Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area IV, Task C

The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with chandelles.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduce the Lesson:
    0:05
    Part 2, Chandelles:
    0:10
    Part 3, Chandelles Risk Management:
    0:15
    Part 4, Chandelles Guided Scenario(s):
    0:15
    Part 5, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research and present a mishap case study:
      • Ask the learner to describe prior knowledge or experience related to chandelles.
    • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap.
    • Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap.
    • Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario.

  • Motivator:

    • A chandelle develops the coordinated use of maximum available performance, precise energy management, and smooth control as airspeed decreases toward the margin above a stall.
    • The maneuver strengthens judgment and aircraft-control skills that transfer to obstacle clearance, confined-area planning, and other demanding operations without encouraging low-altitude maneuvering.

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Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Materials

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the Lesson:
  • Part 2, Chandelles:
    • Explain and demonstrate how to conduct a proper chandelle. (CA.V.C.K1)
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain the aerodynamics of chandelles, including coordinated flight, overbanking tendencies, maneuvering speed and weight effects, and accelerated stalls. (CA.V.C.K2) (CA.V.C.K2a) (CA.V.C.K2b) (CA.V.C.K2c) (CA.V.C.K2d)
    • Select the appropriate airplane configuration for a maximum-performance climb and explain the pitch control required as airspeed continuously decreases. (CA.V.C.K3) (CA.V.C.K4)
    • Clear the area, select an altitude permitting completion no lower than 1,500 feet AGL, and establish the proper entry configuration, power, and airspeed. (CA.V.C.S1) (CA.V.C.S2) (CA.V.C.S3)
    • Establish approximately 30 degrees of bank and simultaneously apply power and pitch to maintain a smooth, coordinated climbing turn to the 90-degree point with constant bank and decreasing airspeed. (CA.V.C.S4) (CA.V.C.S5)
    • From the 90-degree point, begin a coordinated constant-rate rollout while maintaining power and constant pitch; complete the rollout at 180 degrees within 10 degrees, just above stall speed, then resume straight-and-level flight with minimum altitude loss. (CA.V.C.S6) (CA.V.C.S7) (CA.V.C.S8)
  • Part 3, Chandelles Risk Management:
    • Manage division of attention between aircraft control and orientation. (CA.V.C.R1)
    • Use clearing procedures and terrain awareness to mitigate collision hazards. (CA.V.C.R2)
    • Mitigate low-altitude stall and spin hazards by selecting a safe entry altitude and defining recovery criteria. (CA.V.C.R3)
    • Manage distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, and disorientation. (CA.V.C.R4)
    • Recognize and correct uncoordinated flight while managing the airplane's changing energy state. (CA.V.C.R5) (CA.V.C.R6)
    • Relate turn rate and radius to confined-area operations without treating the maneuver as authorization for low-altitude maneuvering. (CA.V.C.R7)
  • Part 4, Chandelles Guided Scenario(s):
    • Use the guided scenario to have the learner select a safe area and altitude, establish entry conditions, manage energy and coordination, and evaluate the maneuver at the 90- and 180-degree points.
  • Part 5, Conclude Lesson:
    • Relate the lesson to maximum-performance aircraft control, energy management, and coordinated maneuvering.
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
    • Debrief the student's understanding of the chandelle's knowledge, risk-management, and skill elements.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan Interactive Guided Scenario

Interactive Guided Scenario

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Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • CA.V.C.K1:
    Purpose of chandelles.
  • CA.V.C.K2:
    Aerodynamics associated with chandelles, to include:
  • CA.V.C.K3:
    Appropriate airplane configuration for maximum performance climb.
  • CA.V.C.K4:
    Proper pitch control required for continuously decreasing airspeed.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • CA.V.C.R1:
    Failure to divide attention between airplane control and orientation.
  • CA.V.C.R2:
    Collision hazards, to include aircraft and terrain.
  • CA.V.C.R3:
    Low altitude maneuvering, including stall or spin.
  • CA.V.C.R4:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • CA.V.C.R5:
    Uncoordinated flight.
  • CA.V.C.R6:
    Energy Management.
  • CA.V.C.R7:
    Rate and radius of turn with confined area operations.
Skills 8 ACS Elements
  • CA.V.C.S1:
    Clear the area.
  • CA.V.C.S2:
    Select an altitude that will allow the maneuver to be performed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL).
  • CA.V.C.S3:
    Establish the appropriate entry configuration, power, and airspeed.
  • CA.V.C.S4:
    Establish the angle of bank at approximately 30°.
  • CA.V.C.S5:
    Simultaneously apply power and pitch to maintain a smooth, coordinated climbing turn, in either direction, to the 90° point, with a constant bank and continuously decreasing airspeed.
  • CA.V.C.S6:
    Begin a coordinated constant rate rollout from the 90° point to the 180° point maintaining power and a constant pitch attitude.
  • CA.V.C.S7:
    Complete rollout at the 180° point, ±10° just above a stall airspeed, and maintaining that airspeed momentarily avoiding a stall.
  • CA.V.C.S8:
    Resume a straight-and-level flight with minimum loss of altitude.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Chandelles strengthens the coordination, energy awareness, and precise control needed to keep the airplane within safe aerodynamic limits.
    • Recognizing changes in angle of attack, load factor, control effectiveness, wind drift, and developing errors allows pilots to correct before safety margins disappear.
    • Structured practice builds visual awareness, aircraft feel, checklist discipline, and the judgment required to discontinue or recover when a maneuver becomes unstable.
    • Mastery of Chandelles provides a foundation for the more precise and complex aircraft-control tasks encountered in later training.

  • Closure:

    • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.
    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.