Reference: Airplane Flying Handbook Page 8-11

Learning Objective (Index)

• Learning Objective (Index)
• Key Points
• What
• Why
• How
• Sideslip
• Forward Slip
• Common Errors
• ACS Standards

Key Points

• Maintain Ground Track
• Steeper Bank Angle = Steeper Descent
• Smooth Recovery

What

• A slip occurs when the bank angle of an airplane is too steep for the rate of turn. In essence, the airplane is flying sideways, increasing drag and the rate of descent without increasing airspeed.

Why

• Intentional slips are used to lose altitude without increasing airspeed, and/or adjust airplane ground track during a crosswind.
• Intentional slips are useful in forced landings and in situations where obstacles must be cleared during approaches to confined areas.
• A slip can also be used as an emergency means of rapidly reducing airspeed in situations where wing flaps are not available.

How

Sideslip

• Is entered by lowering the wing and apply just enough opposite rudder to prevent a turn
• Is commonly used for wind correction in the final approach

Forward Slip

• Is one in which the airplane’s direction of motion continues the same as before the slip was begun
• Is commonly used for lose altitude
• The Steeper the Bank, The Steeper the Descent

Common Errors

• Incorrect pitch adjustments that result un poor airspeed control
• Reacting to erroneous airspeed indications
• Using excess power while trying to lose altitude
• A slip in the same direction as any crosswind
• Poor glide path control
• Late transition to a sideslip during landing with crosswind
• Landing without the longitudinal axis parallel to runway
• Landing off the centerline

ACS Standards

• Complete the appropriate checklist.
• Make radio calls as appropriate.
• Plan and follow a flightpath to the selected landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, and obstructions.
• Select the most suitable touchdown point based on wind, landing surface, obstructions, and aircraft limitations.
• Position airplane on downwind leg, parallel to landing runway.
• Correctly configure the airplane. As necessary, correlate crosswind with direction of forward slip and transition to side slip for landing.
• Touch down within -0/+400 feet from the specified touchdown point with minimum side drift.