Pre-Flight Iris Checklist
Ensure the Iris System is fully operational, recording, and SATCOM-ready before flight.
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1. Pre-Power Checks (Before Aircraft Power-Up)
**Verify SD Card Installed**
- Confirm the SD Card is present in the Dialer SD sled.
- Card should be fully seated and locked.
- If the SD card is missing, the system will not record FDM.
**Check Dialer is Securely Mounted & Visible**
- Ensure the Dialer faceplate is unobstructed so LED indicators are visible during startup.
2. System Boot-Up Observation (During Aircraft Startup / Aircraft Power)
When the Iris Dialer receives power:
**A. Bootup Sequence**
- Dialer displays “Outerlink FP Version” with firmware number.
- This screen normally displays for up to 60 seconds, sometimes longer.
- This is the standard boot process (similar to a PC BIOS screen).
- All four green LEDs illuminate simultaneously.
- This is part of the startup self-test.
- This does NOT indicate full operational status.
**B. Transition to Operational Screen**
- After boot completes, the Dialer transitions to the PTT Talkgroup screen.
- Displays configured talkgroups.
- This is the first point at which the LEDs reflect true system status.
- Do not evaluate LED status until this screen appears.
3. Post-Boot LED Verification (Critical Pre-Flight Step)
Once the PTT Talkgroup screen is visible, verify the four green LEDs:
**LED 1 – Satellite Network Connected**
- Status: Solid Green
- Confirms the ViaSat or Certus Iridium terminal is online.
- If not illuminated, SATCOM is unavailable.
**LED 2 – FDM Data Recording Active**
- Status: Solid Green
- Confirms the Iris Processor is recording flight data.
- If off, pull the Iris circuit breaker, wait 30 seconds, then reset and allow the system to fully boot again.
**LED 3 – Audio Recording Active**
- Status: Solid Green
- Confirms cockpit/crew audio channels are recording.
**LED 4 – Video Recording Active**
- Status: Solid Green
- Confirms camera feed is being captured and stored.
If any LED does not illuminate, refer to your organization’s operational policy regarding continued flight with a partially or non-functioning system.
4. SATCOM/PTT & Tracking Verification
- Confirm the selected PTT Talkgroup appears correctly.
- Rotate the knob to verify the Iris Dialer is responsive and not in a frozen state.
- Make an initial SATCOM transmission (Send/Receive).
- Request that Dispatch or the Comm Center confirm the aircraft is tracking in AXIS.
5. Red Flag Conditions
The system may not be fully operational if any of these are true:
- SD Card is missing.
- LED 2 (FDM recording) is not illuminated after boot.
- Dialer is stuck on the firmware splash screen (“FP Version …”).
- PTT Talkgroup screen never appears.
- Any LED is flickering or intermittently dropping out.
These indicate likely issues with:
- SD card failure.
- Processor boot failure.
- Network terminal offline.
- Cabling/Ethernet issues.
- Incomplete boot sequence.
6. Quick Reference Summary (Pilot 10-Second Check)
Once the PTT screen is displayed, confirm:
- “SD Card in.”
- “Four green lights on.”
- “Talkgroups displayed.”