T-45C – Cold Start Procedure

Based on the NATOP’s Flight Manual A1-T45AC-NFM-000

Summarized by Eduardo “Rudel_chw” Ahumada.
In blue those items that can be omitted when on a hurry.
In Red, items not implemented yet.

7.4 INTERIOR CHECK:

3. Parking brake – SET (From “7.3.2 In

the Cockpit”). Engage by pulling the
PARKING BRAKE handle until fully
extended and rotating it clockwise. On
DCS it requires just a click.

The PK BRK caution light will illuminate if

the throttle is advanced beyond the
intermediate position while the Parking
Brake is set. (Not implemented)

7. ENGINE switch – ON. The ENGINE switch is

located on the left console. The switch has the
following positions:

START: This momentary position accelerates the

GTS to full power, then automatically opens the
start valve to admit air to the ATS, starting the
engine. Use right click & hold to actuate.

 ON: Energizes the start control unit and permits fuel boost pump
number 2 operation if all other parameters are met. Use left click to
switch between OFF & ON.
 OFF: Manually shuts down the GTS operation and de-energizes the
start control unit and, after 30 seconds, shuts the fuel boost pump
number 2 OFF.
8. RUDDER TRIM knob – NEUTRAL. Located aft of the
throttle, and is spring loaded to the center, neutral
position. Rotating the knob left or right adds the
corresponding rudder trim.

The rudder trim indicator is located

forward of the throttle and indicates
rudder trim position.

12. Throttle – Check it’s at OFF. The

throttle controls the engine thrust in
response to the throttle movement.
The real Throttle has 4 detents:

 Full Forward: Operates engine at

Maximum Rated Thrust (MRT)
 APPROACH IDLE: With landing
gear down and aircraft weight-off-
wheels, maintains minimum RPM
at approximately 72%.
 IDLE: Opens fuel shutoff valve to
direct fuel to fuel spray nozzles.
 OFF: Interrupts or prevents fuel flow to engine.

On DCS press [Home] to actuate the Finger-lift, or click on it, to move the
Throttle from OFF to IDLE and vice versa.

13. EXTERIOR LIGHTS master switch – AS

REQUIRED. On DCS, use [L] for OFF and [LCtrl + L]
for ON.
14. FLAPS/SLATS lever – UP

Located on the left console, inboard of the

throttle. The levers in the forward and aft
cockpits are mechanically connected and move
together when positioned from either cockpit.

The lever has positive detents for each of the

following three positions:

 UP: Selects the flaps up and the slats

retracted.
 1/2: Selects half flaps and the slats
extended.
 DN: Selects full flaps and the slats extended.

On DCS, Right Click to move down, Left click to move up.

15. ANTI-SKID switch – ON

The system is activated by placing the ANTI-SKID

switch in both cockpits in the ON position. This
illuminates the SKID advisory light in each cockpit.

The system is actuated when the landing gear is

down, aircraft is weight-on-wheels and wheel
speed is above 30 knots during acceleration, and
above 10 to 13 knots during deceleration.

When the wheel speed sensor senses speeds below these values, anti-skid
is disabled and normal braking is in effect.

When either or both wheel speed sensors detect excessive wheel

deceleration indicating an impending skid, a signal is sent, releasing both
brakes to avoid skidding the tires.
16. EMER FLAP switch – NORM

The switch is a two position switch and has the

following positions:

 NORM: Normal flaps/slats operation.

 DOWN: Extends the flaps via emergency
accumulator. Does not affect slat position or indication.

17. LAUNCH BAR switch – RETRACT

The Launch Bar, is used to transmit launch loads

from the catapult shuttle to the aircraft structure.
During a Carrier launch, this Switch extends or
retracts the Launch Bar. It has two positions:

 RETRACT: Retracts the launch bar.

 EXTEND: Extends the launch bar. A green L BAR
advisory light will illuminate when the bar is extended.

18. EMER GEAR handle – IN

If the Landing Gear, due to a malfunction, can’t be

extended with the LDG GEAR handle, rotating this handle
clockwise and then pulling, opens the landing gear doors
and extends the landing gear by gravity.

In the event of an actual emergency gear extension, the

normal landing gear handle should be placed in the DN
position before pulling the EMER GEAR handle.

When a safe gear indication is achieved, the EMER GEAR

handle should remain out and the aircraft should be landed
as soon as practicable.
19. LDG GEAR handle – DOWN

The LDG GEAR handle is located on the left vertical

console.

 UP: With the aircraft weight off all wheels, raises

the landing gear.
 DN: Lowers the landing gear.

The landing gear position lights are green in and

labeled: NOSE, LEFT, and RIGHT. The light illuminates
when the corresponding gear is down and locked.

20. MASTER ARM switch – SAFE

All armament circuits are controlled by the master

armament switch, with the exception of emergency
jettisoning of external stores.

 SAFE: De-energizes armament circuits.

 MASTER ARM: Energizes armament circuits and
illuminates MSTR ARM indicator light in the aft cockpit.

22. Standby Flight instruments -

SET/CHECK. The main Flight Instruments
are the HUD and the ADI Page of the
MFDs. The analog instruments are for
emergency use when the HUD or MFD
are not operative.

a. Standby VSI - ZERO (note any error)

b. Standby attitude indicator - OFF FLAG
VISIBLE (Not Implemented)
c. Standby barometric altimeter – SET
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE
d. Standby airspeed indicator - CHECK
e. Standby turn and slip indicator –
CENTERED (Not centered until battery is ON)
f. AOA indexer/indicator - CHECK OFF/FLAG IN VIEW

The AOA indicator registers units of AOA to the

relative airstream, from 0 to 30 units. An OFF flag is
visible if electrical power is lost. The indicator is set
with the optimum unit setting at the 3 o’clock
position.

g. HUD – Check it’s OFF. It’s knob is located on the

Data Entry Panel. The ON position turns the HUD on.
The OFF position turns the HUD off.

h. MFDs – Both should be OFF. The

switch on their lower right corner
powers them ON and toggles
between Day or Night brightness
ranges.
The switch on their lower left corner, turns the MFD OFF.

i. CABIN pressure altimeter – CHECK.

The CABIN pressure altimeter is located on the left
side of the pedestal. The altimeter indicates cabin
pressure altitude in 1,000 foot increments.

23. UHF/VHF No. 1 radio – OFF. Currently, the

radios can be used in DCS only through the SRS multiplayer communication
utility. For now, there is no way to contact ATC, AWACS, JTAC nor Carrier
ATC.
24. PITOT HEAT switch – OFF. On the Up position the Heater
of the Pitot tube is activated. 28V DC Essential Services Bus
power is provided to heat the probe.

25. HOOK BYPASS switch - AS REQUIRED

26. Clock – SET. Not needed in DCS, as the Clock is

automatically set to the mission start time.

27. HOOK handle – Check that it corresponds to

the current Hook position.

28. COMM control panel - AS DESIRED.

Currently only the Com1 and Com2 switches are simulated. Audio signals
from communication radios, VOR, TACAN, marker beacon (MKR), and
microphone selections are controlled at this panel as are selections of
receiver (RCVR) volume, ICS volume, and audio amplification.
29. VOR/ILS – OFF

30. TACAN – OFF

31. UHF/VHF No. 2 radio – OFF. Located on Center Pedestal.

32. IFF – OFF. Not Simulated.

33. BATT switches - OFF

34. AC RESET switch – CENTERED

35. GEN switch – ON. The GEN switch is located on the PWR panel, on the
right console and is a three position toggle switch, spring loaded to the ON
position. The switch has the following positions:
 RESET: Resets the generator voltage regulator.
 ON: Generator is on, excitation power is supplied from the 28 VDC
Essential Services Bus.
 OFF Excitation power is removed, turning off the generator.
41. A-COLL/STROBE light switch – Set to A-COLL. This
switch has three positions:

 A-COLL/ STROBE: Turns on both red anti-collision

lights and the white strobe light.
 A-COLL: Turns on the red anti-collision lights only.
 OFF: Turns off the anti-collision and strobe lights.

38. Exterior lights - AS DESIRED:

 NAVIGATION Lights Switch. FLASH Wing and/or tail

navigation lights flash if selected. STEADY the lights
operate steady if selected.

 TAIL Lights Switch. Can be set Bright, Off or Dim.

 WING Lights Switch. Can be set Bright, Off or Dim.

 FORMATION Lights Switch. Can be set Bright, Off or

Dim.

39. Cockpit air conditioning - NORMAL/AS DESIRED. (Not Simulated)

40. Interior lights - AS REQUIRED. (MIP: Main Instrument Panel)

7.5 PRE-START CHECKS:

1. Battery switches
 BATT 1 and BATT 2 – ON
 Alternately select each battery OFF to check individual voltage;
24 to 29 volts
 BATT 1 and BATT 2 - CHECK ON

2. Seat – ADJUST (not implemented)

3. ICS – CHECK (inter-communicator) not
implemented.

4. Fuel quantity – CHECK.

5. MASTER ALERT light - OUT

6. Advisory panel lights - ENSURE ANTISKID ON.

7. FIRE light – OUT

8. Warning/caution panel lights –

Ensure the following ON:
Warning:
 GENERATOR
 OIL PRESS
 HYD FAIL
 OXYGEN

Caution:
 HYD
 LP PMP
 CANOPY (if open)
 F PRES
9. LT/TONE TEST switch - CHECK LAMPS / TONE / AOA INDEXER

10. HYD 1 and HYD 2 pressure indicators - ZERO

11. BRAKE pressure indicator - 1,250 PSI minimum (Not currently

simulated)

12. FLAP position lights - MATCH FLAP POSITION

13. Landing gear position indicator lights - ON (GREEN)

14. COMM/NAV transfer buttons – AS DESIRED

(Not simulated).

15. AOA - NO OFF FLAG

16. Canopy - AS DESIRED

7.6 STARTING ENGINE:

1. GTS start button – PRESS MOMENTARILY. On DCS use the key

[RShift + Home].

Wait until GTS advisory light illuminates. Should occur within 20

seconds.

2. ENGINE switch – START momentarily (with a Right click).

Wait until READY advisory light illuminates, should happen within 15
seconds.

3. Throttle – Advance to IDLE WHEN RPM

BETWEEN 15 TO 20%, pressing the
[Home] key or clicking on the finger-lift. At
45% RPM the GTS light goes out and at
55% the READY light goes off.

a. Monitor engine instruments for normal

engine start while engine stabilizes at idle
with the OIL PRESS warning light out.

b. Advancing throttle to IDLE before READY advisory light

illuminates may cause damage to the engine from overheat.

c. Light-off must occur within 15 seconds after advancing throttle to

IDLE.

4. Voltmeter - CHECK (27 to 29 volts)

6. HUD – Set to ON
8. MFDs – Set to ON
9. UHF/VHF radios - ON
10. VOR/ILS - AS DESIRED
11. TACAN – ON

12. IFF – STANDBY (Not simulated)

13. OBOGS/ANTI-G switch – ON (Not Simulated)
7.7 POST-START:

1. Throttle - ADVANCE SLOWLY TO 70% RPM

Following start, do not advance the throttle rapidly before the bleed valve
closes, as there is a possibility that the engine will overheat. Once the
bleed valve is closed there are no restrictions on the rate of throttle
movement.

2. FUEL CONTR switch - MANUAL

MFUEL advisory light illuminates. Note engine RPM may decrease by up to

6 percent.

3. FUEL CONTR switch – NORMAL

M FUEL advisory light goes out and ensure previous RPM is achieved.

4. HYD 2 RESET button - PRESS

Check that HYD caution light goes out and
hydraulic pressure indicates in normal range

5. Hydraulic pressures - Check 3,000 PSI

6. Throttle – IDLE.

CHECK EGT AND RPM.

ENSURE BLEED VALVE CLOSED AND RPM ±2% IDLE RPM PER Chart:

NOTE
Bleed valve closure can be confirmed by noting
RPM increases approximately 3 percent and
EGT decreases by 50° C from previous
indications.

7. HUD - ON/SET BRIGHTNESS

8. MFDs - ON/SET BRIGHTNESS AND CONTRAST

9. Aircraft exceedance - CHECK

 MENU/BIT/MANT options - SELECT
 Verify no A/C exceedance

10. Alignment progress - CHECK

 MENU/DATA/ACFT options - SELECT
 Verify GPS is tracking four satellites and QUAL is decrementing (if
alignment completes QUAL will be removed and velocity vector
displayed)

11. CONTR AUG IBIT - PERFORM

12. Stabilator trim:

a. Pitch trim - CHECK BOTH DIRECTIONS (-3° to +8°)

b. STBY STAB TRIM switch – LIFT GUARD COVER AND CHECK NORMAL
TRIM STOPS. CHECK BOTH DIRECTIONS, CLOSE GUARD

c. Pitch trim - SET FOR TAKEOFF/CATAPULT

 Shore Take-Off: 2-3° Nose Up.
 Carrier: 3.5° Nose Up

13. Aileron trim - CHECK BOTH DIRECTIONS AND SET AT NEUTRAL

14. Rudder trim - CHECK BOTH DIRECTIONS AND SET AT NEUTRAL.

15. Standby attitude indicator - PUSH TO ERECT.

16. LAW (Low Altitude Warning) – SET. The LAW consists of a LAW
advisory displayed in the MFD advisory window, an audio warning tone,
and flashing of the LAW setting and option accompanied by a HUD warning
indication.
The LAW is initiated when the aircraft descends to or below the LAW
setting and continues until the aircraft ascends above the LAW level.

The LAW setting is controlled from the DEP (Data Entry Panel) by pressing
the LAW button.
When the button is pressed the scratchpads will be displayed, and the DEP
is enabled.
The current LAW setting
will be displayed in each
scratchpad with the LAW
identifier (LW).

The LAW setting can now

be entered using the DEP
data entry buttons. When
the setting is entered,
pressing the DEP ENT button will store the new setting in the DEU, update
the ADI LAW setting, and remove the scratchpads.
17. BINGO – SET. A BINGO advisory is displayed in the MFD advisory
windows when the fuel quantity is less than or equal to the BINGO setting.

The BINGO advisory is accompanied by

CAUTION being displayed on the HUD and by
flashing of the BINGO setting and BNGO option
legends. The
BINGO advisory and the HUD CAUTION will
remain displayed until rejected.

On power up, the BINGO setting defaults to

900 pounds with a minimum setting of 0
pounds and a maximum of 3,000 pounds. The
setting may be entered using either the ADI
display or the data entry panel (DEP) in 100
pound increments.

The BINGO setting is controlled from the DEP by pressing the BNGO
button. When the button is pressed the scratchpads will be displayed, and
the DEP is enabled.
The current BINGO setting will be displayed in each scratchpad proceeded
by the BINGO identifier (BF).

The BINGO setting can now be entered in 100 pound increments using the
DEP entry buttons. When the setting is entered, pressing the DEP ENT
button will store the new setting in the DEU, update the ADI BINGO
setting, and remove the scratchpads.
18. ADI display - COMPARE WITH STANDBY INSTRUMENTS.

19. BIT display - NOTE DEGD IFF, YDS and VCR display DEGD when set to
OFF or STBY.

20. Waypoints - PROGRAM

21. Navigation source - SET

22. OBOGS pneumatic BIT button – PRESS & Hold until OXYGEN warning
light illuminates. Ensure light goes out 1 minute after releasing button.
23. Oxygen mask - ON/CONFIRM FLOW
24. ANTI-G test button - PRESS
25. RADALT - BIT CHECK/SET
7.7.1 CHECK WITH PLANE CAPTAIN

1. Flight controls - FREE, FULL TRAVEL AND PROPER

MOVEMENT
2. Nose Wheel Steering – ENGAGE. On DCS, the NWS is always
engaged. The Flight Stick NWS button is used to select a higher
turn rate and must be held.
3. Speed brakes, flaps/slats, hook, and launch bar - EXTEND,
FULL/DOWN, DOWN, EXTEND
4. Check for the following –
 SP BRK advisory light - ON
 SP BRK FULL advisory light - ON
 Flaps HALF position light - OFF
 Flaps FULL position light - ON
 HOOK warning light - ON
 L BAR advisory light – ON

At this point, you can select external view with [F2] and confirm the
extended devices:

5. Speed brakes, flaps/slats, hook, and launch bar - RETRACT, 1/2 /

DOWN, UP, RETRACT
6. Check for the following indications –
 SP BRK advisory light - OFF
 SP BRK FULL advisory light - OFF
 Flaps HALF position light - ON
 Flaps FULL position light - OFF
 HOOK warning light - OFF WITHIN 6 SECONDS
 L BAR advisory light – OFF
- END OF COLD START -