BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE ...

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AFMAN 11-217V1 3 JANUARY 2005
because of changes in aircraft gross weight and cruise airspeeds. (Refer to your
aircraft flight manual; on some equipment, this technique may not be
appropriate.)
2.4.1.1.3. Small pitch corrections. The small pitch corrections required to
maintain a desired altitude are made in fractions of degrees or bar widths. You
should become familiar with the vertical velocity changes that result when
specific pitch adjustments are made at various airspeeds and configurations so
you can determine what pitch attitude adjustment is required to produce the
desired rate of correction when an altitude deviation is observed.
2.4.1.1.4. Making pitch adjustments. When you make these pitch adjustments,
the altimeter and vertical velocity indications may lag behind changes of pitch
attitude on the attitude indicator. This lag should be recognized and accepted as
an inherent error in pressure instruments. The error is even more pronounced at
supersonic airspeeds. Because of this error, maintain the adjusted pitch attitude
on the attitude indicator while waiting for changes on the altimeter and vertical
velocity to occur. Do not make a snap decision that the adjusted pitch change is
ineffective and be lured into over-controlling the pitch attitude.
2.4.1.1.5. Vertical velocity indicator. The vertical velocity indicator is a trend
instrument. With experience, you can usually estimate the suitability of a pitch
adjustment by noting the initial rate of movement of the vertical velocity
indicator. For example, assume a pitch adjustment has been made which is
expected to result in 200 to 300 fpm rate of climb. If the initial rate of movement
on the vertical velocity indicator is rapid and obviously will stabilize at a rate
greater than desired, the pitch change was too large. Readjust the pitch attitude
rather than wait for a stabilized indication on the vertical velocity indicator.
2.4.1.1.6. Altitude changes. When an aircraft first departs an altitude, an
indication often appears on the vertical velocity indicator before one appears on
the altimeter. By evaluating this initial rate of movement, you can estimate the
amount of pitch change required on the attitude indicator and prevent large
altitude deviations. If the estimated pitch change was correct, the vertical velocity
will return to zero with a negligible change of altitude on the altimeter.
2.4.1.1.7. Altitude Deviations. When a deviation from the desired altitude
occurs, use good judgment in determining a rate of correction. The correction
must not be too large and cause the aircraft to "overshoot" the desired altitude, nor
should it be so small that it is unnecessarily prolonged. As a guide, the pitch
attitude change on the attitude indicator should produce a rate of vertical velocity
approximately twice the size of the altitude deviation. For example, if the aircraft
were 100 feet off the desired altitude, a 200 fpm rate of correction would be a
suitable amount. Adjust the pitch an estimated amount to achieve this rate of
correction. This estimated pitch change might require further adjustment after a
stabilized vertical velocity is obtained.
2.4.1.1.8. Approaching the desired altitude. When approaching the desired
altitude, determine a lead point on the altimeter for initiating a level-off pitch
attitude change and determine the pitch change required to complete the level off