern, you will be keep the airplane at pattern altitude, extend 20° of flaps when abeam the touchdown point, extend the gear when ready to turn base, and enter a shallow descent. I will clear for traffic. We need to roll out about 2 miles from the runway about 600 feet above the runway. Extend 39° of flaps as needed for the descent, cross the threshold at VREF plus five, and land in the touchdown zone. Any questions?"
FMS ... ARRIVAL SET
If you didn't get to this on the ground, as a minimum you need to enter the arrival identifier and do the landing init. Selecting the runway to the scratch pad, adding a "2" and entering that over the runway line will give you a two mile final.
Flight Instruments ... SET / AS REQUIRED
Flight Observer Seat Position ... CHECK
Landing:
Here is where more than a few Air Force instructor pilots made serious mistakes and lost perfectly good airplanes. You might try this technique to prevent forgetting something that can hurt you. Don't allow the student to depart pattern altitude or make the turn to base without the gear extended. Keep your hand on the gear handle until you have three green, no red, and have confirmed the weight on wheels system indicates "four in the air." Then arm the ground spoilers and put your hand on the flap handle. Don't take your hand off the flap handle until they are set for landing.
Gear ... DOWN / 3 GREEN
Check "four in the air" before . . .
GND SPLR ... ARMED (OFF FOR TOUCH AND GO)
Brakes / Hydraulics ... CHECKED
Flaps ... SET FOR LANDING
WARN INHIBIT ... INHIBIT
Flight Controls Synoptic Page ... SELECT
Taxi-Back:
If you are heading for another pattern, run this checklist. If you are done for the day, put this checklist away and return to the normal procedures checklist, beginning with the After Landing Checklist.
GND SPLR ... OFF
Flaps .... SET FOR TAKEOFF
LDG / STROBE Lights ... OFF
Brake Temps ... CHECKED
[G450 Airplane Flight Manual §3-18-50] Landing gear should remain extended until all brake temperatures are below 200° C. Verify Brake Overheat message is extinguished.
Even without hard braking, multiple patterns and taxi time will raise the temperature of your brakes. If you see more that 200° you need to note it and consider leaving the gear extended for the next pattern.
Transponder ... STANDBY
GPWS/GND SPLR FLAP ORIDE ... OFF
Trim Settings (3) ... SET
Takeoff Briefing ... ACCOMPLISHED
To save time consider: "This will be another visual pattern same as the previous, except..." and cover the exceptions.
FMS ... SET
It typically takes two minutes to fully program the FMS for a visual pattern, depending on your proficiency level. You will exhibit good flight discipline and will set a good example for your student if you ask ground control for two minutes at the end of the runway to set things up, rather than do all this heads down while the student navigates his way to the other end of the runway.
Flight Instruments ... SET
Guidance Panel ... SET
WARN INHIBIT ... INHIBIT
Flight Controls Synoptic Page ... SELECT
Flight Observer Seat Position ... CHECK
Line Up:
COWL ANTI ICE (2) / WING ANTI ICE (2) ... AS REQ
EXTERIOR LTS ... SET
Transponder ... ON
Radar ... AS REQUIRED
GND SPLR ... ARMED
V-Speeds ... CHECKED / BOXED
EICAS ... CHECKED
References:
Gulfstream G450 Airplane Flight Manual, Revision 35, April 18, 2013