Ch. 6 Ground Reference Maneuvers

Question 1

Principle flight maneuvers that combine the four fundamentals into a set of integrated skills that the pilot uses in their everyday flight activity.

Answer 1

Ground reference maneuvers

Question 2

When should a pilot be introduced to ground reference maneuvers?

Answer 2

When the student shows proficiency in the four fundamentals.

Question 3

What is the purpose of ground reference maneuvers?

Answer 3

To train pilots to accurately place the airplane in relationship to specific references and maintain a desired ground track.

Question 4

To be effective in ground reference maneuvers what should the pilot scan between?

Answer 4

Several visual references to determine ground track.

Question 5

What are some considerations one should make in determining a ground reference?

Answer 5

Type of maneuver to be performed, altitude for maneuver, emergency landing spots, density of structures, wind direction visibility, and type of airspace.

Question 6

What must be done before every ground reference maneuver?

Answer 6

Clearing turns

Question 7

As a general note, a ground reference maneuver should not exceed what bank angle or airspeed? (AFH 6-3)

Answer 7

45 degrees and/or maneuvering speed

Question 8

What causes the primary reason for deviations from our desired ground track?

Answer 8

Wind

Question 9

What altitudes are typically used for ground reference maneuvers?

Answer 9

Between 600 to 1000’ AGL

Question 10

What are some considerations that must be made when determining what altitude to use for a ground reference maneuver?

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

When the airplane is headed upwind, the groundspeed is:

Answer 11

Decreased

Question 12

When the airplane is headed downwind, the groundspeed is:

Answer 12

Increased

Question 13

Where should ground reference maneuvers be entered? (AFH 6-6)

Answer 13

From the downwind position.

Question 14

What is the purpose of learning to fly the rectangular course?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

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)

Answer 15

Steep bank

Question 16

What bank turn should be used when turning base to upwind leg during rectangular course maneuver? (Assuming wind is parallel to upwind leg)

Answer 16

Medium banked turn.

Question 17

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)

Answer 17

Shallow banked turn

Question 18

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)

Answer 18

Medium banked turn

Question 19

When the wind is from a direction that could drift the airplane into the course, the banking roll rate should be:

Answer 19

Slow

Question 20

When the wind is from a direction that could drift the airplane to the outside of the course, the banking roll rate should be:

Answer 20

Quick

Question 21

Should your reference be visible at all times during the Turn Around a Point maneuver?

Answer 21

Yes. So either adjust altitude or turn radius to accommodate.

Question 22

During the downwind half of the Turn Around a Point maneuver where should the airplane’s heading be pointed?

Answer 22

To the inside of the turn.

Question 23

During the upwind half of the Turn Around a Point maneuver where should the airplane’s heading be pointed?

Answer 23

To the outside of the turn.

Question 24

What is the objective of the S-turns maneuver?

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

When flying S-turns maneuver where will the bank be the steepest and roll rate be the quickest?

Answer 25

Downwind position

Question 26

In S-turns maneuver where will bank angle be the least and roll rate be the slowest?

Answer 26

Upwind position

Question 27

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.

Answer 27

Elementary eights

Question 28

What is the objective of Eights Along a Road maneuver?

Answer 28

To further develop division of attention while compensating for drift, maintaining orientation with ground references, and maintaining a constant altitude.

Question 29

What is the primary difference between Eights Along a Road and Eights Across a Road?

Answer 29

At the completion of each loop of the figure eight, the airplane should cross an intersection of a specific ground reference point.

Question 30

In Eights Around Pylons how should the pylons be positioned to the wind?

Answer 30

Perpendicular to the wind

Question 31

In Eights Around Pylons where does the pilot enter the maneuver?

Answer 31

Entering downwind.

Question 32

What is the most advanced and difficult of the ground reference maneuvers?

Answer 32

Eights on Pylons

Question 33

What is the goal of Eights on Pylons?

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

The altitude that is appropriate for eights-on-pylons is called:

Answer 34

Pivotal altitude

Question 35

How is pivotal altitude calculated?

Answer 35

(Groundspeed^2)/11.3+altitude of pylon

Question 36

The altitude at which, for a given groundspeed, the projection of the visual reference one to the pylon appears to pivot.

Answer 36

Pivotal altitude

Question 37

Does pivotal altitude change with bank angle?

Answer 37

No. Unless the bank angle affects groundspeed.

Question 38

At any altitude above the pivotal altitude, the projected reference line appears to move where with respect to the pylon?

Answer 38

Rearward

Question 39

At any altitude below the pivotal altitude, the projected reference line appears to move where with respect to the pylon?

Answer 39

Forward

Question 40

How should the pilot correct for deviations in groundspeed, and therefore pivotal altitude, due to wind in eights-on-pylons?

Answer 40

Climbing or descending as necessary to hold the visual reference line on the pylons.

Question 41

When selecting pylons should they be at the same altitude?

Answer 41

Yes

Question 42

What criteria does the pilot use when selecting pylons? (AFH 6-16)

Answer 42

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.

Question 43

When should the pilot estimate pivotal altitude?

Answer 43

During preflight planning.

Question 44

How does the pilot enter the eights-on-pylons maneuver?

Answer 44

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.

Question 45

Does the eights-on-pylons maneuver require the pilot to fly a constant radius around the pylons?

Answer 45

No.

Question 46

Should the pilot use the altimeter in making corrections to their pivotal altitude?

Answer 46

No.

Question 47

How should the pilot use the rudder during eights-on-pylons or during any maneuver for that matter?

Answer 47

Only for coordination. The rudder should NEVER be used to turn the aircraft.