Piper ground training & First simulator exercises

We've now been sitting in the classroom again studying the techical aspects and procedures of the Piper Turbo Arrow. The Piper's role in SL Flight Training is that it's a so-called "complex airplane" required to be used in CPL flight training. By complex the requlations refer to an aircraft with retractable landing gear and a constant speed propeller.

Our school has two Piper PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV airplanes, the light brown and blue OH-PGA and the red OH-PBA. They are equipped with quite the same amount of features. The PBA has an RMI instead of the PGA's RBI, but the PGA has a two-axis autopilot while the PBA has only a basic wing leveller.

There it is, waiting for me to fly it :)

The theoretical studies were quite straightforward. We went through the basic systems of the plane mainly focusing on the differences compared to the Cessna's. We also studied all the different airspeeds one must know in advance.

After the classroom studies we had some ground training in our hangar, where we went through the pre-flight inspection items and discussed the plane's cockpit, instrument panel and all the different levers and switches.

Some techical aspects we went through.

When the theoretical studies and ground training was complete, it was time to fly for the first time in our schools FNPT II simulator, which is configured to resemble a Piper Turbo Arrow. Our syllabus included three hours of simulator flying in three different sessions, which basically consisted of exercises closely related to the upcoming Piper flights.

SL Flight Training's FNPT II simulator.

Although the simulator isn't realistic enough to give a feel of flying the real Piper, it was useful as a means of learning the new checklists, by heart items and callouts. The more complex environment calls for more complex checklists and procedures so there was quite a few new things to learn. However, I felt I got quite a good grasp of the differences already. The hardest thing in my opinion was all the different power settings (manifold pressure / RPM) and remembering, which lever to move first.

The cockpit of the FNPT II. Much better lightning than in the real plane!