Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
Lesson Plan

Introduction:

  • To determine that the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying while recovering from unusual attitudes solely by reference to instruments
  • References: FAA-S-ACS-6, FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-15

Attention:

  • Research a mishap case study:
  • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap
  • Relate similar personal experience of the same type of incident/accident/mishap

Motivator:

  • Unusual attitude recoveries teach pilots to understand the human system's susceptibility to spatial disorientation and how to recover if required
  • One of the leading causes of fatal general aviation accidents is the loss of control-Inflight
  • Pilots training, therefore, requires a thorough understanding of unusual attitudes and unusual attitude causal factors
  • While prevention is the first step, it does not eliminate the risk to pilots
  • It is then paramount that pilots know how to detect an unusual attitude properly
  • Once an upset or unusual attitude is confirmed, pilots can next apply the proper recover

Overview:

Topic:
Time:
Introduction:
0:05
Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes:
0:15
Review (quiz):
0:05
Case Studies:
0:05
Total Ground Time:
0:30

Required Materials:

  • Paper, Pen, Marker, Whiteboard

Instructor Actions:

Student Actions:

  • Complete assigned reading (see content above)
  • Ask pertinent questions
  • Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate

Private Pilot - Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Airman Certification Standards:

  • To determine that the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with attitude instrument flying while recovering from unusual attitudes solely by reference to instruments
  • References: FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-15

Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Knowledge:

The applicant must demonstrate an understanding of:

Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Risk Management:

The applicant demonstrates the ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, encompassing:

  • PA.VIII.E.R1:

    Instrument flying hazards to include failure to maintain VFR, spatial disorientation, loss of control, fatigue, stress, and emergency off airport landings

  • PA.VIII.E.R2:

    Failure to seek assistance or declare an emergency in a deteriorating situation

  • PA.VIII.E.R3:

    Collision hazards, to include aircraft, terrain, obstacles, and wires

  • PA.VIII.E.R4:

    Distractions, loss of situational awareness, or improper task management

  • PA.VIII.E.R5:

    Failure to interpret flight instruments

  • PA.VIII.E.R6:

    Failure to unload the wings in recovering from high G situations

  • PA.VIII.E.R7:

    Exceeding the operating envelope during the recovery

Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes Skills:

The applicant demonstrates the ability to:

  • PA.VIII.E.S1:

    Recognize unusual flight attitudes; perform the correct, coordinated, and smooth flight control application to resolve unusual pitch and bank attitudes while staying within the airplane’s limitations and flight parameters

Re-Motivation:

Closure:

  • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson
  • Assign study materials for the next lesson