Flight Maneuvers
In-Flight Checklists
by
S. C. Todd

Contents:

1. Taxiing 2. Slow flight 3. Steep turns 4. Rectangular course 5. Turns around a point 6. S-turns across a road 7. Traffic pattern 8. Normal/x-wind takeoff 9. Normal/x-wind landing 10. Soft-field takeoff 11. Soft-field landing 12. Short-field takeoff

13. Short-field landing 14. Slip to landing 15. Go-around 16. Chandelle 17. Lazy Eight 18. Eights on pylons 19. Power-on stall 20. Power-off stall 21. Night flight 22. Emergency landing 23. Basic instrument

1.
TAXIING

• Use all checklists
• Get ATIS and clearance to taxi
• Clear area at all intersections
• Brake check
• Attention outside cockpit
• Hand on throttle
• Position controls for wind
• No brakes: pedals only
• Subtle pedal movements to maintain directional control
• Check gauges
• Perform instrument check
• Position plane for runup
• Runup checklist
• Before takeoff checklist
• Takeoff clearance
• Collision avoidance
• Lights-camera-action (BLT)

2.
SLOW FLIGHT

• CLEAR AREA
• Altitude above 1500 ft.
• Power back
• Gear and flaps as instructed
• Airspeed 1.2 VS1 (use power), hand on throttle
• More right rudder, and retrim
• Turn as instructed
• Divide attention
• Recover: PUFF checklist
• Cruise checklist

Commercial Standards:
Headings ±10º, bank angle ±10º
altitude ±50 ft.
1.2 VS1 ±5

Private Pilot Standards:
Headings ±10º
bank angle +0/-10º
altitude ±100 ft.
1.2 VS1 ±10/-5

3.
STEEP TURNS

• CLEAR AREA
• Above 1500 AGL
• Airspeed not above VA
• Choose outside reference point, note heading
• Enter coordinated turn, add power if necessary
• Go 360º, immediately followed by turn in opposite direction
• Back pressure to maintain altitude, watch overbanking tendency

Standards:
Roll out on entry heading ±10º
bank angle: commercial 50º ±5º
private 45º ±5º
altitude ±100 ft.
airspeed ±10

4.
RECTANGULAR COURSE
location with emergency landing area

• CLEAR AREA
• Determine wind direction
• Low-level setup: boost pump on
• Cruise power, 600-1000 AGL
• Enter at 45º to downwind (as in traffic pattern)
• Downwind to crosswind: steep to medium turn (more than 90º)
• Crosswind to upwind: medium to shallow turn (less than 90º)
• Upwind to crosswind: shallow to medium turn (less than 90º)
• Crosswind to downwind: medium to steep turn (more than 90º)
• Exit at point of entry
• Cruise checklist

Standards:
Divides attention
Corrects for wind drift
Altitude ±100 ft., airspeed ±10 knots

5.
TURNS AROUND A POINT
Reference point near emergency landing area

• CLEAR AREA
• Determine wind direction
• Low-level setup: boost pump on
• Cruise power, 600-1000 AGL
• Enter on downwind, ¼ to ½ mile away, max bank 45º, power
• Reduce bank angle gradually during downwind arc. Point in front of wing
• (Div attention. Stay coordinated)
• Minimum bank is directly upwind. Gradually increase on upwind arc. Point behind wing
• TWO circles, and exit at the initial heading
• Cruise checklist

Standards:
Divides attention
Corrects for wind drift
Altitude ±100 ft., airspeed ±10 knots

6.
S-TURNS ACROSS A ROAD
Site with emergency landing area

• CLEAR AREA
• Boost pump on, cruise power
• 600-1000 AGL
• Enter going downwind
• Steepest turn downwind
• Medium bank crosswind
• Shallow bank upwind
• Divide attention:
• Road for semicircle
• Outside for traffic
• Instruments for altitude
• Straight-and-level when crossing
• Cruise checklist

Standards:
Select proper site
Divide attention
Maintain radius
altitude ±100 ft.
airspeed ±10

7.
TRAFFIC PATTERN

• Entry on the 45º downwind
• Maintain proper pattern altitudes
• Traffic avoidance: clear both directions before turning
• Pre-landing checklists
• Power and flaps

Standards:
Correct clearing and spacing
Collision avoidance
Proper traffic pattern altitude
Wind drift correction
Checklists complete
Good orientation
altitude ±100 ft.
airspeed ±10

8.
NORMAL/X-WIND TAKEOFF

• Pre-takeoff checklist
• Clearance and clearing
• Taxi
• Position flight controls for wind
• Power: hand on throttle
• Check gauges
• Rotate, climb at Vy
• Attitude check by horizon
• Right rudder
• Gear
• Wind correction
• 1000-ft checklist
• climb checklist

Standards:
Maintains coordination and wind correction
Flight controls positioned for wind
Checklists
(commercial) Vy ±5
(private) Vy +10/-5

9.
NORMAL/X-WIND LANDING

• Consider conditions
• Choose and say touchdown point
• Pre-landing checklist
• Clear before turns
• GUMPS three times
• Power settings and Flaps
• Ailerons for direction
• Rudder for alignment
• Smooth, timely corrections
• After-landing checklist

Standards:
Maintains coordination and wind correction
Flight controls positioned for wind
Checklists
(commercial) Vy ±5
(private) Vy +10/-5

10.
SOFT-FIELD TAKEOFF

• Pre-takeoff checklist
• Set flaps according to POH
• Clearance and clearing
• Position flight controls for wind
• Taxi without stopping
• Full throttle, back elevator pressure
• Lift off and fly in ground effect
• Retract gear
• Vy or Vx
• Retract flaps
• Right rudder
• 1000-ft checklist
• Climb checklist

Standards:
Coordination and wind correction
Airspeed:
   (commercial) ±5
   (private) +10/-5
Completes checklists

11.
SOFT-FIELD LANDING

• Consider conditions
• Choose and say touchdown point
• Pre-landing checklist
• Clear before turns
• GUMPS three times
• Power settings and Flaps
• Ailerons for direction
• Rudder for alignment
• Smooth, timely corrections
• Touch down softly with power
• Keep nosewheel off for taxi
• After-landing checklist

Standards:
Coordination and wind correction
Timely control applications
Recommended airspeed (or 1.3 Vso)
   (commercial) ±5
   (private) +10/-5
Touchdown
   (commercial) within 100 ft
   (private) within 200 ft

12.
SHORT-FIELD TAKEOFF

• Pre-takeoff checklis
• Set flaps according to POH
• Clearance and clearing
• Position flight controls for wind
• Taxi to very start of runway
• Hold brakes: gauge check
• Release brakes
• Rotate and lift off
• Retract gear
• Climb at Vx
• Retract flaps slowly
• Right rudder
• When clear, climb at Vy
• 1000-ft checklist
• Climb checklist

Standards:
Coordination and wind correction
Airspeed:
   (commercial) Vx +5/-0
   (private) +10/-5
Completes checklists

13.
SHORT-FIELD LANDING

• Consider conditions
• Choose and say touchdown point
• Pre-landing checklist
• Clear before turns
• GUMPS three times
• Power settings and Flaps
• Ailerons for direction
• Rudder for alignment
• Smooth, timely corrections
• Start higher than normal, come in steeper with less power
• Land with little or no float at touchdown point
• After-landing checklist

Standards:
Coordination and wind correction
Recommended airspeed (or 1.3 x Vso):
   (commercial) +5/-0
   (private) +10/-5
Completes checklists

14.
SLIPS TO LANDING

• CLEAR AREA
• GUMPS check, (flaps)
• Lower one wing
• Apply opposite rudder to keep the plane from turning
• Reduce and control power: hand on throttle
• Use elevator pressure to maintain a normal approach speed. Trim as necessary
• Maintain a stabilized slip
• Discontinue the slip when a proper altitude is achieved
• Round out, maintain directional control, make a stable landing and apply brakes
• Checklist

Standards:
Maintain runway centerline and airspeed
Lands within 400 feet. Xwind correction
and directional control. Checklist.

15.
GO-AROUND

• Make a timely decision
• Power: mixture, props, throttle
• Flaps-gear-flaps-flaps
• PUFF checklist
• Trim for Vy
• Move to side away from traffic
• Wind correction
• Climb checklist

Standards:
Timely decision
Correct control of power, gear, flaps
Airspeed:
  (commercial) ±5
  (private) +10/-5

16.
CHANDELLE

• CLEAR AREA
• 1500 AGL
• Choose reference point
• Note heading
• Configure
• Roll into 30º bank
• Apply power as specified
• Pitch up (max at 90º to reference)
• Maintain pitch and roll out
• At 180º to reference, just above stall speed, hold altitude

Standards:
1st half: constant bank, changing pitch
2nd half: constant pitch, changing bank
Division of attention outside and inside
Rollout within 10º of heading
Airspeed at VS1 +5/-0
Final altitude ±5

17.
LAZY EIGHT

• CLEAR AREA
• 1500 AGL (minimum)
• Choose reference point
• Note heading
• Configure
• Pitch and bank together
• 45º point: max pitch up, 15º bank
• 90º point: level, 30º bank
• 135º point: max pitch down
• Rolling out
• 180º point: level, at original airspeed and altitude
• Go other direction

Standards:
Constant change of pitch and bank
Coordinated
Division of attention outside and inside
Altitude and airspeed same at 90º points
Altitude ±100
Airspeed ±10

18.
EIGHTS ON PYLONS
Site pylons near emergency landing area

• Choose pylons 3-5 seconds apart
• CLEAR AREA
• Boost pump on (low-level)
• Establish approx. pivotal altitude
• Enter downwind
• If pylon goes behind wing, descend (to slow)
• If pylon goes in front of wing, climb (to catch it)
• Do a figure-eight around the pylons
• Exit on downwind side
• Cruise checklist

Standards:
Coordination
Division of attention outside and inside

19.
POWER-ON STALLS
Simulates a stall just after takeoff

• Altitude to complete by 1500 AGL
• CLEAR AREA
• Establish a heading (into wind)
• Power back
• Maintain altitude to lose airspeed down to rotation speed
• Takeoff power and configuration, rotate
• Achieve attitude that cannot be maintained
• Turn or straight as instructed: stay coordinated
• Announce onset of stall
• At stall, bring nose down
• Positive rate of climb and good airspeed, recover: PUFF
• Climb at Vy, checklist

Standards:
Coordination
Heading ±10º, Bank ±10º
Minimum loss of altitude

20.
POWER-OFF STALLS
Simulates a stall on base or final

• Altitude to complete by 1500 AGL
• CLEAR AREA
• Establish a heading (into wind
• GUMPS check
• Power back, full flaps
• Establish a glide to final, turn or straight as instructed
• Back elevator pressure to induce a stall
• Stay coordinated
• Announce onset of stall
• At stall, lower nose and full power
• Positive rate of climb, recovery: Flaps, gear, flaps, (Vy) flaps
• Climb/cruise checklists

Standards:
Coordination
Heading ±10º, Bank ±10º
Minimum loss of altitude

21.
NIGHT FLIGHT
Use and trust your instruments!

• Night preflight: clean windows, interior lights, flashlights
• Use of position and anticollision lights
• Airport procedures
• In-flight orientation
• Climbs, descents, turns
• Maneuvers with lights out
• Use of NAVAIDs
• Attitude instrument at night
• Recovery from unusual attitudes
• Emergencies such as electrical failure and emergency landing
• Approaches with and without landing lights
• Go-arounds

22.
ENGINE-OUT LANDING
PLSTART ("Please start!") checklist, and paper checklist

• Pitch for best glide
• Landing site: find one
• Seat belts: fastened and tight.
• Troubleshoot: flow pattern: fuel, mags, boost pump, mixture, alternate air, and gauges. Try to restart.
• Approach: GUMPS check! And into key position
• Radios: Transponder on 7700. Mayday Mayday Mayday
• Turn off: Shut down throttle, MMM, all switches off, fuel valve off, and door open.
• CHECKLIST!

Standards:
Best glide ±10
Suitable landing area
Proper approach

23.
BASIC INSTRUMENT
Student under hood

• Positive exchange of controls
• Cross-check (scan) continuously
• Tasks:
  1. Straight and level
  2. Constant airspeed climbs
  3. Constant airspeed descents
  4. Level turns
  5. Unusual attitude recovery
  6. Radio navigation
  

Standards:
Proper cross-check
Correct control application
Altitude ±200
Heading ±20º
Airspeed ±10