are listed in the PTS (practical test standards book). These are standard maneuvers that you'll be tested on during the practical testing or checkride. Usually you'll only have to do one, but if your DPE asks you to do more, it may be because of several factors. Wind may be wreaking havoc with flying in general; you may be unfamiliar with the aircraft thus your actions may not always be perfectly appropriate; or you may just be unfamiliar with the actions required, though you (accidently) accomplished one task, the DPE may be ascertaining your abilities to fly and correct mistakes. The standard IS NOT PERFECTION. And after reading this you should be well prepared to pass your practical with FLYING COLORS.
ELEMENTS:
| 1.Choose an appropriate area. 2. CLEAR the area. 3. Approach on 45º leg to downwind leg. 4. Anticipate corners and make corrections for the wind. 5. Divide attention in cockpit and out. 6. Do NOT drop below 200' AGL. 7. You get plus/minus 100 ft from altitude you start. |
Hint: follow the edges of farm fields and keep your flight path outside of the mark, not right over it. That gives you more time to recognize errors and correct.
Common problems: flying too close to the line you're trying to follow and/or not knowing which way the wind is blowing!
S-Turns.
ELEMENTS:
| 1. Choose an appropriate area. 2. CLEAR area. 3. Start on downwind leg. Not required, but a good idea. 4. Divide attention in and out of cockpit. 5. Anticipate wind drift and compensate. 6. Never descend lower than 200 feet AGL. 7. You get plus/minus 100 ft from where you start. |
Hint: Visualize the circles on the ground that mark your path that your aircraft will follow in the air. Make a mental note of the distance on either side of the line that you'll aim for, so that your paths are equal size on either side of the line.
Common problems: Starting the maneuver on the upwind leg and making that turn too tight for next turn which would be downwind. Making too hard of a turn while flying into the wind. I practice with a GPS and fly the line first, then make my S's on it. The first straight line gives me a reference.
Turns around a point.
ELEMENTS:
| 1. Choose an appropriate area. 2. CLEAR the area. 3. Divide your attention in and out of cockpit. 4. Anticipate wind drift. 5. Stay the same distance from point all the way around point. 6. If your circle becomes oblong or crooked make actions to correct it, IMMEDIATELY. 7. Never descend below 200' AGL. 8. You get plus/minus 100' from starting altitude. |
Hint: use a center pivot and follow the wheel paths in the crop. If you use a point, like the center of 2 converging roads (shown below) mentally mark out a perfect circle all the way around the point, then stay outside of that circle, so that mistakes can be easily seen and corrected. If the circle or path you've drawn is right beneath the cart, you won't know you're off your path until very late.
Common Problems: Trying to fly too tight a turn around a point. There is no size limit on this turn in the PTS.
You'll be asked to do one more "maneuver "called a PERFORMANCE Maneuver. It is a constant altitude turn. It is NOT a ground reference maneuver but your elements are similar in that you must CLEAR all turns first, you must pick an approriate area (NOT right over the power lines-that's scary), you must not descend below 200' AGL, you get plus/minus 100' from starting altitude.
In this maneuver, pick a point on the horizen (ok this is on the "ground" but NOT right beneath you) and use that as your starting and ending point. You must start and end within 10 degrees of this point (of course, who has as compass-it's not required equipment). The PTS says you should do turns in both directions.
*** Notes: If you do not understand what the examiner has asked you to do, ask him what he means. Talk to your DPE throughout the whole checkride. Tell him what you're doing and why. Let him know that you're looking over your shoulder, adjusting your throttle, or changing your angle to correct for wind drift. HE wants you to pass the check ride and have a positive experience!
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OH and did I say you must CLEAR all your turns first?!
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