Flight Training Lesson Plans

Overview

The purpose of this exercise is to learn the effects of the controls when operated independently in flight. This exercise is the foundation of learning to control the aircraft. Lessons you learn here will prove invaluable at later stages of your training.

In the background briefing you will find reference to aerodynamic principles such as lift, drag, thrust, etc. These terms and principles are described only in basic detail in this exercise, but are expanded upon in the following exercises as your knowledge develops.

The exercise may be split into more than one flight, and elements of it will recur and may be revised in later flight exercises. As at all other times, tell your instructor right away if you do not understand a certain point, or would like to see another demonstration.

Background Briefing Topics

• Flying Lesson Format
• The Planes and Axes of Movement
• The Function and Initial Effect of the Three Primary Flying Controls
• The Further Effects of the Three Primary Flying Controls
• The Effect of Differing Airspeeds
• The Effect of Propeller Slipstream
• The Effect of Differing Power Settings
• The Trimming Controls
• The Flaps
• Carburetor Heat
• Mixture
• Cockpit Heating and Ventilation
• Other Controls

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• Purpose
• Airmanship
• The initial effect of elevator
• The initial effect of aileron
• The initial effect of rudder
• The further effect of aileron
• The further effect of rudder
• The effect of differing airspeed
• The effect of propeller slipstream
• The effect of differing power settings
• The effect of flaps
• The effect of elevator trim

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Flying Lesson Format

Typically a lesson covers one or more flight exercises and follows this format:

Background Briefing

Self-study from a textbook or course notes before the flight. Some flight schools may also give group briefings and lectures.

Pre-Flight Briefing

At the flight school immediately before the flight, your instructor will brief you on the air exercise and answer any questions.

In Flight

Your instructor will fly each maneuver as described in the pre-flight briefing. Then you fly the maneuver under the guidance of your instructor.

After Flight Debrief

A short discussion where your instructor reviews the flight, the progress you have made, and any particular points to concentrate on. The instructor will tell you the next exercise to be flown so you can cover the background briefing in advance.

The Planes and Axes of Movement

An aircraft operates in three dimensions, and each of the three primary flight controls moves the aircraft in one of these planes. The axes are fixed relative to the aircraft, not the horizon — for example, regardless of the aircraft's attitude, the elevator controls pitch as the pilot perceives it.

The Function and Initial Effect of the Three Primary Flight Controls

Each control surface works by altering the airflow around it. The movement of the aircraft around an axis is governed by how quickly and how far the control is moved. Each control surface is located some distance from the center of gravity (CG) — for practical purposes, assume the CG is about where the pilot is sitting. The distance between the control surface and the CG provides leverage and enhances its effect.

Elevator — Pitch Control

The elevator (or stabilator) controls the aircraft in pitch. When the control column is moved back, the elevator moves up, creating a downward force at the tail. The aircraft pivots around the CG and pitches nose-up. The aircraft continues to pitch nose-up until the control column returns to the neutral position.

When the control column is moved forward, the elevator moves down, creating an upward force at the tail. The aircraft pivots around the CG and pitches nose-down, continuing until the control column is neutralized.

Ailerons — Roll Control

The ailerons control the aircraft in roll. When the control column is moved to the left, the left aileron moves up and the right aileron moves down. These deflections alter the lift produced by each wing — the left wing now produces less lift than the right wing. This imbalance causes the aircraft to roll to the left. The aircraft continues to roll until the control column is centralized.

When the control column is moved to the right, the aileron movements reverse, the lift imbalance reverses, and the aircraft rolls to the right.

Rudder — Yaw Control

The rudder controls the aircraft in yaw. When the left rudder pedal is pressed, the rudder deflects to the left, creating a lift force at the fin acting to the right. The aircraft pivots around the CG and yaws to the left. When the rudder pedals are centralized, the yaw stops.

When the right rudder pedal is pressed, the rudder moves to the right, creating a lift force acting to the left, and the aircraft yaws to the right as long as the rudder is held.

Even a light aircraft has some inertia, so movement about an axis is not instant when a control is moved. In larger, heavier aircraft, the effect of inertia can be quite pronounced and the pilot must allow time for a control movement to take effect.

The Further Effects of the Three Primary Flight Controls

In the flight exercise, only the further effects of the aileron and rudder are demonstrated. The elevator's further effect — that pitching nose-up decreases airspeed and pitching nose-down increases airspeed — is debatable as a "further effect."

Further Effect of Aileron → Yaw

When the aircraft is rolled to a banked attitude using the ailerons and the ailerons are then centralized, the aircraft tends to slip "downhill" toward the lower wing. As the aircraft slips, the airflow strikes the fin from one side, creating a lift force. The aircraft pivots around its CG and yaws toward the lower wing — even though no rudder has been applied.

So: the initial effect of aileron is roll; the further effect is yaw.

If the roll and yaw are left unchecked, the aircraft will begin a gradually steepening spiral descent — with increasing roll, increasing airspeed, and loss of altitude. However, this spiral descent is easy to correct, as you will discover during the flight exercise.

Further Effect of Rudder → Roll

While the aircraft yaws, it is effectively skidding through the air. The wing on the outside of the skid has a faster airflow, producing more lift. The inner wing has slower airflow, producing less lift. This lift imbalance causes the aircraft to roll in the same direction as it is yawing — even though no aileron has been applied.

So: the initial effect of rudder is yaw; the further effect is roll.

The Effect of Differing Airspeeds

The flying controls function by altering the airflow at their location. At different airflow speeds, the effectiveness and feel of the controls changes:

• Fast airspeed: Controls are very effective — only small movements are needed.
• Slow airspeed: Controls are much less effective — larger movements are needed.

The "feel" of the flying controls becomes an important cue to the pilot. Once familiar with control feel at normal cruising airspeed, you should be able to sense from the controls if the aircraft is flying significantly faster or slower.

The Effect of Propeller Slipstream

The propeller generates a slipstream — a tube of faster-moving air surrounding the fuselage behind the propeller. Most training aircraft have a fixed-pitch propeller rotating at the same speed as the engine:

• High power settings: Increased slipstream and airflow speed behind the propeller.
• Low power settings: Decreased slipstream and airflow speed.

Any flight controls inside the slipstream are affected by these varying speeds, just as they are affected by differing airspeeds. Usually the elevator/stabilator and rudder are affected. The ailerons, out at the wingtips, are outside the slipstream.

The Effect of Differing Power Settings

The aircraft is designed to be stable at its normal cruise airspeed and power setting. At any other power setting, there are associated pitch and yaw forces.

Pitch Effect

On most light aircraft, the thrust line is lower than the drag line. When power is increased, the stronger thrust/drag couple pitches the aircraft nose-up. When power is reduced, the aircraft pitches nose-down. The pitching movement is aided by the change in airflow over the tailplane.

Yaw Effect

On most modern light aircraft, the propeller rotates clockwise as seen from the cockpit. The helix of the propeller slipstream curves around the fuselage and strikes the fin on its left side, creating a yaw tendency to the left.

Some aircraft compensate with an offset fin or engine. This counterforce is calibrated for cruise power:

• Power increased above cruise: The counterforce is overcome → aircraft yaws left.
• Power reduced below cruise: The counterforce overcompensates → aircraft yaws right.

The Trimming Controls

In different flight conditions, there are varying loads on the flight controls, particularly the elevator/stabilator and rudder. To relieve the physical workload, the elevator is fitted with a trimmer. Some aircraft also have a rudder trimmer.

The elevator trimmer usually takes the form of a small trim tab on the trailing edge of the elevator. When a constant pull or push force is needed to hold the elevator in position, the cockpit trim control adjusts the tab to maintain the elevator position aerodynamically — so no pressure is required from the pilot. Some aircraft use a spring in the elevator control cable pattern instead of a trim tab, but the effect is the same.

The Flaps

Flaps are fitted to the trailing edge of the wings and operated manually or electrically from a switch or lever in the cockpit. When lowered, they change the wing's shape and the airflow around it:

When flaps are lowered, the aircraft will pitch nose-up or nose-down depending on the aircraft type. In either case, airspeed reduces due to increased drag.

Carburetor Heat

Most training aircraft engines use a carburetor to supply the fuel/air mixture. If ice forms inside the carburetor — which can happen over a very wide range of temperatures and conditions — engine power will be reduced.

The carburetor heat control routes hot air through the carburetor, melting any ice present. When operated, expect a small reduction in power and possibly slight engine roughness if ice has melted.

Usage Procedure

1. The carburetor heat control is normally left in the fully cold position.
2. Apply carburetor heat approximately every 10 minutes by moving the control to fully hot.
3. Hold for at least 5–10 seconds, then return to cold.
4. If RPM returns higher than before, carburetor ice was present — recheck more frequently.

Mixture

In many training aircraft, the fuel-air mixture is controlled by a red lever or knob next to the throttle — the mixture control.

• Low altitudes: Operate with mixture fully rich (control fully forward or fully in).
• High altitudes: Reduced air density means less fuel is needed — the mixture needs to be leaned by moving the control back or out.

Leaning Procedure (Fixed-Pitch Propeller)

1. Slowly move the mixture control back (lean).
2. Watch for an initial RPM increase.
3. RPM will peak, then decrease as you lean further.
4. Enrich (move forward) slightly until RPM is on the rich side of peak.
5. Reset mixture for any change in power or altitude.

Cockpit Heating and Ventilation

Your instructor will show you the location and use of heating and ventilation controls. Keep the cockpit at a comfortable temperature — if you're not comfortable, your concentration suffers and flying becomes harder than it needs to be.

Flight Exercise

Purpose

To learn the effects of the controls when operated independently in flight.

Airmanship

What is airmanship? Airmanship is the common-sense element of flying, but also the quality that differentiates a pilot from an airplane driver. More than anything else, airmanship is about awareness — being aware of what is happening inside and outside the aircraft. Airmanship is best learned by example. Watch your instructor and you will learn more about airmanship than any textbook can teach.

Handing Over / Taking Over Control

During your early flying lessons, control of the aircraft will be transferred between yourself and the instructor many times. It is essential to avoid confusion over who is actually flying the aircraft. Follow this set routine:

Following Through

When your instructor is demonstrating an exercise, they may ask you to "follow through." This means you should place your hands and feet lightly on the controls so you can feel the control movements your instructor makes — without moving the controls yourself.

Lookout

Develop the habit now of looking outside the aircraft as much as possible at all times. This will help you:

• Look out for other aircraft
• Maintain awareness of your location
• Monitor changing weather
• Make your flying smoother and easier

If you see another aircraft, point it out to your instructor immediately.

Flight Exercise Sequence

During the flight, your instructor will demonstrate each of the following. You will then practice each one yourself:

Initial Effects

1. Elevator: Move the control column forward and back. Observe pitch changes.
2. Aileron: Move the control column left and right. Observe roll.
3. Rudder: Press left and right rudder pedals. Observe yaw.

Further Effects

4. Further effect of aileron: Roll to a banked attitude, centralize ailerons, and observe the aircraft yaw toward the lower wing.
5. Further effect of rudder: Apply sustained rudder and observe the resulting roll.

Other Effects

6. Differing airspeed: Feel control effectiveness at different speeds.
7. Propeller slipstream: Observe control feel changes with power changes.
8. Differing power settings: Note pitch and yaw changes when power is added or reduced.
9. Flaps: Observe pitch and airspeed changes when flaps are extended and retracted.
10. Elevator trim: Practice trimming to relieve control pressure.

Radio Practice

Traffic Pattern Announcement — KFDK

Airport: Frederick Municipal (KFDK)

Position: Crosswind leg, RWY 30

Frequency: CTAF 122.725

Airport Type: Uncontrolled

You are in N106ST and have taken off from Frederick Municipal's Runway 30 to practice touch-and-goes. You enter the crosswind leg and need to announce your position. Runway 30 has a left-hand traffic pattern. Tune the CTAF and make the announcement.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Ramp Start: Begin cold and dark at KFRG, KMMU, or KHPN. Use checklist to start engine and avionics.
2. Systems Demo: Learn the basics of power, radios, engine management, and flap settings.
3. Taxi Practice: Taxi using rudder pedals and brakes. Practice stopping and holding short of runway.
4. Takeoff and Climb: Use smooth power application, maintain heading with rudder, climb to 4,000 feet.
5. Flight Controls: Gentle turns, level flight, use of trim and flap basics.
6. Descent and Approach: Practice a glide descent to a target point (visual only, no instruments).

Overview

In this lesson you will learn how to transition from level flight into a climb, maintain the climb at a specified airspeed, and level off smoothly at your target altitude. You will also explore the factors that affect climb performance — including weight, altitude, wind, and flap configuration — and learn when to select the appropriate climb technique for the situation.

Background Briefing Topics

• Forces in the Climb
• Best Rate of Climb Airspeed (Vy)
• Best Angle of Climb Airspeed (Vx)
• Cruise Climb
• Effect of Flap
• Effect of Altitude
• Effect of Weight
• Effect of Wind
• Engine Considerations

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• Purpose
• Airmanship
• Entering the Climb
• Maintaining the Climb
• Leveling Off
• Effect of Flap
• Best Angle of Climb
• Cruise Climb

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Forces in the Climb

In a steady climb, the four forces acting on the airplane are no longer in simple horizontal and vertical equilibrium as they are in level flight. When the flight path is inclined upward, a component of the airplane's weight acts rearward along the flight path — effectively adding to drag.

This means that in a climb, thrust must overcome both drag and the rearward component of weight acting along the climb path. The steeper the climb angle, the larger this weight component becomes, and the more thrust (and therefore power) is required to maintain airspeed.

Best Rate of Climb Airspeed (V_y)

V_y is the airspeed that delivers the maximum excess power — the greatest difference between power available and power required. Flying at V_y gives you the maximum height gain in a given amount of time.

V_y is used for normal climb operations when there are no obstacles to clear and you want to reach your cruising altitude efficiently. It provides a good balance between climb rate and forward visibility over the nose.

Best Angle of Climb Airspeed (V_x)

V_x is the airspeed that provides the maximum excess thrust over drag — or equivalently, the steepest climb angle and the greatest height gain per unit of horizontal distance traveled.

V_x is slower than V_y. You use it when you need to clear an obstacle after takeoff — for example, trees, buildings, or rising terrain close to the departure end of the runway. Because the airspeed is lower, the nose attitude is higher, and forward visibility is reduced.

Cruise Climb

A cruise climb is performed at an airspeed higher than V_y. While the rate of climb is reduced compared to a V_y climb, the cruise climb offers several practical advantages:

• Better forward visibility over the nose
• Improved engine cooling from greater airflow
• More comfortable for passengers
• Greater ground speed, covering more distance during the climb

Cruise climb is commonly used for cross-country flight when terrain and traffic permit a more relaxed climb profile.

Effect of Flap

Extending flaps increases both lift and drag. In a climb, the extra drag is the dominant effect — it reduces the excess power available, which in turn reduces the rate of climb.

However, a small amount of initial flap (typically the first notch) can actually improve the climb gradient at low speeds. This is because flap increases the wing's coefficient of lift, allowing the airplane to fly at a slower speed while maintaining a steeper flight path angle. This is useful for short-field takeoffs where obstacle clearance is the priority.

Effect of Altitude

As altitude increases, air density decreases. A normally aspirated (non-turbocharged) engine produces less power in thinner air because each intake stroke draws in fewer air molecules for combustion.

At the same time, the airplane requires a higher true airspeed to generate the same lift, which increases drag. The net result is a progressive reduction in excess power — and therefore climb performance — as you ascend.

Service Ceiling

The altitude at which the maximum rate of climb drops to 100 feet per minute. Above this altitude, climbing becomes impractical for normal operations.

Absolute Ceiling

The altitude at which the rate of climb drops to zero. The airplane can neither climb nor maintain altitude above this point.

Effect of Weight

Increased weight degrades climb performance in two ways:

• The rearward component of weight along the flight path is larger, requiring more thrust to overcome.
• The airplane must fly at a higher airspeed to generate sufficient lift, which increases the power required for level flight and reduces excess power.

A heavier airplane will have a lower rate of climb, a shallower climb angle, and will require a slightly faster V_y and V_x airspeed. This is particularly important for takeoff performance calculations on hot days at high-altitude airports.

Effect of Wind

Wind affects the airplane's climb gradient over the ground but does not change the rate of climb (vertical speed).

• Headwind: Improves the climb gradient over the ground — you gain more altitude per unit of ground distance traveled. This is beneficial for obstacle clearance.
• Tailwind: Worsens the climb gradient over the ground — you cover more ground distance for the same altitude gain. This makes obstacle clearance more difficult.

Remember: the rate of climb shown on the vertical speed indicator is the same regardless of wind, because the airplane climbs through the air mass. Wind only changes your track over the ground.

Engine Considerations

During a climb, the engine is working harder than in cruise flight — typically at or near full power. At the same time, the lower airspeed means reduced cooling airflow over the engine. This combination demands careful monitoring:

• Oil temperature and pressure: Monitor for normal ranges. High oil temps can indicate inadequate cooling.
• Cylinder head temperature (CHT): Keep within limits. If CHT climbs too high, increase airspeed or reduce power.
• Mixture: At higher altitudes, the mixture may need to be leaned for best power and to prevent spark plug fouling.
• Carburetor heat: Typically not used during full-power climb as it reduces power output and the high engine heat naturally prevents carburetor icing.

Flight Exercise

Purpose

To climb at a specified airspeed, in various configurations, and to level off at a specified altitude.

Airmanship

Good airmanship during the climb requires constant vigilance and awareness of several factors:

• Lookout: The nose-high attitude in a climb restricts forward visibility. Weave the nose gently left and right every 500 feet of altitude gain, or dip the nose periodically, to check for traffic ahead and above.
• Engine monitoring: Keep a regular scan of engine temperatures and pressures. The combination of high power and reduced cooling airflow makes the climb a demanding phase for the engine.
• V_FE awareness: If any flap is extended, be aware of the maximum flap extended speed and ensure you do not exceed it during the climb or subsequent acceleration.
• Altimeter awareness: Monitor your altitude continuously so you can begin the level-off procedure at the correct anticipation point.

Entering the Climb

The transition from level flight to a climb follows the Power-Attitude-Trim sequence:

1. POWER: Smoothly apply full power (or the recommended climb power setting). Check the engine instruments respond normally.
2. ATTITUDE: Simultaneously raise the nose to the climb attitude. Use the horizon as your primary pitch reference — the attitude that gives you the target climb airspeed (V_y for a normal climb).
3. TRIM: Once the airspeed has stabilized at the target value, trim away the control pressure. This reduces your workload and allows you to hold the climb attitude with minimal effort.

As power is applied, the airplane will yaw to the left due to engine torque effects. Apply right rudder pressure to maintain coordinated flight — check the ball remains centered.

Maintaining the Climb

Once established in the climb, your priorities are:

• Airspeed control via attitude: If the airspeed is too high, raise the nose slightly. If too low, lower it. Small corrections are key.
• Wings level: Use the attitude indicator and external references to keep wings level. Any bank reduces the vertical component of lift and degrades climb performance.
• Balanced flight: Keep the ball centered with rudder pressure. Uncoordinated flight creates additional drag and reduces climb efficiency.
• Engine monitoring: Regularly scan CHT, oil temperature, and oil pressure. If temperatures approach limits, consider transitioning to a cruise climb for better cooling.
• Altimeter scan: Include the altimeter in your scan to know when to begin the level-off.

Leveling Off

The transition from a climb to level flight follows the Attitude-Power-Trim sequence. Begin the level-off by anticipating your target altitude:

1. ATTITUDE: Smoothly lower the nose to the level flight attitude as you approach the target altitude.
2. POWER: As the airspeed accelerates toward cruise speed, reduce power to the cruise setting.
3. TRIM: Once airspeed and altitude have stabilized, trim to relieve any control pressure.

Allow the airplane to accelerate in level flight before reducing power. This technique ensures a smooth transition and avoids altitude go-around.

Effect of Flap

Climbing with flap extended (for example, after a short-field takeoff) results in:

• A lower rate of climb due to increased drag
• A lower nose attitude for the same airspeed (more lift at a given angle of attack)
• A need to retract flaps incrementally once at a safe altitude and airspeed, following the POH procedure

When retracting flaps during the climb, do so in stages. Each stage of flap retraction will momentarily reduce lift, so anticipate a slight sink and compensate with a small pitch increase.

Best Angle of Climb (V_x)

When obstacle clearance is required — such as departing a short field with trees at the far end — fly at V_x to achieve the steepest climb path:

• The airspeed is slower than V_y, requiring more precise attitude control
• The nose attitude is higher, further reducing forward visibility
• Stall margin is reduced — maintain airspeed vigilantly
• Engine cooling is reduced — transition to V_y as soon as obstacles are cleared

Cruise Climb

The cruise climb uses an airspeed higher than V_y — typically near cruise airspeed with climb power set. The technique is straightforward:

• Nose attitude is only slightly higher than level flight — providing excellent forward visibility
• Cruise airspeed (or near it) is maintained, giving better engine cooling
• Rate of climb is reduced, but the relaxed pitch attitude makes for a comfortable, sustainable climb
• Ground speed is higher, making this technique ideal for cross-country flights where obstacle clearance is not a concern

Use the cruise climb when traffic, terrain, and ATC permit a more gradual ascent to your cruising altitude.

Radio Practice

Ready for Takeoff — KMFD

Airport: Mansfield Lahm Municipal (KMFD)

Position: Run-up area, RWY 14

Frequency: Tower 118.9

Airspace: Class D (Towered)

You are in N106ST, stopped in the run-up area adjacent to Runway 14 at Mansfield Lahm Municipal. You've finished your pre-takeoff checklist and are ready to depart. Contact the tower.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Systems Brief: Cockpit flow walk-through (engine, magnetos, avionics, fuel selector, battery)
2. Checklist Review: Emphasis on before-start, run-up, and takeoff flow items
3. Performance Takeoffs: Simulate heavy/short-field takeoff conditions using available data
4. Climb and Turn: Focus on Vy, pitch control, and maintaining visual situational awareness
5. Return to Airport: Fly a pattern back to the airport with proper radio callouts (simulated)

Overview

Straight and level flight is the condition in which an airplane maintains a constant altitude and a constant direction at a specified airspeed. It sounds simple, but achieving precise, coordinated straight and level flight requires a solid understanding of the forces acting on the airplane and an active scan both inside and outside the cockpit.

Background Briefing Topics

• The Four Forces
• Lift and Factors Affecting Lift
• Drag — Parasite and Induced
• Stability in Pitch
• Stability in Roll
• Stability in Yaw
• Power + Attitude = Performance
• Slow Safe Cruise
• Maximum Range Airspeed
• Maximum Endurance Airspeed
• Flight at Critically High Airspeed

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• Purpose
• Airmanship
• Collision Avoidance
• Maintaining Constant Level
• Maintaining Constant Direction
• Maintaining Balanced Flight
• Increased Airspeed
• Decreased Airspeed
• Slow Safe Cruise
• Lookout Supplement

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

The Four Forces

Four forces act on an airplane in flight:

Weight

Acts vertically downward through the center of gravity (CG). It is the force of gravity on the airplane and everything in it.

Lift

Acts perpendicular to the relative wind, generated primarily by the wings. In level flight, lift acts upward to oppose weight.

Thrust

The forward force produced by the engine and propeller. It accelerates the airplane and opposes drag.

Drag

The rearward resistance of the airplane moving through the air. It opposes thrust and acts parallel to the relative wind.

Equilibrium in Straight and Level Flight

For an airplane to maintain straight and level unaccelerated flight, the four forces must be in equilibrium:

• Lift = Weight — the airplane neither climbs nor descends.
• Thrust = Drag — the airplane neither accelerates nor decelerates.

If any force changes without a compensating adjustment, the airplane will depart from its straight and level condition. Your job as a pilot is to detect and correct these deviations promptly.

Lift and Factors Affecting Lift

Lift is generated when air flows over the wing, creating lower pressure on the upper surface and higher pressure on the lower surface. Two primary factors under the pilot's control affect the amount of lift produced:

Angle of Attack (AoA)

The angle of attack is the angle between the wing's chord line and the relative wind. Increasing the angle of attack increases lift — up to a point.

• In normal cruise flight, the angle of attack is approximately 4 degrees.
• As AoA increases, lift increases — until the critical angle of attack is reached (approximately 14-16 degrees for most light airplanes).
• Beyond the critical angle, airflow separates from the upper wing surface and lift decreases rapidly — this is a stall.

Airspeed

Lift increases with the square of airspeed. Double the airspeed and lift increases four times (all else being equal). This is why at higher speeds, only a small angle of attack is needed to support the airplane's weight, and at lower speeds, a greater angle of attack is required.

Drag

Drag is the total aerodynamic resistance opposing the airplane's motion through the air. It has two main components:

Parasite Drag

Parasite drag is caused by the airplane's shape, surface friction, and any protrusions (antennas, landing gear, etc.) moving through the air. It increases with the square of airspeed — double the speed, four times the parasite drag.

Induced Drag

Induced drag is a byproduct of lift production. The wing tip vortices and downwash create this rearward component of the lift force. Induced drag is greatest at slow speeds and high angles of attack — exactly when the wing is working hardest to produce lift.

Total Drag Curve

When you plot parasite drag and induced drag together against airspeed, you get the total drag curve:

• At low speeds: induced drag dominates (high AoA needed for lift).
• At high speeds: parasite drag dominates (airframe resistance).
• The minimum point on the total drag curve represents the speed at which total drag is lowest — this is significant for range and endurance.

Stability in Pitch

An airplane is designed to be longitudinally stable — meaning that if disturbed in pitch, it tends to return to its original attitude without pilot input.

How It Works

The center of gravity (CG) is positioned ahead of the center of lift (also called the center of pressure). This creates a natural nose-down pitching tendency. The horizontal stabilizer (tailplane) produces a downward force to balance this couple and maintain the desired pitch attitude.

Effect of CG Position

• Forward CG: More stable, but requires more tail-down force and more back pressure/trim. Harder to maneuver and slightly less efficient (the tail down-force means the wing must produce more lift than the airplane's weight).
• Aft CG: Less stable, lighter control forces, potentially unstable. If the CG moves behind the aft limit, the airplane may become uncontrollable in pitch.

Stability in Roll

Most training airplanes have positive lateral stability — if a wing drops, the airplane tends to return to wings-level without pilot input. The primary design feature providing this stability is wing dihedral.

How Dihedral Works

Dihedral is the upward angle of the wings as viewed from the front of the airplane. When a wing drops and the airplane begins to sideslip:

1. The lower wing meets the relative airflow at a higher angle of attack.
2. The higher wing meets it at a lower angle of attack.
3. The lower wing produces more lift, rolling the airplane back toward level.

This self-correcting tendency is why you can momentarily release the controls and the airplane will tend to return to wings-level (assuming it is properly trimmed and in smooth air).

Stability in Yaw

The vertical stabilizer (fin) provides directional stability. If the airplane yaws — for example, due to a gust — the fin is presented to the airflow at an angle. This creates a sideways aerodynamic force on the fin that weathercocks the airplane back into alignment with the relative wind, like a weather vane.

The larger the fin area and the farther it is behind the CG, the stronger this stabilizing effect.

Power + Attitude = Performance

This is one of the most important concepts in early flight training:

In straight and level flight, the sequence is always Power — Attitude — Trim (P-A-T):

1. Power: Set the desired power for the airspeed/configuration you want.
2. Attitude: Adjust the pitch attitude to maintain altitude at the new power setting.
3. Trim: Trim away the control pressure so you can fly hands-off in the new configuration.

This sequence applies to every transition between flight configurations — it is worth committing to memory immediately.

Slow Safe Cruise

Slow safe cruise is a reduced-speed configuration useful when you need more time to assess your situation — for example, when temporarily lost or encountering deteriorating weather.

• Reduce power to a lower cruise setting.
• Once airspeed is below V_FE (maximum flap extended speed), deploy the first stage of flap.
• Adjust pitch attitude (nose slightly lower than clean cruise) to maintain altitude.
• Trim for the new configuration.

The result is a lower groundspeed, giving you more time to navigate, check charts, and make decisions — while remaining in a safe, stable flight condition.

Maximum Range Airspeed

The maximum range airspeed gives you the greatest distance per unit of fuel burned. It occurs at the speed where the ratio of speed to drag is highest — slightly above the minimum drag speed (L/D max).

• Useful for long cross-country flights or when fuel is a concern.
• Found in the POH performance tables for your airplane.
• Typically close to the best glide speed (since both relate to minimum drag).

Maximum Endurance Airspeed

The maximum endurance airspeed allows you to remain airborne for the longest time on a given fuel load. It occurs at the speed requiring minimum power — slightly below the minimum drag speed.

• Useful when you need to hold or orbit (e.g., waiting for weather to clear at your destination).
• Lower than maximum range speed.
• The airplane is flying "on the back side of the power curve" — be aware that at speeds below this, maintaining altitude requires more power, not less.

Flight at Critically High Airspeed

The airspeed indicator has colored arcs that define operating limits:

Maneuvering Speed (V_A)

V_A (maneuvering speed) is the maximum speed at which you may apply full, abrupt control deflection without risking structural damage. Above V_A, aggressive control inputs can overstress the airframe.

• V_A decreases with lighter weight (lighter airplane stalls sooner, limiting the load factor).
• Above V_NO (top of green arc), fly in smooth air only and avoid abrupt control inputs.
• Never intentionally exceed V_NE (red line) under any circumstance.

Flight Exercise

Purpose

To fly at a constant altitude, in a constant direction, at a specified airspeed, in balance. This is the baseline flight condition from which all maneuvers begin and to which they return.

Airmanship

• V_FE awareness: Always know the maximum flap extension speed before selecting flap. In the Cessna 172S, V_FE is 110 KIAS (10 degrees) and 85 KIAS (full flap). Exceeding V_FE with flaps extended risks structural damage to the flap mechanism.
• Location awareness: Begin developing your mental map of the local training area. Note landmarks, town boundaries, and the relationship of your position to the airport.
• Lookout discipline: Maintain a continuous scan outside the cockpit. Instruments confirm what you see outside — not the other way around.

Collision Avoidance

Understanding right-of-way rules is essential for safe flight. The FAA rules (14 CFR 91.113) establish priorities:

Right-of-Way Priority (Descending)

1. Aircraft in distress
2. Balloons
3. Gliders
4. Airships
5. Aircraft towing other aircraft or objects
6. Powered aircraft

Collision Avoidance Rules

Head-on approach

Both aircraft alter course to the right.

Converging

The aircraft with the other on its right gives way. (The aircraft on the right has the right of way.)

Overtaking

The overtaking aircraft alters course to the right to pass well clear.

Maintaining Constant Level

The sequence is always Power — Attitude — Trim:

1. Set power for the desired cruise configuration.
2. Set attitude — position the nose on the natural horizon to maintain altitude. The horizon reference is your primary level-flight cue.
3. Trim — remove control pressure so the airplane holds attitude without continuous input.

Cross-check the altimeter and airspeed indicator periodically to confirm your outside references are accurate. If the altimeter shows a deviation:

• Small correction: adjust pitch attitude slightly, allow airspeed to stabilize, re-trim.
• Larger correction (more than 100 ft): consider a brief power adjustment along with attitude change.

Maintaining Constant Direction

To fly a constant heading:

1. Wings level: Use the ailerons to keep wings level. A wing-low attitude causes a turn.
2. Distant reference point: Select a landmark on the horizon ahead and fly toward it. This gives an immediate visual cue if you are drifting off heading.
3. Heading indicator: Cross-check the heading indicator (or HSI on the G1000) periodically. If the heading changes, level the wings and correct back to the desired heading.

Remember that the heading indicator precesses over time and should be realigned with the magnetic compass every 15 minutes during straight and level flight.

Maintaining Balanced Flight

The airplane is in balance (coordinated flight) when the balance ball (inclinometer) is centered. The rule is simple:

Uncoordinated flight is inefficient (it increases drag), uncomfortable for passengers, and at slow speeds can lead to a spin entry. Keep the ball centered at all times.

Transitioning to a Higher Airspeed

To increase airspeed while maintaining altitude:

1. Power: Increase power smoothly to the setting for your target airspeed.
2. Attitude: As the airplane accelerates, it will tend to climb. Progressively lower the nose attitude to maintain altitude. The nose position on the horizon will be slightly lower than at the previous (slower) cruise speed.
3. Trim: Once stabilized at the new airspeed and altitude, trim forward to relieve control pressure.

Allow the airplane time to accelerate and stabilize — do not chase the instruments with constant adjustments.

Transitioning to a Lower Airspeed

To decrease airspeed while maintaining altitude:

1. Power: Reduce power smoothly to the setting for your target airspeed.
2. Attitude: As the airplane decelerates, it will tend to descend. Progressively raise the nose attitude to maintain altitude. The nose position on the horizon will be slightly higher than at the previous (faster) cruise speed.
3. Trim: Once stabilized at the new airspeed and altitude, trim aft to relieve control pressure.

Slow Safe Cruise

When you need to reduce groundspeed for better situational awareness (e.g., uncertain of position, marginal weather):

1. Reduce power to a lower cruise setting.
2. Allow the airplane to decelerate. Raise the nose slightly to maintain altitude.
3. Below V_FE: Select the first stage of flap (10 degrees).
4. Adjust attitude: The flap will cause a pitch-up and some drag increase. Lower the nose slightly to maintain altitude and the desired reduced airspeed.
5. Trim for the new configuration.

This configuration gives you more time to navigate and make decisions while remaining in a completely safe flight condition with good stall margins.

Lookout Supplement

Effective lookout is a skill that must be actively developed. Here are the key principles:

Where to Look

• Focus your scan approximately 10 degrees above and below the horizon — this is where most traffic will appear.
• Scan at least 60 degrees each side of your flight path.
• Focus on distant objects rather than close to the airplane — your eyes naturally rest at about 3-4 feet when unfocused, which is useless for spotting traffic.

How to Scan

• Block method: Divide the sky into segments and systematically scan each block, pausing to focus for 1-2 seconds in each segment.
• Wandering method: Move your eyes in a less structured pattern but ensure all areas are covered. Some pilots prefer this after the block method becomes habitual.
• Avoid staring at one point — your peripheral vision is good at detecting motion, but you need focused vision to identify aircraft.

The Constant-Bearing Threat

Practical Tips

• Clock code: Use clock positions to communicate traffic (e.g., "traffic at 2 o'clock, same altitude").
• Clean windscreen: A dirty or scratched windscreen dramatically reduces your ability to spot traffic. Clean it before every flight.
• Look after your eyes: Use quality sunglasses (non-polarized for glass cockpit compatibility), stay hydrated, and be aware that fatigue degrades visual acuity.
• Move your head: Do not rely only on eye movement. Turn your head to check blind spots, especially behind the wing strut and door pillar.

Radio Practice

Taxi Request — KMFD

Airport: Mansfield Lahm Municipal (KMFD)

Position: GA Ramp

Frequency: Ground 121.8

Airspace: Class D (Towered)

You are in N106ST on the ramp at Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport, ready to depart to the northwest. You have listened to ATIS and have information Charlie. Call Mansfield Ground and request taxi to the runway.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Instrument Familiarization: Identify each primary flight instrument and its function
2. Partial Panel Demo: Practice maintaining control with simulated instrument loss (e.g. pitot/static failure)
3. Climbs, Turns, and Descents: Execute maneuvers using attitude indicator, airspeed, and VSI (not outside view)
4. Return to VFR: Transition from instrument reference back to visual cues
5. ForeFlight Demo (if available): Show how to overlay instrument approach charts and load METARs

Overview

In this exercise you will learn to turn the aircraft onto selected headings using medium turns — defined as a 30° angle of bank. These are the normal level turns you will use throughout your flying career for navigation, traffic patterns, and maneuvering.

You will also learn to combine turns with climbs and descents, understanding how bank angle, load factor, and coordination all work together to produce smooth, accurate heading changes.

Background Briefing Topics

• Forces in the Turn
• Use of Controls — Ailerons, Rudder, Elevator
• Effect on Stall Speed
• Climbing Turns
• Descending Turns
• Effect of Offset Seating
• Turning onto Headings — Heading Indicator
• Turning onto Headings — Magnetic Compass (UNOS)

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• Purpose
• Airmanship — Lookout Before Turning
• Entering the Turn
• Maintaining the Turn
• Returning to Straight Flight
• Climbing Turns
• Descending Turns
• Slipping Turns

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Forces in the Turn

An aircraft turns by banking. When the wings are tilted, the total lift vector is tilted as well. The horizontal component of lift acts as the centripetal force that pulls the aircraft toward the center of the turn.

In a banked turn, lift can be resolved into two components:

• Vertical component — supports the weight of the aircraft (acts upward, opposing gravity).
• Horizontal component — acts toward the center of the turn, providing the centripetal force needed to curve the flight path.

The steeper the bank angle, the greater the horizontal component — and the tighter the turn for a given airspeed.

Use of Controls

Ailerons — Rolling Into the Turn

Ailerons are the primary control for establishing and adjusting bank angle. Deflecting the control wheel (or stick) in the direction of the desired turn raises one aileron and lowers the other, creating a difference in lift between the wings that rolls the aircraft.

Adverse Yaw

When ailerons are deflected, the wing going up (with the lowered aileron) produces more lift — and therefore more induced drag — than the wing going down. This differential drag causes the nose to yaw away from the direction of the turn. This effect is called adverse yaw.

Once Established

After the desired bank angle is established, very little rudder is needed to maintain coordination. The ailerons are neutralized (or nearly so) to hold the bank constant.

Overbanking Tendency

In an established turn, the outer wing travels faster than the inner wing (it has a larger radius). Because it moves faster, it generates more lift — creating a tendency to overbank. You will need a small amount of aileron pressure away from the turn to prevent the bank from increasing beyond 30°.

Increased Lift Requirement

Because only the vertical component of lift supports the aircraft's weight in a turn, the total lift must be increased to maintain altitude. This is achieved by applying back pressure on the control column, which increases the angle of attack.

Effect on Stall Speed

The increased angle of attack in a turn has several consequences:

• More induced drag — the aircraft tends to slow down (approximately 5 knots at 30° bank if power is unchanged).
• Higher stall speed — at 30° bank, stall speed increases by approximately 7% compared to straight and level flight.
• Reduced stall margin — the gap between your flying speed and the stall speed narrows.

Climbing Turns

When combining a climb with a turn:

• Establish the climb first, then roll into the turn.
• Limit bank angle to a maximum of 15° — the reduced airspeed in a climb means less margin above stall.
• The outer wing (traveling faster) has a greater angle of attack, which increases the overbanking tendency. You need to actively "hold off" bank with opposite aileron.
• Rate of climb is reduced during turning — the vertical component of lift is less while banked, and some energy goes into turning.

Descending Turns

When combining a descent with a turn:

• Establish the descent first, then roll into the turn.
• Bank angle may be up to 30° — the higher airspeed in a descent provides greater stall margin.
• In a descending turn, the inner wing has a higher angle of attack. This creates a tendency for the aircraft to roll out of the turn (opposite to the overbanking tendency in level turns).
• You need to "hold on" bank — maintain aileron pressure into the turn to keep the bank constant.

Effect of Offset Seating

In side-by-side seating aircraft, the pilot's eye position is offset from the aircraft centerline. This creates a visual illusion during turns:

• In a left turn, the nose appears to be pitched higher than it actually is.
• In a right turn, the nose appears to be pitched lower than it actually is.

Be aware of this illusion and cross-check your instruments (altimeter, VSI) to confirm you are maintaining level flight during turns.

Turning onto Headings — Heading Indicator

The heading indicator (HI) is the primary reference for turning onto a specific heading. Because it takes time to roll the wings level, you must anticipate the rollout.

For example, if turning left from 360° to a heading of 270°, begin rolling wings level as the heading indicator passes through 285° (270° + 15°).

Turning onto Headings — Magnetic Compass

The magnetic compass suffers from turning errors caused by the dip of the Earth's magnetic field. In the Northern Hemisphere, the compass lags behind in northerly turns and leads ahead in southerly turns.

On easterly and westerly headings, compass turning errors are minimal. The 30° figure is approximate and applies at mid-latitudes — your instructor will discuss local variations.

Flight Exercise

Purpose

To turn the aircraft onto selected headings during level, climbing, and descending flight using coordinated medium turns (30° bank).

Airmanship

• Before turning: Look over your shoulder in the direction of the turn, scan across, then back. Clear the area you are turning into.
• High-wing aircraft: Lift the wing (momentarily shallow the bank or roll slightly toward the turn) to visually check below the wing before committing to the turn.
• During the turn: Maintain a continuous lookout scan — do not fixate on instruments.
• After the turn: Re-orient yourself. Confirm your new heading and check your position relative to landmarks, traffic, and airspace.

Entering the Turn

The technique for entering a medium turn is summarized as Bank — Balance — Back Pressure:

1. Bank: Apply aileron in the direction of the turn to roll to 30° of bank. Use a smooth, positive control input.
2. Balance: Apply rudder in the same direction as the aileron to coordinate the turn and counteract adverse yaw. Keep the ball centered.
3. Back Pressure: As the bank establishes, progressively apply back pressure on the control column to increase the angle of attack and maintain altitude.

Maintaining the Turn

Once established at 30° bank:

• Bank: Hold with ailerons. Correct for the overbanking tendency with slight aileron pressure away from the turn.
• Balance: Keep the ball centered with rudder. Only small adjustments should be needed.
• Back Pressure: Maintain constant back pressure to hold altitude. Cross-check the altimeter and VSI.

Returning to Straight Flight

1. Anticipate: Begin rolling out approximately 15° before reaching your target heading (half the bank angle).
2. Roll out: Apply coordinated aileron and rudder to smoothly return to wings level. The rudder counteracts adverse yaw during the roll-out just as it did during roll-in.
3. Release back pressure: As the wings come level, progressively release the back pressure to avoid climbing. Return to the straight-and-level pitch attitude.

Climbing Turns

• Establish the climb first — set climb power, adopt climb attitude, allow airspeed to settle.
• Roll into a gentle turn: maximum 15° bank.
• Accept a slightly lower pitch attitude to maintain the climb speed — do not let the aircraft slow excessively.
• Expect a reduced rate of climb during the turn.
• Counteract the overbanking tendency by holding off bank with opposite aileron.
• Roll wings level before transitioning back to level flight.

Descending Turns

• Establish the descent first — reduce power (or close throttle for a glide), adopt descent attitude.
• Roll into the turn: up to 30° bank is acceptable due to the higher airspeed.
• Maintain the correct glide or descent airspeed using attitude (pitch).
• Be aware the rate of descent will increase during the turn.
• Counteract the tendency to roll out — in a descending turn, the inner wing has a higher angle of attack, which pushes the aircraft toward wings level. Apply aileron pressure to "hold on" the bank.

Slipping Turns

A slipping turn (or sideslip in a turn) is a deliberate cross-control technique: the aircraft is banked toward the turn while opposite rudder is applied.

• The bank provides the turning force, while the opposite rudder increases drag and steepens the descent without increasing airspeed.
• Greater slip (more opposite rudder) produces a greater rate of descent.
• Useful for losing altitude on final approach without gaining excessive speed — for example, when high on the approach path.

Radio Practice

Flight Following with Approach — KRNM

Airport: En route to Corona Municipal (KAJO)

Position: 30mi NW of Ramona (KRNM), 6,500 ft

Frequency: SoCal Approach 127.3

Airport Type: En route (Radar Services)

You are in N106ST, 30 miles northwest of Ramona Airport at 6,500 feet, en route to Corona Municipal Airport. Your current heading is 320. You are talking to SoCal Approach on 127.3.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Start and Taxi: Set airport weather to real conditions; complete full run-up and ATC callout (simulated)
2. Pattern Work: Fly full traffic pattern traffic patterns including takeoff, downwind, and landing approach
3. Radio Phraseology: Simulate CTAF or Tower communications: position reports, taxi clearance, and pattern entry
4. Airport Familiarity: Load KFRG, KCDW, or KHPN diagrams in ForeFlight or via printed chart
5. Evaluate Airports: Compare Class D vs Class C layout and aircraft mix during the sim

Overview

Descending is one of the four basic maneuvers, and one you will use on every single flight — from cruise descent planning all the way through to final approach. Understanding how to control your descent rate and airspeed independently gives you precision when it matters most: getting the airplane safely back on the ground.

Background Briefing Topics

• Forces in the Descent
• Gliding for Best Range
• Effect of Wind
• Effect of Weight
• Gliding for Best Endurance
• Effect of Flap
• Effect of Power
• Sideslipping
• Cruise Descent
• Carburetor Icing Supplement

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• Purpose
• Airmanship
• Entering the Glide
• Maintaining the Descent
• Leveling Off
• Effect of Flap
• Effect of Power
• Descending with Flap and Power
• Sideslipping
• Cruise Descent

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Forces in the Descent

In a descent, thrust is reduced or removed entirely. With less (or zero) thrust available to balance drag, the airplane would decelerate and eventually stall — unless another force takes over. That force is a component of weight acting along the flight path.

When the flight path is inclined downward, gravity has a forward component that replaces thrust. The steeper the descent angle, the greater the forward component of weight, and the more drag it can balance. In a glide with the engine at idle, the entire forward propulsive force comes from this weight component.

The Lift-to-Drag (L/D) ratio determines the glide angle. A higher L/D ratio means a shallower glide angle and greater glide range. This ratio is a fundamental aerodynamic property of the aircraft.

Gliding for Best Range

The best (shallowest) glide angle is achieved at the airspeed that produces the best L/D ratio. At this specific airspeed, drag is at its minimum for the lift being produced, giving maximum forward distance per foot of altitude lost.

There is only one specific airspeed that achieves best L/D ratio. Flying faster or slower than this speed increases drag relative to lift and steepens the glide angle, reducing range. This airspeed is published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) as V_BG or "Best Glide Speed."

Effect of Wind

Wind affects glide range but does not affect rate of descent. The airplane descends through the air mass at the same vertical rate regardless of wind — but the ground it covers changes significantly.

• Tailwind: Increases glide range over the ground. The air mass carrying the airplane moves in the same direction as flight, adding to ground distance covered.
• Headwind: Decreases glide range over the ground. The air mass moves opposite to flight, reducing the ground distance you can cover.

Effect of Weight

Weight does not affect the glide angle. Whether the airplane is heavy or light, the L/D ratio remains the same (it is an aerodynamic property, not a weight-dependent one). Therefore, the glide angle — and glide range — stays the same regardless of weight.

What changes is the glide speed. A heavier airplane must fly faster to generate the same lift coefficient at the best L/D angle of attack. The result:

• Heavier aircraft: same glide angle, but faster airspeed and higher rate of descent
• Lighter aircraft: same glide angle, but slower airspeed and lower rate of descent

Gliding for Best Endurance

The minimum rate of descent occurs at the airspeed for minimum power required — which is slower than the best-range (best L/D) speed. At this speed, the airplane loses altitude at the slowest possible rate, maximizing time aloft.

Best endurance glide speed is rarely used in powered aircraft because:

• It sacrifices significant range for only a modest gain in time aloft
• The airplane is closer to the stall, reducing safety margin
• In an emergency, reaching a landing site (range) is almost always more important than staying airborne longer (endurance)

Effect of Flap

Extending flaps increases both lift and drag, but the drag increase is proportionally much greater. This worsens the L/D ratio, resulting in a steeper descent angle.

The major advantage of flap in a descent: it allows a steeper approach path without increasing airspeed. The increased drag acts as an aerodynamic brake, steepening the descent while the airplane maintains a safe, controlled speed.

This is exactly what you want on approach to land — a steep enough path to clear obstacles while maintaining a slow, controllable airspeed for touchdown.

Effect of Power

Adding power in a descent provides a forward force (thrust) that supplements the weight component. At a constant airspeed, adding power reduces both the descent angle and the rate of descent.

This gives us the fundamental control relationship for approach and descent:

• Power controls rate of descent (at a constant airspeed)
• Attitude (pitch) controls airspeed

This is the opposite of the common intuition that "nose down = go down faster." In fact, lowering the nose increases airspeed, while reducing power is what steepens the descent path at a given speed.

Sideslipping

A sideslip is a deliberate cross-control maneuver: the airplane is banked in one direction while opposite rudder prevents the turn, causing the aircraft to slip sideways through the air.

The fuselage presents its side to the relative airflow, creating a marked increase in drag. This results in a significantly steeper descent without increasing airspeed — useful when you are too high on approach and need to lose altitude quickly.

Disadvantages of Sideslipping

• Uncomfortable: The uncoordinated flight creates unusual sensations for passengers
• Difficult airspeed control: The airspeed indicator (ASI) may read incorrectly due to the displaced airflow over the pitot tube and static ports
• High descent rates: Can exceed 1,500 fpm, requiring careful altitude management

Cruise Descent

A cruise descent is the gentlest form of descent — used to lose altitude gradually while maintaining cruise airspeed and passenger comfort. It is the standard technique for descending from cruise altitude toward the traffic pattern.

To enter a cruise descent: reduce power by approximately 200-300 RPM from cruise setting, maintain cruise airspeed, and allow the airplane to descend at roughly 500 feet per minute.

Carburetor Icing Supplement

How Carburetor Ice Forms

Ice forms inside the carburetor through two mechanisms:

• Fuel icing (evaporation): As fuel vaporizes in the venturi, it absorbs heat from the surrounding air. This accounts for approximately 70% of the total temperature drop inside the carburetor.
• Throttle icing (pressure drop): Air expanding past the throttle valve drops in pressure and temperature (similar to releasing pressurized gas from a canister).

Combined, these effects can cause a temperature drop of up to 30 degrees Celsius inside the carburetor — enough to freeze moisture out of the air onto the throttle valve and venturi walls.

Conditions for Carburetor Icing

Symptoms (Fixed-Pitch Propeller Aircraft)

1. Gradual RPM loss — the first and most subtle sign
2. Altitude loss — as power decreases, the airplane begins to descend
3. Rough running — occurs later as ice buildup becomes severe

Correct Use of Carburetor Heat

• Always apply FULL hot — partial heat can actually worsen icing by raising temperature into the range where ice forms most readily
• Apply for 5-10 seconds minimum to allow ice to melt
• Do NOT use above 75% power — hot unfiltered air at high power settings creates a detonation risk
• Always select cold (off) for takeoff, climb, and go-around — you need full power and filtered air

Carburetor Heat in Descent

Descent is the most dangerous phase for carburetor icing because:

• The throttle is nearly closed, maximizing the pressure drop at the throttle valve
• Engine power is low, meaning the engine generates very little heat to warm the carburetor
• The pilot may be focused on approach tasks and miss the subtle early symptoms

Best practice: Apply carburetor heat before reducing power for descent, and warm the engine (increase power briefly) every 1,000 feet of descent to prevent ice buildup and keep the engine responsive.

Flight Exercise

Purpose

To descend at a specified airspeed in various configurations (clean, with flap, with power, sideslipping) and to level off accurately at a specified altitude. To practice the descent and level-off sequence used on final approach.

Airmanship

• Altimeter awareness: altimeter setting reads altitude above mean sea level (AMSL), not above ground level (AGL). Always know the terrain elevation beneath you.
• V_FE awareness: Before extending flap, confirm airspeed is within the white arc (at or below V_FE — maximum flap extended speed).
• Engine care: A cool engine in descent is susceptible to spark plug fouling. Warm the engine by briefly increasing power every 1,000 feet of descent. This also confirms the engine is still producing power when needed.
• Carburetor heat: Apply carb heat before closing the throttle for descent. Warm the engine at each 1,000-foot interval.

Entering the Glide

Use the standard Power-Attitude-Trim sequence:

1. POWER: Carburetor heat to HOT. Smoothly close the throttle to idle.
2. ATTITUDE: As the aircraft decelerates, lower the nose smoothly to the glide attitude. Allow airspeed to settle on the target glide speed.
3. TRIM: Trim forward pressure off to maintain the glide speed hands-off.

Maintaining the Descent

Once established in the glide, maintain it with:

• Airspeed: Controlled by pitch attitude. If airspeed is too high, raise the nose slightly. If too low, lower the nose.
• Balance: Keep the ball centered with rudder. In a power-off glide there is minimal propeller effect, so rudder inputs are small.
• Direction: Maintain wings level and track a reference point on the horizon.
• Altimeter: Monitor descent rate and remaining altitude. Plan your level-off point.

Leveling Off

To transition smoothly from a descent back to level flight, anticipate your target altitude by 50-100 feet (approximately 10% of your descent rate). The sequence is:

1. POWER: Carburetor heat to COLD. Smoothly increase power to cruise setting.
2. ATTITUDE: Raise the nose to the level flight attitude as power comes in. The two actions should be coordinated — power and pitch together.
3. TRIM: Once airspeed settles at cruise, trim off any residual control pressure.

Effect of Flap

Extending flap in a descent produces a steeper descent path without increasing airspeed. The procedure:

1. Confirm airspeed is in the white arc (at or below V_FE)
2. Select flap incrementally (10 degrees at a time)
3. Note the steeper descent angle and lower nose attitude
4. Airspeed may initially fluctuate — re-trim as needed

Each increment of flap steepens the approach. Full flap gives the steepest descent angle at a given airspeed — ideal for clearing obstacles on short final.

Effect of Power

Adding power during a descent reduces the rate of descent while maintaining the same airspeed. This is the primary technique for controlling your glidepath on approach:

• More power: Shallower descent, lower rate of descent
• Less power: Steeper descent, higher rate of descent
• Airspeed: Controlled independently by pitch attitude

This decoupling — power for path, pitch for speed — is the foundation of approach technique and will be used on every landing you make.

Descending with Flap and Power

On a normal approach to land, you combine flap and power to achieve a stable, controlled descent at a target airspeed along a desired glidepath. This is the standard approach configuration:

• Flap provides the steep descent angle needed to clear obstacles
• Power fine-tunes the rate of descent to hit your aim point
• Pitch attitude controls airspeed (approach speed, typically 1.3 V_SO)

When all three are stabilized, you have a stabilized approach — the goal for every landing.

Sideslipping

A sideslip increases descent rate without increasing airspeed. It is used when you find yourself too high on approach and need to steepen the descent quickly.

Technique

1. Apply approximately 15 degrees of bank toward the lower wing
2. Apply opposite (top) rudder to prevent the airplane from turning — maintain ground track
3. The airplane now slips sideways through the air, presenting its fuselage to the airflow
4. Note the markedly increased descent rate
5. To recover: level the wings and centralize the rudder simultaneously

Cruise Descent

The cruise descent is the most common descent technique for transitioning from cruise altitude toward the traffic pattern. It is comfortable for passengers and gentle on the engine.

Technique

1. Reduce power by 200-300 RPM from cruise setting
2. Maintain cruise airspeed (the nose will lower slightly on its own)
3. The airplane settles into a shallow descent of approximately 500 fpm
4. Trim as needed for hands-off flight

Radio Practice

Report Position on Base — KMFD

Airport: Mansfield Lahm Municipal (KMFD)

Position: 2 miles out, left base RWY 14

Frequency: Tower 118.9

Airport Type: Class D (Towered)

You are in N106ST, preparing to land at Mansfield Lahm Municipal. You've completed your pre-landing checklist and arrived at your reporting point — 2 miles out on left base for Runway 14. Contact the tower and report in.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Chart Orientation: Review NYC airspace using ForeFlight or sectional chart
2. Simulated Airspace Entry: Practice transitions through Class D and into Class C or E airspace
3. Pattern Work: Fly traffic patterns around a Class D airport with simulated radio calls
4. Aircraft Familiarity: Explore avionics and layout differences between G1000 vs analog aircraft (if available in sim)
5. Situational Awareness: Cross-check traffic locations and weather to adjust course and altitude

Overview

Slow flight is one of the most important exercises in your training. Every takeoff and every landing happens at slow speed — yet the airplane handles very differently near the stall than it does in cruise. Understanding how the aircraft behaves in this regime gives you the awareness and skill to stay safe when it matters most.

Background Briefing Topics

• Definition of Slow Flight
• Forces in Slow Flight
• Effect of Controls
• Maneuvering at Slow Speed
• Distractions
• Principles of Flight Supplement

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• HASELL Checks
• Entering Slow Flight
• Recovery to Normal Flight

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Definition of Slow Flight

Slow flight is defined as flight at an airspeed approximately 5 knots above the stalling speed. At this speed, the airplane is fully controllable but operating near the lower boundary of its performance envelope.

To understand slow flight, you need to know two key stalling speeds:

V_S0 — Stall Speed (Landing Configuration)

The bottom of the white arc on the airspeed indicator. This is the stalling speed at maximum weight, full flap, power off. It represents the slowest speed at which the airplane can maintain controlled flight in landing configuration.

V_S1 — Stall Speed (Clean Configuration)

The bottom of the green arc on the airspeed indicator. This is the stalling speed at maximum weight, no flap, power off. It represents the slowest speed in clean (cruise) configuration.

Forces in Slow Flight

At slow speed, the airplane must fly at a significantly higher angle of attack to generate sufficient lift. In cruise, the angle of attack is approximately 4 degrees. In slow flight, it increases to approximately 10 degrees or more.

This high angle of attack has several consequences:

• Increased induced drag: Induced drag is inversely proportional to speed squared — at half the cruise speed, induced drag is four times greater
• More power required: The airplane needs significantly more power to maintain altitude at slow speed than at cruise
• Speed-unstable region: Below the minimum power required speed, the airplane enters a region where slowing down requires MORE power, not less

Effect of Controls

At slow speed, the reduced airflow over the control surfaces makes all controls less effective. You will notice:

• Sloppy feel: The controls feel mushy and unresponsive compared to cruise. Larger control movements are needed to achieve the same result.
• Adverse yaw more pronounced: Because the ailerons are less effective but still creating differential drag, adverse yaw becomes much more noticeable. Coordinated rudder use is essential.
• Slipstream effect more noticeable: With high power settings needed for slow flight, the propeller slipstream creates a stronger asymmetric effect, requiring more right rudder to maintain coordinated flight.

Maneuvering at Slow Speed

The fundamental relationship Power + Attitude = Performance still applies in slow flight, but the roles are reversed from normal cruise:

• Attitude controls airspeed: Lowering the nose increases speed; raising it decreases speed
• Power controls altitude: Adding power arrests descent; reducing power causes descent

When turning in slow flight:

• Limit bank angle to 15 degrees maximum — steeper banks increase load factor, which increases stalling speed
• Keep the airplane in balance — use the ball indicator and stay coordinated
• Add a small amount of power in the turn to compensate for the increased load factor and maintain altitude

Distractions

Inadvertent slow flight is one of the most dangerous situations in general aviation. It typically occurs when the pilot becomes distracted and allows airspeed to decay without noticing. Common distractions include:

• Radio calls: Listening for or making transmissions while in the traffic pattern
• Passengers: Conversation or passenger emergencies diverting attention
• Map reading / GPS programming: Looking inside the cockpit for extended periods
• Looking for traffic: Head-down time searching for reported traffic

Principles of Flight Supplement

To fully understand slow flight, you need to understand the aerodynamic concepts behind it.

Angle of Attack

The angle of attack (AoA) is the angle between the chord line of the wing and the relative airflow. The chord line is an imaginary straight line drawn from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the wing.

Increasing the angle of attack increases the coefficient of lift — up to a point. The airplane does not know its pitch attitude relative to the horizon; it only responds to the angle of attack relative to the air flowing over the wing.

Critical Angle of Attack

The critical angle of attack is approximately 12 to 15 degrees for most light aircraft wings. Beyond this angle, the smooth airflow over the upper surface of the wing can no longer follow the surface contour. It separates from the wing, destroying lift and causing the stall.

Coefficient of Lift (C_L) Curve

The relationship between angle of attack and lift coefficient is shown on the C_L curve:

• From 0° to approximately 12–15°, C_L increases roughly linearly with AoA
• At the critical angle, C_L reaches its maximum value (C_{L max})
• Beyond the critical angle, C_L drops sharply — the wing is stalled

Airflow Separation

As the angle of attack increases toward the critical angle, the airflow begins separating from the upper surface of the wing starting at the trailing edge. This separation point moves progressively forward as AoA increases. When separation reaches approximately the quarter-chord point, the wing stalls.

Center of Pressure Movement

The center of pressure is the point on the wing where the total aerodynamic force effectively acts. As the angle of attack increases, the center of pressure moves forward along the chord. At the stall, it moves rapidly rearward, causing a nose-down pitching moment — this is actually a built-in safety feature that helps the airplane recover from the stall naturally.

Flight Exercise

HASELL Checks

Before practicing any slow flight or stalling exercise, you must complete the HASELL check. This ensures you are in a safe environment to explore the edges of the flight envelope.

H — Height

Sufficient altitude to recover safely. Minimum 3,000 feet AGL for training exercises.

A — Airframe

Configuration appropriate for the exercise: flaps as required, landing gear (if retractable), brakes off, trim set.

S — Security

Harnesses tight, loose articles stowed, hatches and doors secure.

E — Engine

Temperatures and pressures in the green, fuel on fullest tank, mixture set, carburetor heat as required.

L — Location (ABCC)

Away from controlled airspace, Built-up areas, Clouds, and Congested traffic areas. Choose a practice area with clear terrain below.

L — Lookout

Complete a clearing turn (180° or two 90° turns) to ensure the area is free of other traffic above, below, and all around.

Entering Slow Flight

The procedure for controlled deceleration to critically slow airspeed follows the Power-Attitude-Trim sequence:

Step 1 — POWER: Reduce

• Smoothly reduce power toward idle (or a low power setting as briefed)
• The airplane will begin to decelerate

Step 2 — ATTITUDE: Pitch Up to Maintain Level Flight

• As the airspeed decreases, progressively raise the nose to maintain altitude
• The pitch attitude will be noticeably higher than cruise — this is normal
• As speed continues to decrease, you will need to add power to maintain altitude (speed-unstable region)

Step 3 — TRIM

• Trim to relieve control pressure as you stabilize at the target speed
• Target: approximately 5 knots above V_S1 (or V_S0 if flaps are extended)

Maneuvering in Slow Flight

Once stabilized in slow flight, practice:

• Maintaining altitude and heading — notice how much attention it requires
• Gentle turns (15 degrees bank maximum) — add a touch of power to compensate for the increased load factor
• Climbing and descending using power changes while maintaining slow airspeed

Recovery to Normal Flight

Recovery from slow flight to normal cruise uses a positive, sequential procedure:

Step 1 — POWER: Steadily Increase to Full

• Apply power smoothly and progressively — avoid slamming the throttle open, which can cause a yaw to the left
• Maintain balanced flight with right rudder as power increases

Step 2 — ATTITUDE: Maintain Altitude Until Airspeed Increases

• Hold altitude — the nose will need to come down slightly as speed builds
• Once airspeed reaches normal climb speed (V_Y), pitch to the climb attitude if a climb is desired
• Or maintain level flight as speed increases toward cruise

Step 3 — TRIM

• Re-trim for the new flight condition (climb or cruise)
• Retract flaps in stages once safely above V_S1

Radio Practice

PIREP — Icing Report — KIRK

Airport: Departed Kirksville Regional (KIRK)

Position: 10 NE of Kirksville, 4,500 ft

Frequency: Flight Watch 122.0

Type: En route

You are in N106ST and have just taken off from Kirksville Regional in Missouri. After a few minutes, you see that you are experiencing unforecast light icing. You decide to go back to Kirksville, but want to give a PIREP to Flight Watch. Tune 122.0 and make the report.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Pre-Flight Weather Briefing: Use TAF/METAR to decide which airport is suitable for flight
2. Initial Departure: Depart KFRG, KCDW, or similar; fly into deteriorating weather conditions (simulated)
3. Diversion: Reroute to alternate (KMMU, KHPN, or uncontrolled field)
4. Simulated Radio Failure: Practice NORDO landing at Class D or non-towered airport
5. Go-Around Practice: Conduct a go-around from 200 feet AGL due to simulated runway conflict

Overview

The stall is one of the most misunderstood topics in aviation. Many students fear it — but once you understand the aerodynamics and practice the recovery, you will find that stalls are predictable, manageable, and fully recoverable when handled correctly. This lesson takes you beyond the edge you explored in slow flight and teaches you what happens when the wing exceeds its critical angle of attack.

Background Briefing Topics

• Forces in a Stall
• Control Effectiveness
• Factors Affecting Stalling Speed
• Wing Drop at the Stall
• Symptoms of Approaching Stall
• Standard Stall Recovery
• Secondary Stall
• Departure Stall
• Incipient Stall Recovery

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• HASELL Checks
• Stall and Recovery Without Power
• Stall and Standard Recovery (With Power)
• Stall With Power
• Stall With Flap
• Stall in Approach Configuration
• Recovery at Incipient Stall

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Forces in a Stall

A stall occurs when the wing exceeds its critical angle of attack (approximately 12 to 15 degrees for most light aircraft). At this point, the smooth airflow over the upper surface of the wing separates catastrophically, causing a marked loss of lift.

The key principle: a stall occurs at an angle, not a speed. The wing does not know how fast it is going — it only responds to the angle at which air meets its surface. However, since most light training aircraft lack angle-of-attack indicators, airspeed is your primary practical reference for stall proximity.

When the wing stalls:

• Lift decreases dramatically (by 30-50% in an instant)
• Drag increases sharply
• The nose pitches down (due to the rearward shift in center of pressure)
• The airplane may roll to one side if the stall is asymmetric

Control Effectiveness

At and near the stall, the flight controls behave very differently from normal flight:

• Ailerons: Very ineffective and potentially dangerous. Because the wing is at or beyond the critical angle of attack, deflecting an aileron DOWN (to raise a dropped wing) increases the local angle of attack on that wing further, potentially deepening the stall on that wing and making the roll worse.
• Rudder: Still effective because it operates in the propeller slipstream and in undisturbed airflow. This is why rudder is used to correct wing drop at the stall — NOT aileron.
• Elevator: Still effective enough for recovery. Pushing forward reduces the angle of attack across the entire wing, which is the fundamental recovery action.

Factors Affecting Stalling Speed

While the stall always occurs at the same critical angle of attack, the airspeed at which this angle is reached varies significantly depending on several factors:

Wing Drop at the Stall

A wing drop occurs when one wing stalls before the other, causing an asymmetric loss of lift and a rapid roll toward the stalled wing. This is caused by:

• Uneven airflow separation across the wing span
• Slight rigging asymmetries in the airframe
• Yaw at the point of stall (uncoordinated flight)
• Turbulence or gusts affecting one wing differently

The correct response to a wing drop at the stall:

1. Apply opposite rudder to prevent further yaw and roll
2. Simultaneously lower the nose (reduce angle of attack) to unstall both wings
3. Do NOT use aileron — it will deepen the stall on the dropping wing

Symptoms of Approaching Stall

Learning to recognize the approach of a stall is more important than learning to recover from one. If you can identify these symptoms early, you can prevent the stall entirely:

1. Decreasing airspeed: The airspeed indicator shows a declining trend toward the stall speed range
2. Less effective controls: The yoke/stick feels mushy; larger inputs are needed for less response
3. High nose attitude: The pitch attitude is noticeably higher than normal for the flight phase
4. Buffet / vibration: Turbulent airflow from the separated boundary layer strikes the tail, causing airframe vibration you can feel through the controls and seat
5. Stall warning horn: The aural warning activates 5-10 knots above the stall (activated by a vane or pressure sensor on the wing leading edge)

Standard Stall Recovery

The standard stall recovery is performed simultaneously — all actions happen together, not sequentially:

1. Lower the nose — reduce the angle of attack below the critical angle. This is the PRIMARY recovery action. The stall is caused by excessive angle of attack; reducing it is the cure.
2. Apply full power — to minimize altitude loss and accelerate the airplane back to a safe flying speed
3. Level the wings with rudder — if a wing has dropped, use rudder to bring wings level (not aileron)

Once the wings are unstalled and flying speed is regained, smoothly return to the desired flight attitude. The goal is to minimize altitude loss while recovering positively.

Secondary Stall

A secondary stall occurs when the pilot pulls back too aggressively during the recovery from a primary stall. By pulling the nose up too quickly or too far, the angle of attack exceeds the critical angle again before the airplane has regained sufficient speed.

To avoid a secondary stall:

• Recover smoothly — do not snatch the nose up after the initial pitch down
• Allow airspeed to build before raising the nose to climb
• Accept some altitude loss — it is far better to lose 100 feet recovering properly than to stall again closer to the ground

Departure Stall

A departure stall (also called a power-on stall or takeoff/climb stall) simulates a stall during the takeoff or climb phase. It occurs with power applied and in a nose-high attitude — exactly the configuration after takeoff.

Departure stalls are particularly dangerous because:

• They occur at low altitude — very little room for recovery
• The high power and nose-high attitude can mask the approaching stall
• Propeller effects (torque, P-factor) can cause a rapid wing drop or yaw at the stall
• The pilot may be distracted by after-takeoff tasks

Incipient Stall Recovery

The incipient stall is the developing stall — the phase between recognizing the first symptoms and the full stall break. Recovering at this point is the key practical skill because:

• It requires less altitude loss than recovering from a full stall
• There is no wing drop or loss of control to manage
• It represents how you will actually use stall awareness in real flying — recognizing and correcting BEFORE the stall occurs

Incipient stall recovery technique:

1. At the first recognition of stall symptoms (buffet, stall warning, sloppy controls) — immediately reduce angle of attack (lower the nose slightly)
2. Apply power as needed to arrest any altitude loss
3. The stall is prevented; the airplane continues flying

Flight Exercise

HASELL Checks

Before any stall exercise, complete the full HASELL check as described in Lesson 7. Ensure you have a minimum of 3,000 feet AGL, clear airspace, and have performed a thorough clearing turn.

Stall and Recovery Without Power

This is the basic stall — clean configuration, power at idle. It demonstrates the fundamental aerodynamics of the stall in its simplest form.

Entry

1. Establish straight and level flight at a safe altitude
2. Reduce power smoothly to idle
3. Maintain altitude by progressively raising the nose
4. Continue raising the nose as speed decreases — note the symptoms as they develop
5. Hold the back pressure until the stall break occurs (nose drops, possible wing drop)

Recovery (Without Power)

1. Lower the nose — relax back pressure to reduce angle of attack
2. Level wings with rudder if a wing has dropped
3. As speed builds, smoothly raise the nose to level flight
4. Add power to regain cruise speed

Stall and Standard Recovery (With Power)

This is the standard stall recovery you will use in practice — applying full power during recovery to minimize altitude loss.

Entry

Same as above — idle power, maintain altitude, let speed decay to the stall.

Standard Recovery

1. Simultaneously: Lower the nose (reduce AoA), apply full power, level wings with rudder
2. Maintain balanced flight — right rudder as power increases
3. As airspeed increases, smoothly transition to climb or level flight
4. Retract flaps (if extended) in stages once safely above V_S1

Stall With Power

This exercise simulates a departure stall — stalling with power applied, as might occur during takeoff or climb if the pilot raises the nose too high.

Entry

1. Establish cruise flight, then apply climb power (or full power as briefed)
2. Progressively raise the nose well above the normal climb attitude
3. Maintain wings level and balanced flight as speed decays
4. Continue until the stall break

What to Expect

• The stall will occur at a higher pitch attitude than the power-off stall
• The nose drop at the stall may be more pronounced
• Wing drop tendency may be stronger due to propeller effects (P-factor, slipstream)
• More right rudder is needed throughout to stay coordinated

Recovery

Standard recovery: lower the nose, maintain full power, level wings with rudder, transition to climb as speed builds.

Stall With Flap

This demonstrates how flap affects the stall characteristics. Flap lowers the stalling speed (V_S0 is lower than V_S1) but also changes the stall behavior.

Entry

1. Reduce speed below V_FE (maximum flap extension speed)
2. Extend full flap
3. Reduce power to idle
4. Maintain altitude as speed decays to the stall

What to Expect

• The stall occurs at a lower airspeed than clean configuration
• The nose-down pitch at the stall may be more abrupt
• Higher drag means the airplane decelerates faster toward the stall

Recovery

1. Standard recovery: lower nose, full power, level wings with rudder
2. Do NOT raise flaps immediately — first establish positive climb or level flight
3. Retract flaps in stages (e.g., full to half, then half to clean) once safely above V_S1 and with positive rate

Stall in Approach Configuration (Power and Flap)

This simulates a stall on final approach — the most dangerous real-world scenario because it occurs at low altitude with limited recovery room.

Entry

1. Configure as for approach: flap extended, approach power set
2. Establish a normal approach attitude and speed
3. Gradually raise the nose (simulating the pilot pulling back too much on short final)
4. Allow speed to decay to the stall while maintaining power at approach setting

Recovery

1. Lower the nose — reduce angle of attack
2. Simultaneously apply full power
3. Level wings with rudder
4. Establish positive rate of climb before raising flaps in stages

Recovery at Incipient (Developing) Stall

This is the most important practical skill in the stall series. In real flying, you will use incipient recovery — never allowing the stall to fully develop.

Procedure

1. Enter as for any stall configuration (clean, with flap, with power)
2. At the first symptom of the approaching stall — buffet onset, stall warning horn, or mushy controls — immediately recover
3. Recovery: lower the nose slightly (just enough to reduce AoA below critical), apply power as needed
4. The stall is prevented; minimal altitude is lost

Practice Variations

• Recover at stall warning horn activation
• Recover at first buffet
• Recover at first sense of mushy controls
• Practice in various configurations: clean, with flap, with power, in turns

Radio Practice

Request AWOS Frequency — KAJO

Airport: En route to Corona Municipal (KAJO)

Position: 20 miles out from Corona

Frequency: SoCal Approach 135.4

Type: En route (Radar Services)

You are in N106ST, 20 miles out from your destination, Corona Municipal Airport. You're getting close and would like to get Corona's AWOS. You are talking to SoCal Approach on 135.4. Let the controller know your intentions.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Departure Briefing: Select route from KFRG to nearby waypoint (e.g., JFK VOR or VOR-to-airport leg)
2. In-Flight Navigation: Track heading, altitude, and ground position using GPS/VOR guidance (or simulated radio nav)
3. Diversion Exercise: Unexpected weather or NOTAM - divert to alternate airport using chart and ForeFlight
4. Arrival and Descent: Plan pattern entry into Class D or uncontrolled field

Overview

The purpose of this exercise is to understand how spins develop from stalls and to learn to recover at the incipient stage — before a full spin develops. Spin avoidance is a critical safety skill for all pilots, particularly during the traffic pattern where altitude is limited and the consequences of an inadvertent spin are severe.

A spin can only occur when the aircraft is stalled. However, a stall alone does not cause a spin — the aircraft must also be in uncoordinated flight (yawing) at the moment of the stall. Understanding this relationship is the key to spin avoidance.

Background Briefing Topics

• Causes of a Spin — the stall and yaw combination
• Autorotation mechanics
• Recognition of the incipient spin
• Recovery from an incipient spin
• Accidental spinning in the traffic pattern

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• HASELL checks and altitude requirements
• Spin entry from a full stall with deliberate yaw
• Recognition of incipient spin
• Standard spin recovery procedure

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Causes of a Spin

A spin requires two conditions to be met simultaneously:

1. The aircraft must be stalled — the wing must exceed its critical angle of attack.
2. The aircraft must be yawing — the flight must be uncoordinated at the moment of the stall.

A stall alone does not produce a spin. If the aircraft stalls in coordinated flight, both wings stall symmetrically and the aircraft pitches nose-down without rolling or yawing into a spin. It is the yaw — caused by rudder misuse, a skidding or slipping turn, or adverse yaw from aileron input — that causes one wing to stall more deeply than the other.

The Role of Rudder

When the aircraft yaws at or near the stall, the down-going wing (the wing moving in the direction of yaw) experiences a higher effective angle of attack and stalls more deeply. The up-going wing (opposite to the yaw direction) has a lower effective angle of attack and may not fully stall. This asymmetry creates an imbalance in lift and drag that initiates autorotation.

The Role of Ailerons

Attempting to raise a dropping wing with aileron at or near the stall can worsen the situation. The aileron on the down-going wing deflects downward, increasing the local angle of attack on a wing that is already at or beyond the critical angle. This deepens the stall on that wing and can trigger a spin. The correct response to a wing drop at the stall is to use rudder to prevent further yaw — not aileron.

Autorotation

Once the spin begins, it is sustained by autorotation — a self-sustaining rolling and yawing motion driven by the differing aerodynamic forces on the two wings:

• Down-going wing: Higher effective angle of attack (deeper stall), greatly reduced lift, and increased drag. This wing drops further.
• Up-going wing: Lower effective angle of attack (less stalled or unstalled), relatively more lift and less drag. This wing rises.

The difference in drag between the two wings creates a yawing moment that sustains the rotation. The difference in lift sustains the roll. Together, these forces perpetuate the spin without any pilot input — the spin is self-sustaining once established.

Recovery from an Incipient Spin

The incipient spin is the transition phase between a wing-drop stall and a fully developed spin. During this phase — typically lasting 1 to 2 turns — the aircraft has not yet settled into a stable spin. Recovery during this phase is faster, requires less altitude loss, and is more straightforward than recovery from a fully developed spin.

Recognizing the Incipient Spin

The incipient spin is recognized when:

• A wing drops sharply at the stall (beyond a normal wing-drop stall)
• The nose drops below the horizon with a simultaneous roll
• The aircraft begins to rotate — but has not yet rolled past approximately 90 degrees of bank
• Airspeed is low and relatively constant (not increasing as in a spiral dive)

Standard Recovery Procedure

The recovery from an incipient spin follows these steps:

1. Full opposite rudder — apply full rudder in the direction opposite to the spin rotation to stop the yaw.
2. Control column forward — move the elevator control forward to reduce the angle of attack and break the stall. This is the critical step that stops autorotation.
3. Level the wings — once the rotation stops and the stall is broken, use coordinated controls to level the wings.
4. Recover from the dive — smoothly apply back pressure to return to level flight, being careful not to exceed V_A or induce a secondary stall.

Accidental Spinning

The most common scenario for an accidental spin is in the traffic pattern, particularly during the base-to-final turn. This situation combines all the elements needed for a spin:

• Low airspeed: The aircraft is configured for approach, flying near the stall speed.
• Skidding turn: The pilot go-arounds the runway centerline and applies excessive bottom rudder to increase the turn rate rather than increasing bank angle.
• Distraction: The pilot is focused on aligning with the runway rather than monitoring airspeed and coordination.

The combination of slow speed plus a skidding turn (uncoordinated yaw) creates the exact conditions for a spin entry. At traffic pattern altitude (typically 800-1,000 feet AGL), there is insufficient altitude to recover from a fully developed spin.

Flight Exercise

Purpose

To recognize the transition from a stall to an incipient spin and to practice recovery before the spin becomes fully developed.

Airmanship

HASELL Checks

Before any spin-related exercise, complete the full HASELL check. Height is critical for this exercise — you must have sufficient altitude to complete the recovery and return to straight-and-level flight with adequate margin above the ground.

Spin Entry

The spin is entered from a full stall with deliberate yaw:

1. Establish straight-and-level flight at a safe altitude.
2. Reduce power to idle and raise the nose to maintain altitude as speed decreases.
3. As the aircraft approaches the stall (buffet onset, decreasing control effectiveness), apply full rudder in the desired spin direction.
4. Continue holding the control column fully back to ensure the wing remains stalled.
5. The aircraft will yaw and roll in the direction of the applied rudder, entering the incipient spin.

Spin Recovery

Once the incipient spin is recognized, apply the standard recovery procedure immediately:

1. Identify the direction of spin — look at the direction of rotation. The turn coordinator or the visual rotation will confirm the spin direction.
2. Full opposite rudder — apply full rudder opposite to the direction of rotation to stop the yaw.
3. Forward elevator — move the control column positively forward to break the stall (reduce the angle of attack below the critical angle).
4. Centralize controls — when rotation stops, centralize the rudder and level the wings with coordinated aileron and rudder.
5. Recover from the dive — smoothly apply back pressure to raise the nose to the horizon. Apply power as the nose reaches the horizon.

Common Errors

• Applying aileron to stop the roll instead of rudder — this deepens the stall on the lower wing
• Failing to move the elevator sufficiently forward — the stall is not broken and autorotation continues
• Pulling back on the elevator too early during recovery — causing a secondary stall
• Exceeding V_A during the dive recovery — risking structural overload
• Failing to apply power smoothly during the pull-out from the dive

Radio Practice

Class C Airspace Transit — KCMH

Airport: Columbus (KCMH) — transiting to Darby Dan

Position: Over Appleton VOR, 3,000 ft

Frequency: Columbus Approach 124.6

Type: Class C Airspace

You are in N106ST at 3,000 feet over the Appleton VOR, en route to Darby Dan Airport southwest of Columbus, Ohio. Your most direct route takes you through the Columbus Class C airspace (identified by magenta lines on the sectional). Call Columbus Approach and establish two-way communications.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Airport Communication Drill: Tune into ATIS/ASOS, simulate ground, tower, and CTAF calls
2. Full Pattern Pattern: Practice entering and exiting the pattern at a Class D and non-towered field
3. Phraseology Focus: Repetition of proper radio calls: taxi clearance, upwind, crosswind, base, final
4. Abnormal Scenario: Respond to a runway change or aircraft conflict on final with ATC coordination

Overview

This exercise builds on the spin avoidance lesson (Exercise 11a) by exploring what happens when a spin is allowed to develop fully. You will learn the three phases of a spin, the detailed aerodynamics of autorotation, and the standard PARE recovery procedure used to exit a fully developed spin.

Understanding the fully developed spin provides deeper insight into why spin avoidance is so important — the altitude lost during even a few turns of a developed spin is considerable, and recovery requires precise technique and sufficient height.

Background Briefing Topics

• Phases of a spin: incipient, developed, recovery
• Autorotation mechanics in detail
• Spin characteristics by aircraft type
• Height loss during spins
• Aircraft certification for spins (utility vs normal category)

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• Full spin entry and developed spin
• Counting turns in the spin
• Standard PARE recovery procedure
• Recovery from various spin attitudes

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Phases of a Spin

A spin progresses through three distinct phases, each with different aerodynamic characteristics and recovery considerations:

Autorotation Mechanics in Detail

In a fully developed spin, the aircraft rotates about a vertical (or near-vertical) axis while both wings remain stalled. The autorotation is sustained by the aerodynamic imbalance between the two wings:

The Down-Going (Inner) Wing

• Has a higher effective angle of attack due to the rotation
• Is deeply stalled — well beyond the critical angle of attack
• Produces very little lift but very high drag
• The high drag on this wing sustains the yawing moment

The Up-Going (Outer) Wing

• Has a lower effective angle of attack due to the rotation
• Is still stalled, but less deeply than the inner wing
• Produces relatively more lift and less drag than the inner wing
• The lift difference sustains the rolling moment

The combination of these asymmetric forces creates a self-sustaining rotation. The aircraft descends in a helical path around a near-vertical spin axis, with the nose pitched steeply downward (typically 60-90 degrees below the horizon depending on aircraft type).

Equilibrium in the Developed Spin

In the steady-state developed spin, the following are in equilibrium:

• Pro-spin yawing moment (from drag differential) is balanced by the anti-spin yawing moment (from the fuselage and fin acting as a weathervane)
• Pro-spin rolling moment (from lift differential) is balanced by the anti-spin rolling moment (from the aircraft's lateral stability)
• Weight is balanced by the total drag in the vertical direction — the aircraft descends at a constant rate

Spin Characteristics by Aircraft Type

Different aircraft exhibit markedly different spin characteristics based on their design:

Height Loss During Spins

A fully developed spin results in significant altitude loss with each turn. Typical values for light training aircraft:

• Incipient phase: 300-500 feet lost during the first 1-2 turns
• Developed spin: 500+ feet per turn (varies by aircraft type)
• Recovery phase: Additional 500-1,000 feet lost during recovery from the dive

A spin of just 3 turns could easily result in a total altitude loss of 2,000-3,000 feet from entry to return to level flight. This underscores why an inadvertent spin at traffic pattern altitude (800-1,000 feet AGL) is typically unrecoverable.

Aircraft Certification for Spins

Not all aircraft are approved for intentional spins. FAA certification categories determine what maneuvers are permitted:

Flight Exercise

Purpose

To enter and recover from a fully developed spin using the standard PARE recovery procedure, and to develop the ability to count turns and maintain orientation during the spin.

Airmanship

Pre-Spin Checks

Complete a full HASELL check before any spin exercise. For fully developed spins, the altitude requirement is higher than for incipient spin practice:

• Minimum entry altitude: As specified by your instructor — typically no lower than 5,000 feet AGL to allow for multiple turns plus recovery altitude
• Minimum recovery altitude: Typically 3,000 feet AGL — recovery must be initiated by this altitude regardless of the planned number of turns
• Configuration: Clean (flaps up, gear up if retractable)
• Weight and CG: Confirm within the approved envelope for spinning

Full Spin Entry

The spin is entered using the same technique as for the incipient spin, but the pro-spin inputs are maintained to allow the spin to develop fully:

1. Complete HASELL checks. Note the entry altitude and a reference heading.
2. Reduce power to idle.
3. Raise the nose to maintain altitude as airspeed decreases.
4. At the full stall (buffet, stick shaker, or full back pressure with wing drop), apply full rudder in the desired spin direction.
5. Maintain full back pressure on the control column and full rudder — these pro-spin inputs sustain the spin.
6. The spin will transition from incipient to fully developed over 1-2 turns.

Counting Turns

Maintaining orientation during a spin requires practice. Use the following technique to count turns:

• Before entry, select a prominent reference point on the horizon (a landmark, road, or compass heading).
• Each time the nose passes through this reference point, one full turn has been completed.
• Count aloud: "One... two... three..." as each turn is completed.
• The turn coordinator will show full deflection in the direction of the spin — it is not useful for counting turns.

PARE Recovery Procedure

The standard spin recovery procedure is remembered by the mnemonic PARE:

After Rotation Stops

1. Centralize the rudder — once rotation ceases, neutralize the rudder to prevent entering a spin in the opposite direction.
2. Level the wings — use coordinated controls to roll wings level.
3. Recover from the dive — smoothly apply back pressure. Do not pull abruptly — the airspeed will be increasing rapidly in the dive and excessive G-loading could overstress the aircraft.
4. Apply power — as the nose reaches the horizon and the aircraft returns to level flight, smoothly apply power.

Recovery from Various Attitudes

Your instructor may demonstrate spin entries and recoveries from different initial conditions to show that the PARE procedure remains effective regardless of the entry situation:

• Spin to the left: Full right rudder for recovery
• Spin to the right: Full left rudder for recovery
• Spin from a turning stall: The spin direction may not match the original turn direction — always identify the actual direction of rotation before applying recovery inputs

Radio Practice

Special VFR Request — KMFD

Airport: Mansfield Lahm Municipal (KMFD)

Position: 15 miles south, inbound

Frequency: Tower 118.9

Type: Class D (Towered), ATIS Kilo (visibility 2 miles)

You are in N106ST, 15 miles south of Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport, inbound for landing. According to ATIS information Kilo, visibility at the airport is only 2 miles. Since VFR minimums require 3 miles visibility in Class D, you'll need to request Special VFR. Remember — YOU must request it; the controller cannot offer it.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Preflight Planning: Choose a real cross-country destination (e.g., Sky Acres, Flying W, or Katama)
2. Weight and Balance Review: Calculate total loadout and determine center of gravity
3. Performance Planning: Estimate takeoff/landing distance and cruise performance based on forecasted conditions
4. Flight Segment Simulation: Depart, navigate toward selected destination, simulate in-flight updates and fuel check
5. Diversion Drill: Simulate enroute diversion due to unexpected weather or NOTAM

Overview

The standard takeoff is the foundation of every flight. In this lesson you will learn the forces acting on the aircraft during takeoff, factors that affect takeoff performance, and the correct procedure to climb from the runway to the downwind leg of the traffic pattern.

Understanding takeoff performance is essential for safe flight operations. You must always consider the conditions on the day — wind, temperature, weight, and runway surface — and assess whether the takeoff can be accomplished safely within the available distance.

Background Briefing Topics

• Forces During Takeoff
• Takeoff Distance vs Takeoff Run
• Factors Affecting Takeoff Distance
• Pre-Takeoff Checks
• Effect of Power During Takeoff
• Use of Rudder and Elevator During Takeoff
• Checks During Takeoff
• ATC and Radio Procedures

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• Purpose
• Standard Takeoff Procedure
• Climb to Downwind

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Forces During Takeoff

During the takeoff roll, the engine produces thrust which must overcome the aircraft's inertia and rolling friction. As the aircraft accelerates along the runway, airspeed increases and the wings begin generating lift. When the lift produced equals or exceeds the weight of the aircraft, the aircraft is ready to fly.

The sequence is straightforward: thrust overcomes inertia, the aircraft accelerates, and when sufficient airspeed is achieved, back pressure on the control column rotates the aircraft to a climbing attitude. The aircraft lifts off when enough lift is being generated to support its weight.

Takeoff Distance vs Takeoff Run

It is important to understand the difference between these two performance figures, both of which are published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH):

Takeoff Run (Ground Roll)

The distance from the start of the takeoff roll to the point at which the aircraft becomes airborne. This is the runway length consumed on the ground.

Takeoff Distance

The total distance from the start of the takeoff roll to the point at which the aircraft clears a 50-foot obstacle. This includes both the ground roll and the initial climb segment.

When assessing whether a runway is long enough, always use the takeoff distance figure — not just the ground roll — and apply appropriate safety factors. A common rule of thumb is to ensure you have at least 1.5 times the calculated takeoff distance available.

Factors Affecting Takeoff Distance

Several factors increase or decrease the distance required for takeoff. You must assess these conditions before every flight:

Pre-Takeoff Checks

Before taking the runway, complete the pre-takeoff (run-up) checks in accordance with the POH checklist. These checks verify that the engine and systems are operating correctly:

• Engine run-up: Set power to the specified RPM (typically 1700-1800 RPM for Cessna 172) and check for smooth operation.
• Magneto check: Select each magneto individually (LEFT, then RIGHT, then BOTH). Maximum allowable RPM drop is specified in the POH (typically 125 RPM per magneto, 50 RPM differential between magnetos).
• Carburetor heat check: Apply full carburetor heat and verify a drop in RPM (indicates the system is functioning). Return to cold.
• Flight controls: Free and correct — full deflection in all axes, verify correct movement.
• Instruments: Set altimeter to field elevation or current barometric pressure. Heading indicator aligned with compass. Attitude indicator erect.
• Briefing: Brief the takeoff procedure, departure direction, and emergency plan (what you will do if the engine fails on takeoff).

Effect of Power During Takeoff

When full power is applied for takeoff, several yawing and rolling tendencies appear. These are collectively known as left-turning tendencies (for aircraft with a clockwise-rotating propeller as seen from the cockpit):

Torque Reaction

Newton's third law — the engine turns the propeller clockwise, so the aircraft tends to roll left (counterclockwise). This is most noticeable at high power and low airspeed.

P-Factor (Asymmetric Thrust)

At high angles of attack, the descending blade (right side) produces more thrust than the ascending blade (left side), creating a yaw to the left.

Spiraling Slipstream

The propeller slipstream spirals around the fuselage and strikes the left side of the vertical stabilizer, pushing the tail right and yawing the nose left.

Gyroscopic Precession

When a force is applied to the spinning propeller disc (such as raising or lowering the nose), the resulting movement is felt 90 degrees ahead in the direction of rotation. During rotation (pitching up), this creates a left yaw.

Use of Rudder and Elevator During Takeoff

Rudder

The rudder is used throughout the takeoff roll to maintain the aircraft on the runway centerline. Apply right rudder to counteract left-turning tendencies. The amount required will vary with power setting, airspeed, and crosswind component. Smooth, progressive inputs are essential — avoid abrupt corrections.

Elevator

During the initial takeoff roll, the elevator position depends on the aircraft type and conditions. For most nosewheel aircraft in calm conditions, maintain a neutral or slightly aft elevator position. As the aircraft accelerates toward rotation speed (V_R), apply gentle back pressure to raise the nosewheel and rotate to the climb attitude.

Checks During Takeoff

During the takeoff roll, monitor the following:

• Engine instruments in the green: Oil pressure, oil temperature, and other engine gauges should indicate normal. If not — abort the takeoff.
• Airspeed alive: The airspeed indicator should show increasing airspeed early in the takeoff roll. If the airspeed is not increasing — abort the takeoff (possible pitot blockage or instrument failure).
• Directional control: The aircraft should track the centerline. If directional control is lost — abort the takeoff.

ATC and Radio Procedures

At a controlled airport, you must receive a takeoff clearance before entering the runway. The typical sequence:

1. Complete run-up checks at the hold-short line.
2. When ready, advise the tower: "[Airport] Tower, [Callsign], ready for departure runway [number]."
3. Receive takeoff clearance: "[Callsign], runway [number], cleared for takeoff."
4. Read back the clearance and taxi onto the runway.
5. After departure, contact the departure frequency if instructed, or remain on tower frequency for pattern work.

At an uncontrolled airport, announce your intentions on the CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) before taxiing onto the runway and again when departing.

Flight Exercise

Purpose

To perform a standard takeoff and climb to the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, demonstrating correct power application, directional control, rotation technique, and climb performance management.

Standard Takeoff Procedure

Lineup

1. Taxi onto the runway and align the aircraft with the centerline.
2. Verify the heading indicator matches the runway heading.
3. Check that the runway is clear in both directions.
4. Ensure the nosewheel is straight and feet are off the brakes.

Power Application

1. Apply full power smoothly — advance the throttle steadily over 2-3 seconds. Do not jam the throttle forward.
2. As power increases, apply right rudder to counteract left-turning tendencies.
3. Verify engine instruments in the green and airspeed alive.

Takeoff Roll and Rotation

1. Maintain the runway centerline with rudder throughout the roll.
2. Keep wings level with aileron as required (especially in crosswind).
3. At V_R (rotation speed — typically 55-60 knots in a Cessna 172), apply gentle back pressure to rotate to the climb attitude.
4. Allow the aircraft to lift off and establish a positive rate of climb.

Initial Climb

1. Establish and maintain V_Y (best rate of climb speed — typically 74 knots in a Cessna 172).
2. Retract flaps on schedule if any were used for takeoff (typically above 200 feet AGL).
3. Maintain wings level and track the extended runway centerline.
4. Continue right rudder as needed for coordinated flight.

Climb to Downwind

Crosswind Turn

1. Continue climbing at V_Y on the runway heading until approximately 300 feet below pattern altitude (or as specified by local procedures).
2. At the appropriate point, make a 90-degree turn in the direction of the traffic pattern (typically left turn).
3. Maintain V_Y during the turn. Use coordinated aileron and rudder — ball centered.
4. Roll wings level on the crosswind heading.

Turn to Downwind

1. Continue climbing on the crosswind leg.
2. At the appropriate distance from the runway (typically 0.5-1 mile), turn 90 degrees to the downwind heading (parallel to and opposite the runway direction).
3. Level off at pattern altitude (typically 1,000 feet AGL).

Establishing Downwind

1. As you level off, reduce power to cruise setting (approximately 2,300 RPM for a Cessna 172 in the pattern).
2. Allow the aircraft to accelerate to pattern speed.
3. Trim for level flight.
4. Maintain pattern altitude and track parallel to the runway at the appropriate lateral distance.

Radio Practice

Progressive Taxi at Unfamiliar Airport — KDAB

Airport: Daytona Beach International (KDAB)

Position: Clear of RWY 25L, on taxiway

Frequency: Ground 121.9

Type: Class C

You are in N106ST and have just landed on Runway 25 Left at Daytona Beach International. You've taxied off the runway, passed the hold short lines, and completed your after-landing checklist. You want to taxi to the Embry-Riddle ramp, but you are unfamiliar with the airport. Contact Ground and request a progressive taxi.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Simulator Session at Aviator.NYC

1. Route Planning: Build a flight plan from KCDW or KMMU down the Hudson River Corridor
2. Radio Practice: Announce position on CTAF (123.05 MHz) at each reporting point
3. Altitude Control: Maintain corridor limits precisely; practice staying in assigned altitude lane
4. Situational Awareness: Monitor simulated traffic using visual scan and G1000 traffic overlay
5. Optional Diversion: Practice transitioning from Exclusion to Skyline Route using simulated ATC handoff

Overview

Engine failure during the takeoff and pattern phases is the most critical emergency a pilot can face. At low altitude, there is very little time to react and very few options available. The key to surviving these emergencies is pre-planning — knowing what you will do before it happens.

This lesson covers the full range of emergencies that can occur from the start of the takeoff roll through to landing: abandoned takeoffs, engine failures at various points in the traffic pattern, and radio failure procedures.

Background Briefing Topics

• Avoiding Engine Problems
• Abandoned Takeoff
• Engine Failure After Takeoff
• Why Not Turn Back? (The Impossible Turn)
• Engine Failure in the Pattern
• Radio Failure in the Pattern

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• Abandoned Takeoff Practice
• Engine Failure After Takeoff
• Engine Failure in Various Pattern Positions

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Avoiding Engine Problems

Prevention is always better than cure. Many engine failures are the result of poor engine management by the pilot. Follow these practices to minimize the risk of engine problems:

• Proper warm-up: Allow the engine to reach normal operating temperatures before applying high power. Follow the POH recommended warm-up procedure.
• Carburetor heat: Apply carburetor heat regularly during flight and always before reducing power. Carburetor ice is one of the most common causes of partial or full power loss in training aircraft.
• Fuel management: Verify fuel quantity before flight. Select the correct fuel tank. Monitor fuel consumption against planned values. Switch tanks at regular intervals if applicable.
• Mixture: Set mixture appropriately for altitude. Over-leaning can cause engine damage or failure. Enrichen the mixture before applying full power.

Abandoned Takeoff

The decision to abort a takeoff must be made before the takeoff begins. During your pre-takeoff briefing, identify a go/no-go point on the runway — if the aircraft has not achieved the expected performance by that point, you will abort.

Reasons to Abort

• Engine not developing full power (RPM or manifold pressure below normal)
• Airspeed not alive or not increasing as expected
• Engine roughness or abnormal indications
• Directional control problems
• Door or window opening
• Obstruction on the runway (aircraft, vehicle, wildlife)
• Any situation that makes you uncomfortable with continuing

Abandoned Takeoff Procedure

1. Throttle — idle. Reduce power immediately.
2. Brakes — apply. Use maximum braking as required to stop on the remaining runway.
3. Maintain directional control. Keep the aircraft on the centerline with rudder and differential braking.
4. Flaps — retract (if extended) to place more weight on the wheels for better braking.
5. Once stopped, clear the runway and assess the situation.

Engine Failure After Takeoff

Engine failure immediately after takeoff is the most critical emergency a pilot can face. You are at low altitude, low airspeed, and in a nose-high attitude. The immediate priority is to prevent a stall.

Immediate Actions

1. Lower the nose immediately — pitch to the best glide attitude. This is the single most important action. Without airspeed, you have no options.
2. Land straight ahead — or with only minor turns (up to 30 degrees) to avoid obstacles.
3. Do NOT attempt to return to the runway.

The instinct to turn back to the runway is strong — behind you is a long, clear, paved surface. But attempting to return is almost always fatal at low altitude. This is known as the "impossible turn".

Why Not Turn Back? (The Impossible Turn)

The mathematics and physics of the turn-back maneuver demonstrate why it fails at low altitude:

• To return to the runway, you must complete approximately a 180-degree turn (actually more, accounting for wind and alignment).
• In the turn, the aircraft loses altitude due to the increased load factor and reduced lift component.
• The turn must be made at a relatively steep bank angle to minimize altitude loss — but steep bank at low speed is dangerously close to the accelerated stall speed.
• Wind pushes you further from the runway during the turn (you took off into wind, so turning back puts the wind behind you).
• The total altitude required to complete the turn-back safely is typically 800-1,000 feet AGL minimum — and most engine failures after takeoff occur well below this altitude.

Accident statistics consistently show that pilots who attempt the turn-back at low altitude have a very high fatality rate. Pilots who land straight ahead — even in unsuitable terrain — have a much higher survival rate.

Engine Failure in the Pattern

If the engine fails at pattern altitude (typically 1,000 feet AGL), you have more options than immediately after takeoff — but time is still very limited.

On Downwind

• You are at pattern altitude with the runway alongside you.
• Immediately turn toward the runway — you may be able to glide to a modified base and final.
• Pitch for best glide speed. Do not waste altitude trying to reach a distant point on the runway.
• Accept a landing on any available portion of the runway, or a suitable area short of the runway if you cannot reach it.

On Base Leg

• You are already turning toward the runway and relatively close.
• Pitch for best glide speed and continue the turn to final.
• Adjust your aim point — you may need to land on the first third of the runway rather than your normal touchdown point.

On Final

• You are already aligned with the runway.
• Pitch for best glide speed.
• If you are too high, use flaps or a forward slip to increase the descent rate.
• If you cannot reach the runway, select the best available landing area ahead of you.

Radio Failure in the Pattern

If your radio fails while in the traffic pattern at a controlled airport:

1. Squawk 7600 on the transponder (the radio failure code).
2. Continue flying the standard traffic pattern. Maintain normal pattern procedures — the tower will be expecting you to do this.
3. Watch for light signals from the control tower:

4. Acknowledge that you have seen the light signal by rocking your wings (in flight) or by moving your ailerons or rudder (on the ground).

Flight Exercise

Purpose

To practice the correct responses to engine failures and other emergencies during the takeoff roll, immediately after takeoff, and at various positions in the traffic pattern. The emphasis is on pre-planned decision-making and immediate, correct responses.

Abandoned Takeoff Practice

Your instructor will simulate situations requiring an aborted takeoff during the takeoff roll. Practice the following sequence until it becomes automatic:

1. Recognition: Identify the abnormality (engine roughness, abnormal indications, obstruction).
2. Decision: "Aborting takeoff."
3. Throttle — idle. Close the throttle completely and immediately.
4. Brakes — maximum. Apply firm, progressive braking.
5. Directional control. Maintain centerline with rudder and differential braking.
6. Flaps — retract (if extended).
7. Clear the runway when safe to do so.

Engine Failure After Takeoff

Your instructor will simulate an engine failure at various altitudes after takeoff (by reducing power to idle). Your response must be immediate and correct:

Immediate Actions

1. Pitch for best glide speed. Lower the nose immediately to maintain V_G (best glide speed — typically 65 knots in a Cessna 172). This is the single most critical action.
2. Select a landing area. Look straight ahead or with only minor deviations (30 degrees maximum). Choose the best available option — a field, road, or open area.
3. Wings level. Do not turn. Minor heading changes only if required to avoid an obstacle directly ahead.
4. If time permits: Attempt an engine restart (fuel selector, mixture, magnetos, carburetor heat). But do NOT sacrifice airspeed or altitude to troubleshoot.
5. Prepare for landing: Flaps as appropriate for the landing area. Secure the aircraft (mixture idle cutoff, fuel off, master off) if time permits.

Engine Failure in Various Pattern Positions

Your instructor will simulate engine failures at different points in the traffic pattern. For each scenario, practice the following:

On Crosswind Leg

1. Pitch for best glide speed immediately.
2. Assess whether you can reach the runway with a turn back. At low altitude on crosswind, this is unlikely — treat it as an engine failure after takeoff and land ahead.
3. At higher altitudes on crosswind, a modified return to the runway may be possible.

On Downwind Leg

1. Pitch for best glide speed immediately.
2. Turn toward the runway — you are at pattern altitude and the runway is beside you.
3. Plan a shortened approach — base and final may be compressed.
4. Accept any available portion of the runway. Do not try to reach your normal touchdown point if it means stretching the glide.

On Base Leg

1. Pitch for best glide speed.
2. Continue the turn to final — you are already close to the runway.
3. Adjust aim point as needed. Use flaps judiciously (they increase descent rate but also reduce glide range).

On Final Approach

1. Pitch for best glide speed.
2. You are already aligned with the runway — continue the approach.
3. If too high: add flaps or slip to increase descent rate.
4. If too low or cannot reach the runway: select the best available landing area ahead and below you.

Radio Practice

Class C Departure Sequence — KDAB

Airport: Daytona Beach International (KDAB)

Position: GA Ramp

Frequency: Clearance 121.3 → Ground 121.9 → Tower 120.7

Type: Class C, ATIS Juliet

You are in N106ST, preparing to depart Daytona Beach International (Class C). You've listened to ATIS (information Juliet) and plan to fly west to Cross City Airport at 4,500 feet. Contact Clearance Delivery for your VFR departure clearance, then be ready to copy heading, altitude, departure frequency, and squawk code.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Overview

The purpose of this exercise is to practice the glide (power-off) approach and landing. This is a precision exercise that builds judgment and has direct application to engine-out landing scenarios. Mastering the glide approach gives you confidence that you can land the aircraft safely without engine power.

The key skill is judging the power-off point and managing the glide to arrive at the correct position for the flare. Flaps are your primary tool for adjusting the approach angle once the throttle is closed.

Background Briefing Topics

• Adjustment of the Pattern
• Judging the Power-Off Point
• Maintaining the Glide — Use of Flap
• The Glide Landing

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• HASELL-type awareness check
• Glide approach from the pattern
• Use of flap to adjust descent angle
• Flare and touchdown

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Adjustment of the Pattern

A glide approach requires a modified traffic pattern. Because you will have no engine power available after the power-off point, you must position the aircraft so that it can glide to the runway without any power assistance.

The key modification is in the base-to-final turn. In a normal powered approach, you have the luxury of adjusting power to correct for errors in positioning. In a glide approach, once the throttle is closed, your only tools are:

• Adjusting the pattern (flying closer to or farther from the runway)
• Using flaps to steepen or shallow the glide
• Adjusting airspeed (within the safe range)

The base-to-final turn is critical because it is the last major opportunity to adjust your flight path. If you turn final too high, you can use flaps to steepen the descent. If you turn final too low, your options are limited — you may need to add power (converting it back to a powered approach) or accept a landing short of your target.

Judging the Power-Off Point

The standard power-off point is abeam the intended touchdown point on the downwind leg. At this position:

1. Apply carburetor heat HOT (always before closing the throttle)
2. Close the throttle smoothly to idle
3. Establish the best glide speed attitude
4. Trim for the glide

Judge the distance to the runway by the apparent position of the runway relative to the wing. With practice, you will learn to recognize whether the runway appears in the correct position — approximately 30 to 45 degrees below the horizon when abeam on downwind.

Factors that affect where you should close the throttle include:

• Wind: A stronger headwind on final means you need to be closer to the runway or higher
• Aircraft weight: A lighter aircraft glides farther at the same speed
• Altitude: If higher than normal pattern altitude, you may need to delay the power-off point or widen the pattern

Maintaining the Glide — Use of Flap

Once established in the glide, your primary tool for adjusting the approach angle is flap. Flaps steepen the approach without increasing speed — they increase both lift and drag, but at the settings used in approach, the drag increase dominates.

Decision Rules

Apply flaps incrementally. Each notch of flap steepens the descent. Once flaps are extended, they should not normally be retracted during the approach — retracting flaps causes a sudden loss of lift and a sink that may be dangerous at low altitude.

Airspeed Management

Throughout the glide, maintain the best glide speed (or the recommended approach speed for the flap setting in use). This speed provides the flattest glide angle and maximum distance per altitude lost. Deviations from this speed — either faster or slower — will steepen the descent.

The Glide Landing

The glide landing follows the same technique as a normal landing, with the difference that you arrive at the flare point from a steeper approach angle and without power:

1. Maintain best glide speed to the flare point — do not allow the speed to decay prematurely
2. Round out (flare) at the correct height — gently raise the nose to arrest the descent rate
3. Hold off as speed decreases — keep the aircraft flying just above the runway while speed bleeds away
4. Touch down on the main wheels — the aircraft settles onto the runway in a slightly nose-up attitude

The flare height may be slightly different from a powered approach because the steeper descent requires a slightly earlier and more progressive round-out. With practice, you will learn to judge the correct height and rate of pitch change.

Flight Exercise

HASELL-Type Awareness Check

Before commencing the glide approach exercise, complete an awareness check appropriate to the situation. In the traffic pattern, this takes the form of verifying:

• Height — at normal pattern altitude
• Airframe — configured for the downwind leg (clean or as appropriate)
• Security — harnesses secure, loose items stowed
• Engine — temperatures and pressures in the green, fuel on correct tank
• Location — confirm the runway environment and traffic
• Lookout — scan for other traffic, particularly on base and final

Glide Approach from the Pattern

The glide approach is initiated from the downwind leg, abeam the intended touchdown point (the numbers or a selected aiming point):

1. Abeam the numbers: Apply carburetor heat HOT
2. Close the throttle smoothly to idle
3. Establish best glide speed — pitch for the correct attitude and trim
4. Turn base when the runway is approximately 45 degrees behind the wing (judge by angle)
5. On base: Assess your height relative to the runway — decide whether flap is needed
6. Turn final: Align with the runway centerline and assess the approach angle

Use of Flap to Adjust Descent Angle

On base and final, use flap incrementally to manage the descent profile:

After each flap change, re-trim for the new approach speed and allow the aircraft to stabilize before making further adjustments.

Flare and Touchdown

The flare technique for a glide approach is essentially the same as for a powered approach:

1. Approaching the threshold: Confirm you are on speed and on profile
2. At approximately 15-20 feet: Begin the round-out — smoothly raise the nose to reduce the descent rate
3. Hold off: Continue to ease back on the control column as speed decreases — keep the aircraft flying just above the runway
4. Touchdown: Main wheels contact the runway first in a slightly nose-up attitude
5. After touchdown: Lower the nosewheel gently, apply braking as needed

Radio Practice

Special VFR in Reduced Visibility — KMFD

Airport: Mansfield Lahm Municipal (KMFD)

Position: 15 miles south, inbound

Frequency: Tower 118.9

Type: Class D, ATIS Kilo (visibility 2 mi)

You are in N106ST, 15 miles south of Mansfield Lahm Municipal Airport. ATIS reports only 2 miles visibility — below VFR minimums for Class D. You need to enter the airspace to land. You must request Special VFR; the controller cannot suggest it. Under SVFR you need 1 mile visibility and clear of clouds.

Practice the full scenario with your instructor during your lesson.

Overview

This exercise teaches maximum-performance takeoff and landing techniques for use on short runways, as well as modified techniques for soft or unpaved surfaces. These skills expand where you can safely operate and are tested on the FAA Private Pilot practical exam.

Performance calculations are central to this lesson. Before using any short runway, you must verify mathematically that the aircraft can safely take off and land within the available distance — with appropriate margins.

Background Briefing Topics

• Calculation of Takeoff Distance
• Use of Flaps for Short-Field Takeoff
• Short-Field Takeoff Technique
• Short-Field Approach & Landing
• Soft-Field Definition
• Soft-Field Takeoff
• Soft-Field Landing
• Operation from a Soft-Field Runway
• Performance Factors Supplement

Read the full Background Briefing →

Flight Exercise Topics

• Short-field takeoff: brakes held, full power, Vx climb
• Short-field approach: precision speed control, target touchdown
• Soft-field takeoff: back pressure, ground effect, accelerate then climb
• Soft-field landing: minimum speed touchdown, nosewheel protection

Read the full Flight Exercise →

Background Briefing

Calculation of Takeoff Distance

Before using any short runway, you must calculate the required takeoff distance using the POH performance charts. The published figures assume specific conditions — you must correct for actual conditions on the day.

Factors Affecting Takeoff Distance

Use of Flaps

For short-field takeoff, the POH typically recommends an initial flap setting (often 10 degrees). This setting:

• Reduces the ground roll by allowing liftoff at a lower speed
• May improve the initial climb gradient over an obstacle
• Creates more drag than a clean configuration once airborne

Always follow the POH recommendation for your specific aircraft. Some aircraft perform better with zero flaps for the short-field takeoff — the POH is the authority.

Short-Field Takeoff

The short-field takeoff is a maximum-performance technique designed to minimize ground roll and clear an obstacle at the departure end of the runway:

1. Line up using the full length of the runway — taxi to the very end
2. Hold brakes firmly
3. Apply full power — verify engine instruments are normal
4. Release brakes when full power is confirmed
5. Rotate at the minimum safe speed specified in the POH
6. Climb at V_X (best angle of climb speed) until the obstacle is cleared
7. Accelerate to V_Y (best rate of climb speed) for the continued climb
8. Retract flaps once at a safe altitude and accelerating

Short-Field Approach & Landing

The short-field approach requires precision airspeed control and a specific aim point. The goal is to touch down on target with minimum float and then stop in the shortest possible distance.

1. Fly a stabilized approach at the correct speed (typically V_ref or 1.3 V_S0)
2. Use full flaps as recommended by the POH
3. Aim for a specific touchdown point — typically the first available landing area
4. Touch down at minimum speed — do not float past the target
5. Apply maximum braking immediately after touchdown (retract flaps to put weight on wheels)

Soft-Field Definition

A soft field is any surface that creates increased rolling resistance compared to a hard, paved runway. Examples include:

• Grass (short or long)
• Dirt or mud
• Gravel
• Snow or slush
• Wet pavement with standing water

The primary challenge of a soft surface is that the wheels tend to sink in, creating high rolling resistance that can slow the aircraft dramatically during the takeoff roll or cause the nose to pitch forward during landing.

Soft-Field Takeoff

The soft-field takeoff technique minimizes the time the wheels are in contact with the soft surface:

1. Maintain back pressure throughout — keep weight off the nosewheel from the start of the roll
2. Apply full power smoothly — do not stop on the runway (keep rolling from the taxiway)
3. Get airborne as soon as possible — the aircraft will lift off at a speed below normal climb speed
4. Accelerate in ground effect — remain within one wingspan of the surface, allowing speed to build
5. Climb away once V_X or V_Y is reached

Soft-Field Landing

The soft-field landing technique minimizes the impact on soft surfaces and protects the nosewheel:

1. Fly a normal approach at the correct speed
2. Touch down at the minimum possible speed — use a smooth, full flare to dissipate energy
3. Keep full back pressure after touchdown — hold the nosewheel off the surface as long as possible
4. Do not brake hard — on a soft surface, hard braking can dig the wheels in and flip the aircraft
5. Allow the aircraft to decelerate naturally — the soft surface provides plenty of rolling resistance

Operation from a Soft-Field Runway

Operating on soft surfaces presents challenges beyond just takeoff and landing:

• Taxi challenges: Keep the aircraft moving — if you stop, the wheels may sink and you may not be able to get rolling again
• No sharp turns: Sharp turns at low speed on a soft surface put high side loads on the landing gear and increase the risk of getting stuck
• Keep momentum: When taxiing onto the runway for takeoff, do not stop — roll continuously from the taxiway into the takeoff roll
• Surface inspection: If possible, inspect the runway surface on foot before attempting to use it. Look for ruts, soft spots, standing water, and obstructions

Performance Factors Supplement

When POH data does not directly account for certain conditions, apply the following approximate corrections to the calculated takeoff and landing distances:

Flight Exercise

Short-Field Takeoff

The short-field takeoff maximizes use of available runway and provides the steepest initial climb to clear obstacles:

1. Pre-takeoff: Complete all checks. Set flaps as recommended by POH (typically 10 degrees). Trim for takeoff.
2. Position: Taxi to the very beginning of the runway. Use every foot available.
3. Hold brakes: Apply and hold toe brakes firmly.
4. Full power: Advance throttle to full power. Verify engine instruments — RPM, oil pressure, oil temperature all normal.
5. Release brakes: Once full power is confirmed and stable, release brakes simultaneously.
6. Accelerate: Keep the aircraft tracking straight with rudder. Slight back pressure to reduce nosewheel drag.
7. Rotate: At the POH-specified rotation speed, smoothly rotate to the climb attitude.
8. Climb at V_X: Maintain best angle of climb speed until any obstacle is cleared (or to at least 50 feet AGL).
9. Transition to V_Y: Lower the nose slightly to accelerate to best rate of climb speed.
10. Retract flaps: Once established in the climb at V_Y with adequate altitude.

Short-Field Approach & Landing

Precision speed control and a specific aim point are essential. The goal is zero float and touchdown on your mark:

1. Configure early: Full flaps (as POH recommends) established on final approach.
2. Speed control: Maintain the POH approach speed precisely — typically V_ref or 1.3 V_S0. Do not add excessive speed.
3. Aim point: Select a specific touchdown point and fly toward it. The aim point should remain stationary in the windscreen if you are on the correct glide path.
4. Power management: Use power to control the descent rate. Reduce to idle just before the flare.
5. Flare: Round out at the normal height — touch down firmly but not hard.
6. After touchdown: Retract flaps immediately (dumps lift, puts weight on wheels). Apply maximum braking. Use aerodynamic braking (hold the nose up) as speed permits.

Soft-Field Takeoff

The soft-field takeoff minimizes time on the soft surface and uses ground effect to accelerate to a safe climb speed:

1. Taxi without stopping: Roll continuously from the taxiway onto the runway and into the takeoff roll. Do not stop on the soft surface.
2. Full back pressure: As you align with the runway, hold full back pressure to keep the nosewheel light (or off the surface entirely).
3. Full power: Apply full power smoothly as you roll.
4. Lift off early: The aircraft will become airborne at a speed below normal climb speed. Allow this — do not force it back onto the ground.
5. Accelerate in ground effect: Immediately after liftoff, lower the nose slightly to remain within one wingspan of the surface. Allow the airspeed to build.
6. Climb: Once V_X or V_Y is reached, establish a normal climb.

Soft-Field Landing

The soft-field landing aims to touch down at the lowest possible speed with a nose-high attitude to protect the nosewheel:

1. Normal approach: Fly a stabilized approach at the correct speed with appropriate flaps.
2. Full flare: Use a complete flare to dissipate as much energy as possible before touchdown.
3. Minimum speed touchdown: Allow the aircraft to settle onto the main wheels at the slowest possible speed.
4. Hold back pressure: After touchdown, maintain full back pressure to keep the nosewheel off the surface for as long as possible.
5. Do not brake hard: Allow the soft surface to decelerate the aircraft. Hard braking on a soft surface risks digging the wheels in.
6. Keep rolling: If possible, keep the aircraft moving until you reach a hard surface or parking area. Stopping on a soft surface may make it difficult to start again.