RIO Hasty Startup procedure

Everyone who doesn’t follow “canon” startup procedures ends up having his own, usually known by heart. This is mine.

This is a hasty procedure therefore additional tests and checks are omitted.
It starts from the left side (because the Oxygen controls are located there and are one of the very first switches to operate), then follow the cockpit as an arc, through the DDD then down to the IFF on the right side.

While the TID is warming up, I usually either start preparing the flightplan on the F10 map (casual servers), discuss the briefing and the plan with the Pilot or simply carry on with the procedure.

POWER ON Oxygen: set ON ICS: comms check IR/TV: standby WSC: standby	As the Oxygen is set, I check the ICS (either SRS or UR). I tend to activate and use the IR/TV and the WCS together so I put both of them on stand-by at the same time.
WHILE WCS IS WARMING UP Eject seat: arm TACAN: T/R, set channel TACAN CMD Panel: set TACAN CMD V/UHF-2: T/R+G, set volume, set freq. ATIS Liquid cooling: set as appropriate Altimeter: reset, set QNH SAI: uncage DDD: select RWS, increase Pulse Video RWR: turn on DL: select LINK4A/C, set frequency DECM: standby AN/ALE-39: PWR/MODE to MAN, ask pilot Chaff/Flares DLC IFF: set ON Input WP from MDC/map as necessary	While the WCS is warming up, I carry on with the procedure. If ATIS is unavailable, the QNH is may be noted in the briefing.

WCS READY: INS ALIGNMENT Ground alignment CAP: NAV, check OWN AC NAV: GND CAP Keyb: enter latlong and alt Wait for fine alignment procedure NAV: select INS Carrier alignment CAP: NAV, check OWN AC DL: set ON and Carrier frequency DL MODE: select CAINS NAV: CVA Wait for fine alignment procedure NAV: select INS Post INS Alignment CAP: NAV, sel MAG VAR HDG CAP Keyb: enter MagVar	When the INS is ready I start the INS alignment following the most appropriate procedure depending on the situation (Ground, Carrier, etc). If I haven’t finished the preceding part of the startup, I do it know, while the INS is aligning.

ANTE TAKE-OFF Fuel: Check Warning panels: Check Destination: Select WP as per briefing to Pilot: “Check wings, check flaps”	Last couple checks before departing. “Check wings” may sound redundant but it is a good habit anyway.

POST TAKE-OFF WCS: XMIT (or as per briefing) IR/TV: IR/TV LANTIRN Power: Set POD	Post take-off I turn on the AWG-9 (depending on the briefing) and the IR/TV. The LANTIR power can be set to POD at the later when FENCEing In. Due to the length of the operation I rather do that in this moment.

FENCE IN Fuel: check DECM: REC/set as needed Armament panel: set as needed AN/ALE-39: check/Set as needed LANTIRN Mode: set OPER WCS: check XMIT (unless briefed otherwise)	Besides the usual FENCE checks and crosschecks with the pilot, these are some other operations I usually do. I did not include Pilot-related checks, such as the External Lights.

LANDING Fuel: check TACAN: set channel, check CMD [CV] Weight: calculate and check [CV] DL: check frequency to Pilot: “check lights” on Final: “check three greens, flaps, DLC”	I omitted the radio checks and calls in order to maintain the list as simple as possible. Moreover, the procedures are different depending on the destination (“wet” or “dry”).

I am putting together a “Kneeboard Pack” consisting on a number of pages such as the Startup Procedure described in this article. It will soon be available for download.