Reference:
Attention: This maneuver is designed to make the traffic pattern much easier to understand
Motivation:
Objective: The Student Will Understand the Elements Related to A Rectangular Course and The Elements Involved in Maintaining A Correct Ground Track. The Student Can Also Perform This Maneuver as Required in the ACS.
Learning Objective (Index)
- Learning Objective (Index)
- Key Points
- What
- Why
- Procedure for the Maneuver
- Pilots Needs to be Aware
- Directional Control
- Altitude Control
- Airspeed Control
- Common Errors
- Standards
Key Points
- Plan Ahead
- Wind Corrections
- Coordination
What
- This is a training maneuver in which the airplane’s ground track is maintained equidistant from all sides of a selected rectangular area on the ground.
Why
- This maneuver simulates the conditions encountered in a traffic pattern and prepares the student for traffic pattern work. It assists in learning:
- The practical application of the turn
- The division of attention between the flight path, ground objects, and handling of the airplane
- The timing of the start of the turn so that it will be fully established at a definite point over the ground
- The timing of the recovery from a turn so that a definite ground track will be maintained
- The establishing of a ground track and the determination of the appropriate crab angle
Procedure for the Maneuver
- Check wind direction using smoke, water from lakes, trees…
- Best place to land in case of an emergency
- Clear the area
- Find a proper and noticeable ground reference point and sync heading bug to entry heading
- Set throttle and prop to obtain desired entry speed
- Enter the maneuver in the downwind (tail wind) with the reference at your left
Pilots Needs to be Aware
- Directional Control
- Altitude Control
- Airspeed Control
Directional Control
Downwind Side = Steep Turn
Upwind Side = Shallower Turn
Altitude Control
- SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
- CFIT
- Scan for traffic
- Scan your instruments
Downwind = Tail wind = Less Lift
Upwind = Head wind = More Lift
Airspeed Control
Downwind = Tail wind = More Ground Speed = More Power for Airspeed
Upwind = Head wind = Less Ground speed = Less Power for Airspeed
Common Errors
- Clearing the area above, below, and on either side of the airplane pre-maneuver and during the maneuver
- Establish a constant, level altitude prior to entering the maneuver
- Maintain altitude during the maneuver
- Properly evaluate wind direction
- Properly execute constant radius turns
- Manipulate the flight controls in a smooth and continuous manner when transitioning into turns
- Establish the appropriate wind correction angle
- Coordinated turns, resulting in slips or skids
Standards
- Plan the maneuver altitude between 600 ft and 1.000 ft AGL
- Maintain Altitude +- 100 ft
- Maintain Airspeed +- 10 knots
- Max bank angle of 45º
- Select a reference area that includes an emergency-landing site, with gliding distance in case of an engine failure
- Apply wind-drift correction to track a constant radius turn around the selected reference point
- Divide attention between airplane control and ground track