Ch. 6 Ground Reference Maneuvers Flashcards
Principle flight maneuvers that combine the four fundamentals into a set of integrated skills that the pilot uses in their everyday flight activity.
Ground reference maneuvers
When should a pilot be introduced to ground reference maneuvers?
When the student shows proficiency in the four fundamentals.
What is the purpose of ground reference maneuvers?
To train pilots to accurately place the airplane in relationship to specific references and maintain a desired ground track.
To be effective in ground reference maneuvers what should the pilot scan between?
Several visual references to determine ground track.
What are some considerations one should make in determining a ground reference?
Type of maneuver to be performed, altitude for maneuver, emergency landing spots, density of structures, wind direction visibility, and type of airspace.
What must be done before every ground reference maneuver?
Clearing turns
As a general note, a ground reference maneuver should not exceed what bank angle or airspeed? (AFH 6-3)
45 degrees and/or maneuvering speed
What causes the primary reason for deviations from our desired ground track?
Wind
What altitudes are typically used for ground reference maneuvers?
Between 600 to 1000’ AGL
What are some considerations that must be made when determining what altitude to use for a ground reference maneuver?
- the lower altitude causes the airplane to appear to move faster across the ground.
- drift must be easily recognizable from both sides
- obstruction clearance no less than 500’ vertically and 2000’ horizontally
- forced landing areas (and less time to solve problems at lower altitude)
- specific altitudes required by test standards
When the airplane is headed upwind, the groundspeed is:
Decreased
When the airplane is headed downwind, the groundspeed is:
Increased
Where should ground reference maneuvers be entered? (AFH 6-6)
From the downwind position.
What is the purpose of learning to fly the rectangular course?
To fly a ground track equidistant on all sides of a rectangular area on the ground, accounting for wind effects, while maintaining a constant altitude and airspeed, while using inside and outside references.
What bank turn should be used when turning from the downwind to the base leg during the rectangular course maneuver? (Assuming wind is directly parallel with downwind leg)
Steep bank
What bank turn should be used when turning base to upwind leg during rectangular course maneuver? (Assuming wind is parallel to upwind leg)
Medium banked turn.
What bank turn should be used when turning upwind to crosswind leg during the rectangular course maneuver? (Assuming wind is directly parallel to upwind leg)
Shallow banked turn
What bank turn should be used when turning from crosswind to downwind leg during the rectangular course maneuver? (Assuming wind is directly parallel to downwind leg)
Medium banked turn
When the wind is from a direction that could drift the airplane into the course, the banking roll rate should be:
Slow
When the wind is from a direction that could drift the airplane to the outside of the course, the banking roll rate should be:
Quick
Should your reference be visible at all times during the Turn Around a Point maneuver?
Yes. So either adjust altitude or turn radius to accommodate.
During the downwind half of the Turn Around a Point maneuver where should the airplane’s heading be pointed?
To the inside of the turn.
During the upwind half of the Turn Around a Point maneuver where should the airplane’s heading be pointed?
To the outside of the turn.
What is the objective of the S-turns maneuver?
To fly a series of s-turns across a linear ground feature, with semi-circles of equal size and shape, while maintaining constant altitude and airspeed.
When flying S-turns maneuver where will the bank be the steepest and roll rate be the quickest?
Downwind position
In S-turns maneuver where will bank angle be the least and roll rate be the slowest?
Upwind position
Family of maneuvers in which each individual maneuver is one that the airplane tracks a path over the ground similar to the shape of a figure eight.
Elementary eights
What is the objective of Eights Along a Road maneuver?
To further develop division of attention while compensating for drift, maintaining orientation with ground references, and maintaining a constant altitude.
What is the primary difference between Eights Along a Road and Eights Across a Road?
At the completion of each loop of the figure eight, the airplane should cross an intersection of a specific ground reference point.
In Eights Around Pylons how should the pylons be positioned to the wind?
Perpendicular to the wind
In Eights Around Pylons where does the pilot enter the maneuver?
Entering downwind.
What is the most advanced and difficult of the ground reference maneuvers?
Eights on Pylons
What is the goal of Eights on Pylons?
Have an imaginary line that is parallel to the airplane’s lateral axis extend from the pilot’s eyes to the pylon, as the airplane pivots around the pylons.
The altitude that is appropriate for eights-on-pylons is called:
Pivotal altitude
How is pivotal altitude calculated?
(Groundspeed^2)/11.3+altitude of pylon
The altitude at which, for a given groundspeed, the projection of the visual reference one to the pylon appears to pivot.
Pivotal altitude
Does pivotal altitude change with bank angle?
No. Unless the bank angle affects groundspeed.
At any altitude above the pivotal altitude, the projected reference line appears to move where with respect to the pylon?
Rearward
At any altitude below the pivotal altitude, the projected reference line appears to move where with respect to the pylon?
Forward
How should the pilot correct for deviations in groundspeed, and therefore pivotal altitude, due to wind in eights-on-pylons?
Climbing or descending as necessary to hold the visual reference line on the pylons.
When selecting pylons should they be at the same altitude?
Yes
What criteria does the pilot use when selecting pylons? (AFH 6-16)
The two pylons form a line perpendicular to the wind, distance between pylons should allow for the straight-and-level flight segment to last from 3-5 seconds.
When should the pilot estimate pivotal altitude?
During preflight planning.
How does the pilot enter the eights-on-pylons maneuver?
Flying diagonally crosswind between the two pylons to a point downwind from the first pylon, so the first turn can be made into the wind.
Does the eights-on-pylons maneuver require the pilot to fly a constant radius around the pylons?
No.
Should the pilot use the altimeter in making corrections to their pivotal altitude?
No.
How should the pilot use the rudder during eights-on-pylons or during any maneuver for that matter?
Only for coordination. The rudder should NEVER be used to turn the aircraft.
