Objective: To develop the students ability to compensate for drift during turns, orient the flight path with ground references, follow an assigned ground track, arrive at specified points on assigned headings, and divide the attention of the pilot between airplane control and ground track.
Instructor Actions: Review the maneuver with student on ground prior to flight and explain and demonstrate the maneuver for the student toward the beginning of the flight. Then continue following the Demonstration-Performance Training Method (Explanation, Demonstration, Student Performance/Instructor Supervision, Evaluation). Or use the Telling and Doing Technique (Instructor Tells-Instructor Does, Student Tells-Instructor Does, Student Tells-Student Does).
Student Actions: Student will answer questions to display knowledge of this procedure when prompted by the instructor. The student will perform each step of the procedure. If the Telling and Doing Technique is used then the student will also “tell” (describe each step of) the procedure.
Elements :
- first clear the area
- begin maneuver at 600’ to 1,000’ AGL at cruise stetting with airspeed not to exceed maneuvering speed
- choose a straight ground reference line (a road, or seeable fence)
- cross the road at 90°, flying in a downwind direction
- when over the road begin a turn to the left (or right) turning relatively steep initially (since you are downwind) and shallowing the turn as you continue to complete it (since ground speed will be slower because of increasing headwind)
- the first turn (and the second) should be of uniform radius and should be completed by re-crossing the road at a 90° angle after 180° of turn is completed
- begin a second (the second part of the S in the S-turn) turn in the opposite direction as you cross the road
- the second turn will be upwind in the begging so it should be a shallow turn increasing to a moderate and then a steep bank prior to finishing the S- turn, by crossing the road for the third time, at a 90° angle after 180° of turn.
- altitude should be maintained +/- 100’ and airspeed should be maintained +/- 10 knots
- note that, as with other maneuvers, ground speed is less when flying in to a headwind, and higher when flying downwind. So a steeper bank will be necessary when flying downwind, and a shallower bank will be necessary when flying upwind, so that your path relative to the ground will be the same.
- as you go fast you also need to turn sharper.
- bank angle will be moderate with a crosswind
Common Errors:
- failure to adequately clear the area
- skidding or slipping
- gaining or losing too much altitude
- inability to properly visualize the half circle ground track
- improper wind correction
- failure to scan for traffic
Completion Standards: The lesson is complete when the student is able to demonstrate knowledge of the maneuver by answering questions and by satisfactory performance of the maneuver according to the expectations of the instructor based upon the standards of the PTS for the students stage in training.
Sources: AFH (2004 edition), page 6-6 to 6-7, figure 6-5. Private Pilot PTS (updated 2/22/2008), page 1-22.
