AH-64D ApacheDCS WORLD Startup Checklist · 136 steps
AH-64D Apache
DCS WORLD - 0/136 STEPS
U.S. Army / Wikimedia CommonsPublic Domain
RotaryModern
AIRCRAFT BRIEF
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow is the world's most advanced attack helicopter, forming the backbone of U.S. Army aviation since the 1980s. The 'D' variant introduced the mast-mounted Longbow fire control radar, enabling crews to detect, classify, and engage targets in all weather conditions. Armed with Hellfire missiles, Hydra rockets, and a 30mm M230 chain gun, it has proven decisive in every major conflict from Desert Storm to Afghanistan.
RANGE VISUALIZER
SPECIFICATIONS
manufacturerBoeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas)
first Flight1975
roleAttack helicopter
crew2 (Pilot + CPG)
engines2x GE T700-GE-701D (2,000 shp each)
max Speed293 km/h (158 kts)
range476 km (257 nmi)
ceiling21,000 ft
weight10,433 kg (MTOW)
PHS 1 — Pre-Flight Planning8 steps
| 01 | Mission BriefNOTE: Review mission type, battle positions, engagement area, and threat environment. | REVIEWED | |
| 02 | Weather BriefingNOTE: Check departure, operating area, and recovery weather. Ceiling affects NOE operations. | REVIEWED | |
| 03 | NOTAMs / AirspaceNOTE: Check restricted areas, active fire support coordination measures, and airspace restrictions. | REVIEWED | |
| 04 | Fuel PlanningNOTE: Plan fuel for mission duration plus 20-minute reserve. Low-level ops increase fuel burn. | CALCULATED | |
| 05 | Weight & Balance / StoresCAUTION: Account for Hellfires, rockets, 30mm ammo, and fuel. CG shifts as ordnance is expended. | WITHIN LIMITS | |
| 06 | Performance PlanningNOTE: Check density altitude for hover performance. Max gross weight limited by conditions. | CHECKED | |
| 07 | Route / Battle PositionsNOTE: Review ingress/egress routes, battle positions, FARP locations, and alternate LZs. | REVIEWED | |
| 08 | Radio Frequencies / DatalinkNOTE: Set UHF/VHF/FM presets, IDM net, and Longbow datalink settings. Confirm IFF codes. | SET |
PHS 2 — Before Start (PLT)5 steps
| 01 | Power Lever (Both) | OFF | |
| 02 | Parking Brake | SET | |
| 03 | Master Zeroize Switch | OFF | |
| 04 | Battery SwitchNOTE: Left console - flip guard, switch to BATT. | ON | |
| 05 | Master Caution / Warning | CHECK - Acknowledge and reset |
PHS 3 — APU Start5 steps
| 01 | APU Button Guard | OPEN | |
| 02 | APU ButtonNOTE: APU takes ~30 seconds to spool up. | PRESS | |
| 03 | APUCAUTION: Wait for APU fully online before proceeding. | MONITOR - Wait for ON indication | |
| 04 | APU Generator | ON - Verify power available | |
| 05 | Utility Hydraulics | CHECK - Pressure indication |
PHS 4 — DMS / Data Setup6 steps
| 01 | MPD (Both) | ON - Displays power up | |
| 02 | KU (Keyboard Unit) | ON | |
| 03 | DMS SweepNOTE: Data Management System initializes avionics. Wait for completion. | RUN - Press TSD on MPD | |
| 04 | EUFD (Up Front Display) | CHECK - Verify no faults | |
| 05 | Preset Tuning | SET - UHF, VHF, FM frequencies | |
| 06 | IFF / Transponder | SET |
PHS 5 — IHADSS Boresight4 steps
| 01 | IHADSS PowerNOTE: Integrated Helmet And Display Sighting System. | ON | |
| 02 | HDU (Helmet Display Unit) | ON - Check monocle image | |
| 03 | Boresight ReticleNOTE: Use boresight adjust knobs. Cross-hairs on the boresight target. | ALIGN - Center on reference point | |
| 04 | IHADSS Boresight | CONFIRM - Image stable and centered |
PHS 6 — Engine Start9 steps
| 01 | Area ClearWARNING: Ensure ground personnel are clear of rotor arc. | CHECK - Clear all sides | |
| 02 | Engine 1 (Left) Power LeverNOTE: Move power lever from OFF to IDLE. | IDLE | |
| 03 | Engine 1 StartWARNING: TGT must not exceed 851°C during start. Abort if no rise within 30 sec. | MONITOR - Ng, TGT, oil pressure | |
| 04 | Engine 1 Idle | STABILIZE - Ng ~63%, TGT below 400°C | |
| 05 | Engine 2 (Right) Power Lever | IDLE | |
| 06 | Engine 2 Start | MONITOR - Ng, TGT, oil pressure | |
| 07 | Engine 2 Idle | STABILIZE - Ng ~63%, TGT below 400°C | |
| 08 | APUNOTE: Engines now provide electrical and hydraulic power. | OFF (after both engines stable) | |
| 09 | Rotor RPMNOTE: Rotor engages automatically. Wait for Nr 101%. | MONITOR - Nr comes to 101% |
PHS 7 — After Start / Systems9 steps
| 01 | Power Levers (Both)CAUTION: Advance to FLY detent only after Nr reaches 101%. | FLY | |
| 02 | Nr (Rotor RPM) | CHECK - 101% ±1% | |
| 03 | Engine InstrumentsNOTE: TGT, Ng, oil pressure and temperature. | CHECK - Both in limits | |
| 04 | Hydraulic Pressure | CHECK - Primary and utility | |
| 05 | Generator Switches | ON (Both) | |
| 06 | Stabilator | AUTO | |
| 07 | Flight ControlsNOTE: Move all controls to verify free and correct. | CHECK - Cyclic, collective, pedals full travel | |
| 08 | Trim | CHECK - Force trim ON | |
| 09 | FMC / Backup Channel | CHECK - No faults on EUFD |
PHS 8 — Navigation Setup6 steps
| 01 | EGI (GPS/INS)NOTE: Embedded GPS/INS alignment. Takes ~90 seconds. | ALIGN | |
| 02 | Doppler | ON | |
| 03 | TSD (Tactical Situation Display) | CHECK - Ownship position | |
| 04 | Waypoints / Route | ENTER or verify via KU | |
| 05 | RLGR / Radar Altimeter | ON - Set low alt warning | |
| 06 | Altimeter | SET - Field elevation / QNH |
PHS 9 — Weapons Setup (CPG)7 steps
| 01 | TADS PowerNOTE: Target Acquisition Designation Sight. | ON | |
| 02 | TADSNOTE: Verify TADS imagery on MPD. | CHECK - FLIR, DTV, Laser | |
| 03 | Laser Tracker | SET - Codes and LRFD | |
| 04 | FCR (Fire Control Radar)NOTE: Longbow radar - if equipped. | ON - via MMA page | |
| 05 | Weapons Page | CHECK - Rocket/missile/gun inventory | |
| 06 | Gun (M230)NOTE: 30mm chain gun - CPG has primary control. | SET - Burst limit, rate | |
| 07 | Master ArmNOTE: Keep safe until weapons employment required. | SAFE |
PHS 10 — Before Taxi5 steps
| 01 | Parking Brake | RELEASE | |
| 02 | NVS ModeNOTE: PNVS provides pilot FLIR image. | SET (if night ops) | |
| 03 | Anti-Collision Light | ON | |
| 04 | Position Lights | AS REQUIRED | |
| 05 | EUFD | CHECK - No faults |
PHS 11 — Hover / Taxi6 steps
| 01 | Area Clear | CHECK - Clear all sides | |
| 02 | CollectiveCAUTION: Monitor torque - do not exceed limits. | RAISE smoothly | |
| 03 | PedalsNOTE: Left pedal to counter main rotor torque. | MAINTAIN heading | |
| 04 | Hover Height | 5–10 ft AGL | |
| 05 | Engine Instruments | CHECK - Both engines matched | |
| 06 | Taxi Speed | WALKING PACE - Ground taxi or hover taxi |
PHS 12 — Before Takeoff6 steps
| 01 | Engine Instruments | CHECK - All green | |
| 02 | Fuel Quantity | CHECK - Adequate | |
| 03 | EUFD | CLEAR - No faults | |
| 04 | Radios | SET - Contact ATC | |
| 05 | Weapons | SAFE for takeoff | |
| 06 | TADS / PNVS | STOWED or as required |
PHS 13 — Takeoff6 steps
| 01 | Collective | INCREASE to climb power | |
| 02 | CyclicNOTE: Effective translational lift at ~16–24 kts. | FORWARD - Accelerate through ETL | |
| 03 | Pedals | COORDINATE - Maintain balanced flight | |
| 04 | Climb SpeedNOTE: Best climb speed for Apache. | 60–80 kts | |
| 05 | Climb Rate | 500–1,500 ft/min | |
| 06 | Torque | MONITOR - Stay within limits |
PHS 14 — Climb4 steps
| 01 | Airspeed | 60–80 kts Vy | |
| 02 | Engine Instruments | MONITOR - TGT, Ng, torque | |
| 03 | Altimeter | CHECK - Set QNH or STD | |
| 04 | Radar Altimeter | MONITOR |
PHS 15 — Cruise / Transit8 steps
| 01 | Altitude | AT assigned level | |
| 02 | AirspeedNOTE: Max VNE 197 kts. Normal cruise 120–140 kts. | 120–140 kts (cruise) | |
| 03 | Torque | CRUISE - Matched engines | |
| 04 | Fuel State | MONITOR - Check quantity and endurance | |
| 05 | Navigation (TSD) | CHECK - Waypoints, route | |
| 06 | Stabilator | CHECK AUTO - Proper response | |
| 07 | Radios / Comms | MONITOR | |
| 08 | TADS / FCR | AS REQUIRED for mission |
PHS 16 — Descent5 steps
| 01 | Airspeed | 100–120 kts descent | |
| 02 | CollectiveCAUTION: Avoid rapid collective reduction - may cause Nr droop. | REDUCE for descent | |
| 03 | Rate of Descent | 300–500 ft/min | |
| 04 | Altimeter | SET - Local QNH | |
| 05 | Landing Zone | IDENTIFY - Obstacles, wind, approach path |
PHS 17 — Approach6 steps
| 01 | Airspeed | REDUCE - Decelerate to 60–80 kts | |
| 02 | Approach Angle | MAINTAIN - Constant approach | |
| 03 | Collective | MANAGE - Control descent rate | |
| 04 | Landing Light | ON (if required) | |
| 05 | Decelerate | AFT CYCLIC - Reduce to hover speed | |
| 06 | Pedals | COORDINATE heading |
PHS 18 — Landing8 steps
| 01 | Hover | ESTABLISH at 5–10 ft AGL | |
| 02 | Landing Zone Clear | CHECK - Final scan | |
| 03 | Collective | SLOWLY LOWER | |
| 04 | Touchdown | WHEELS on ground - Level attitude | |
| 05 | Collective | FULL DOWN after stable | |
| 06 | Cyclic | NEUTRAL | |
| 07 | Pedals | NEUTRAL | |
| 08 | Parking Brake | SET |
PHS 19 — After Landing6 steps
| 01 | Master Arm | SAFE | |
| 02 | Weapons | SAFE all stations | |
| 03 | FCR | STBY | |
| 04 | TADS | STOW | |
| 05 | Landing Light | OFF | |
| 06 | Transponder | STBY |
PHS 20 — Shutdown17 steps
| 01 | Collective | FULL DOWN | |
| 02 | Power Levers (Both)NOTE: Allow 2-minute cool-down at idle. | IDLE | |
| 03 | TADS | OFF | |
| 04 | FCR | OFF | |
| 05 | IHADSS | OFF | |
| 06 | Radios | OFF | |
| 07 | Navigation / EGI | OFF | |
| 08 | Radar Altimeter | OFF | |
| 09 | Power Lever - Engine 1 | OFF | |
| 10 | Power Lever - Engine 2 | OFF | |
| 11 | Nr (Rotor RPM)WARNING: Stay clear of rotor arc until blades stop completely. | MONITOR - Wait for spool-down | |
| 12 | Generator Switches | OFF | |
| 13 | MPD (Both) | OFF | |
| 14 | KU | OFF | |
| 15 | Anti-Collision / Position Lights | OFF | |
| 16 | Battery Switch | OFF | |
| 17 | Parking Brake | SET |