Familiarization flights

There are 15 Familiarization flights. The MPTS system divides them up into blocks, by end of block you have to have made MIF on each required procedure. For Amplification, Techniques, and common errors go ahead and consult your books.

At the beginning of each block, memorize the procedures that you will have to do in that block. You are expected to talk your way through any maneuver. IP's will demo them before you get a crack at it but most will say "ok, how do I do a/an (vertical takeoff, 90 Auto, etc..). Know the following procedures VERBATIM
 * Vertical Takeoff/Landing
 * Hover
 * Hover/Air Taxi
 * Transition to Forward Flight
 * Normal Approach
 * Autorotation

These are the procedures that the IUT's (soon to be IP's) are expected to know for their FAM flights. The rest of the procedures in each block should still be memorized but make sure you get the above down cold before your first flight. Know them so you are at the point that when you do a vertical takeoff, you say out loud: " Twist grip full open, Nf/Nr 100%, Gauges are Green, Caution Panel Clean, Clear Right, Clear Left, coming up with 65 gallons. Trim controls in a neutral position, establish a hover scan, smoothly raise collective until light on the skids. Stabilize momentarily and trim out control pressures. Smoothly raise collective; pedals for yaw, cyclic for drift. Continue raising collective until reaching a hover altitude and trim out control pressures." It may sound a bit much but it's not; it's expected. You're always talking when you're flying. "Clear right, clear left, nose coming right, tail coming left..." Figure that out and then you only have the easy thing left, learning to fly a helicopter!

Another thing you may want to practice a few times early on is the NATOPS brief (NATOPS PCL page 24). There is a script in the back of the RWOP that you are expected to be able to follow verbatim when giving NATOPS briefs at the beginning of each flight. You may be doing this as early as FAM 2 so be ready.

Here are the FAM flights and associated briefing items:

Before your check ride you must take the Closed Book NATOPS exam and before you do that you must take the open book NATOPS exam. You can pick up a copy at the squadron.
 * C4001 Discuss Items
 * C4002 Discuss Items
 * C4003 Discuss Items
 * Before the end of the first block you must take the Course Rules Test.
 * C4004 Discuss Items
 * C4004 Block MIF and Procedures
 * C4101 Discuss Items
 * C4102 Discuss Items
 * C4103 Discuss Items
 * C4201 Discuss Items
 * C4202 Discuss Items C4202 Tiltrotor Discuss Items
 * C4203 Discuss Items
 * C4390 Discuss Items
 * C4401 Discuss Items
 * C4501 Discuss Items
 * C4502 Discuss Items
 * C4503 Discuss Items