Cruise Flight
Cruise flight is more than just the space between takeoff and landing but is instead the predominant phase of flight.
Introduction to Cruise Flight
- Cruise is where a flight will spend the most of its time
- Often seemingly mundane, procedures and best practices still apply to this non-dynamic phase of flight
WARNING:
All procedures are GENERALIZED.
Use the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) procedures for specific aircraft performance and limitations.
and/or current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).- Reinforce your understanding of Cruise Flight by completing the interactive scenario, comparing your performance with the applicable Airman Certification Standards, and reviewing the topic summary before moving on.
Cruise Flight Key Highlights
- Cruise flight is the stabilized phase of flight conducted between climb and descent operations during en route travel.
- Pilots manage altitude, heading, airspeed, power settings, and fuel consumption to maintain efficient cruise performance.
- Proper cruise configuration improves aircraft efficiency, engine performance, and overall flight endurance.
- Weather conditions, winds aloft, turbulence, and density altitude significantly affect cruise flight operations.
- Pilots should continuously monitor engine instruments, fuel status, navigation progress, and aircraft systems during cruise flight.
- Trim adjustments and proper power management reduce pilot workload and improve aircraft stability.
- Collision avoidance and effective visual scanning remain important responsibilities during cruise operations.
- Navigation systems, autopilot functions, and flight planning tools assist pilots in maintaining situational awareness during en route flight.
- Changes in weather, airspace restrictions, or aircraft performance may require cruise altitude or route adjustments.
- Understanding cruise flight improves operational efficiency, workload management, and overall flight safety.
Weather Phenomena
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Turbulence Penetration Procedures:
- Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) allow shoulder harnesses to be removed during cruise, but they should be worn whenever turbulence is expected or encountered.
- Before entering expected turbulence, fasten the shoulder harness, tighten the safety belt, and secure loose items.
- Set the aircraft’s recommended turbulence-penetration airspeed and power according to the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) or Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), and avoid abrupt or excessive control inputs.
- Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) allow shoulder harnesses to be removed during cruise, but they should be worn whenever turbulence is expected or encountered.
Leaning Procedures
- Ground (high elevation):
- Ensure the mixture control is full forward (full rich).
- Lean the mixture by slowly moving the Mixture control back to the stop, but only enough to obtain smooth operation.
- Climb:
- Leave the mixture control in the full forward (full rich) position.
- As you climb (above 3000 ft Density Altitude in many trainers), leaning will improve engine performance.
- Cruise:
- Slowly move the mixture control back until noting a slight increase in airspeed and engine operation becomes rough.
- If the engine operation is rough, slowly move the mixture control forward to obtain smooth engine operation.
- If an Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) gauge is available, lean to peak (best power).
- Note that the best power does not account for climbs/descents.
- Rich of peak provides the best economy.
- Ground Reference Maneuvers:
- Ensure the mixture is fully forward (fully rich) and the electric fuel pump (if equipped) is off.
- Other Maneuvers:
- Leave the mixture control in the leaned position, and the electric fuel pump (if equipped) is off.
- Descent:
- Slowly move the mixture control forward to enrich the mixture during descent.
- Landing:
- Slowly move the mixture control to the full forward (full rich) position.
- Turn the electric fuel pump on when descending through 1000 feet AGL.
Cruise Flight Common Errors
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Loss of situational awareness caused by distraction, complacency, or fixation.
- Use regular position and progress checks to detect distraction or complacency before the flight departs from the plan.
- Allowing altitude, heading, or airspeed to drift because the aircraft is poorly trimmed or the instrument and outside scan becomes inconsistent.
- Stabilize attitude and power, trim away sustained pressure, and correct small deviations with measured inputs.
- Failing to monitor fuel, weather, navigation progress, traffic, and changing flight conditions throughout the cruise.
- Compare actual fuel consumption, weather, and navigation progress with the plan at regular checkpoints.
Instrument-Flight Cruise Common Errors
- Allowing routine cockpit tasks to interrupt the instrument cross-check.
- Return frequently to attitude, altitude, heading, and airspeed while completing other tasks.
- Assuming the autopilot is maintaining the intended clearance.
- Monitor selected modes and actual flightpath against the cleared route and altitude.
Cruise Flight Interactive Scenario
The Cruise Leg With Rising Temperatures and Headwind
Manage cruise power, mixture, fuel, weather, and changing performance during a long cross-country leg. Abbreviations used in this scenario: revolutions per minute (RPM).
Decision 1
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Scenario Complete
Cruise Flight Conclusion
- Remain mindful that performance calculations are usually more optimistic than actual performance.
- Tasks tend to be required at turn points or waypoints, so knowing and tracking your ETE (Estimated Time En Route) to each point gives a known point to plan anticipated actions ahead of time
- Don't let cruise flight become so expected that you neglect principles critical to safe flight
- Consider actual versus realized performance when doing any performance calculations.
- Consider practicing maneuvers on a flight simulator to introduce yourself to maneuvers or knock off rust.
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