Slow Flight
Learn to recognize the symptoms of critically slow airspeed and control the aircraft safely at minimum controllable airspeed. This exercise builds the foundation for stall recognition and pattern flying.
Aviator.NYC Lesson Plan
Briefing Topics
- Aviation weather tools
- NYC-area training airports overview
- Decision-making strategies
Simulator Session
- Pre-Flight Weather Briefing — TAF and METAR
- Depart KFRG or KCDW into deteriorating weather
- Diversion to alternate airport (KMMU or KHPN)
- Simulated Radio Failure — NORDO landing procedure
- Go-Around from 200 ft AGL
Debrief
Review decision-making under pressure and airport familiarity.
Pilot Preparation
- Practice weather briefing on aviationweather.gov
- Review NORDO (no radio) procedures
Skill Items
| Skill | D P 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
|---|---|
| Preflight Inspection | |
| Engine Starting | |
| Taxi & Before Takeoff Check | |
| Radio Communications | |
| Normal Takeoff and Climbs | |
| Climbing & Leveling Off With Turns | |
| Straight & Level Flight/Various Airspeeds | |
| Steep Turns | |
| Slow Flight (With & Without Flaps) | |
| Use of Trim Flaps Mixture Carb Heat | |
| Clean Stall Entry & Symptoms | |
| Recovery With & Without Power | |
| Incipient Recovery of Clean Stall | |
| Go Around Procedure (At Altitude) | |
| Descent & Leveling Off | |
| Ground Ref Maneuvers | |
| Approach Planning & Altimeter Setting | |
| Normal Landing | |
| After Landing Parking and Securing |
Radio Communication Scenarios
Practice VFR radio calls for this lesson. Listen to the scenario, formulate your response, then reveal the full exchange.
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.
Contact Flight Watch on 122.0 and give a PIREP. Include: callsign, location, altitude, aircraft type, and the icing conditions you're experiencing. State your intentions.
- You (Pilot) "Flight Watch, november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, PIREP."
- Flight Watch "november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, Flight Watch, go ahead with your PIREP."
- You (Pilot) "november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, PA-28, one-zero miles northeast of Kirksville, four thousand five hundred. Light rime icing, unforecast. Returning to Kirksville."
- Flight Watch "november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, roger, PIREP received. Kirksville altimeter two-niner-niner-two. Weather, ceiling three thousand broken, visibility five."
- You (Pilot) "Two-niner-niner-two, six-sierra-tango. Thank you."
You are in N106ST on a long cross-country to Central Nebraska Regional Airport. You've filed an open VFR flight plan. You pass the Ponca City VOR at 1830 Zulu and decide to update Flight Service with your current position.
Contact Flight Service to update your VFR flight plan with a position report. Include: callsign, that you have an open VFR flight plan, your current position, altitude, and time over the fix.
- You (Pilot) "Radio, november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, position report on open VFR flight plan."
- FSS (Radio) "november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, Radio, go ahead."
- You (Pilot) "november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, over Ponca City VOR at one-eight-three-zero Zulu, five thousand five hundred, en route Central Nebraska Regional."
- FSS (Radio) "november-one-zero-six-sierra-tango, roger, position report received. Ponca City altimeter three-zero-zero-five."
- You (Pilot) "Three-zero-zero-five, six-sierra-tango."
These lesson plans are provided as supplementary training guidance only. They do not supersede FAA publications, aircraft manufacturer documentation, or your instructor's direction. Always refer to the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, Airplane Flying Handbook, AIM, and applicable POH/AFM as the official sources.