Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

The Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ground reference maneuvering which may include a rectangular course, S-turns, and turns around a point.


Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan Introduction

  • Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Factors Impacting Takeoff Performance:
    0:10
    Part 3, Takeoff Performance Calculations:
    0:10
    Part 4, Factors Impacting Climb Performance:
    0:10
    Part 5, Climb Performance Calculations:
    0:10
    Part 6, Normal Takeoff & Climb Procedures:
    0:10
    Part 7, Anomalies and Malfunctions:
    0:10
    Part 8, Safety:
    0:10
    Part 9, Guided Scenario:
    0:15
    Part 10, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    1:35

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research a mishap case study:
    • 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:

    • Ground reference maneuvers develop basic pilot skills, using the ground to gauge deviations, as well as serve as the basis for follow-on maneuvers
    • To begin, pilots must understand wind and wind drift
    • To demonstrate an understanding of wind and wind drift, pilots must first select suitable areas above which to perform each ground reference maneuver
    • Performing the wind drift circle takes those principles and demonstrates them in flight
    • With the effects of winds understood, pilots can practice correcting for it by performing turns around a point and S-turns
    • These training exercises ultimately prepare a pilot for the rectangular course, which trains the pilot for the next phase of training, the traffic pattern
    • Later, if/when working toward a commercial pilot certificate, eights along a road, eights across a road, eights around pylons, and finally eights on pylons expand upon the previously introduced ground reference maneuvers to demonstrate increasingly proficient control while making corrections throughout the maneuver

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan Materials


Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
  • Part 2, Factors Impacting Ground Reference Maneuvers
  • Part 3, Wind Drift Circle:
    • Introduce wind drift circle purpose.
      • Emphasize preparing for turns around a point.
    • Introduce wind drift circle procedure.
    • Introduce wind drift circle common errors.
  • Part 4, Turns Around a Point:
    • Introduce turns around a point purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon wind drift circle and preparing for s-turns.
    • Introduce turns around a point procedure.
    • Introduce turns around a point common errors.
  • Part 5, S-Turns:
    • Introduce s-turns purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon turns around a point and preparing for rectangular course.
    • Introduce s-turns procedure.
    • Introduce s-turns common errors.
  • Part 6, Rectangular Course:
    • Introduce rectangular course purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon s-turns and preparing for the traffic pattern.
    • Introduce rectangular course procedure.
    • Introduce rectangular course common errors.
  • Part 7, Eights Along a Road:
    • Introduce eights along a road purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon wind drift circle, turns and a point, s-turns, and rectangular course while preparing for eights across a road.
    • Introduce eights along a road procedure.
    • Introduce eights along a road common errors.
  • Part 8, Eights Across a Road:
    • Introduce eights across a road purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon eights along a road and preparing for eights around pylons.
    • Introduce eights across a road procedure.
    • Introduce eights across a road common errors.
  • Part 9, Eights Around Pylons:
    • Introduce eights around pylons purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon eights along a road and preparing for eights around pylons.
    • Introduce eights around pylons procedure.
    • Introduce eights around pylons common errors.
  • Part 9, Guided Scenario:
  • Part 10, Conclude Lesson:
    • Relate lesson to power-on stalls.
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)


Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan Student Actions


Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ground reference maneuvering which may include a rectangular course, S-turns, and turns around a point
  • Note: The evaluator selects at least one ground reference maneuver for the applicant to demonstrate
  • References: 14 CFR part 61; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge)

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Knowledge:

The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Risk Management:

The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:

  • PA.V.B.R1:

    Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.

  • PA.V.B.R2:

    Collision hazards.

  • PA.V.B.R3:

    Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).

  • PA.V.B.R4:

    Distractions, improper task management, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

  • PA.V.B.R5:

    Uncoordinated flight.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Skills:

The applicant exhibits the skills to:

  • PA.V.B.S1:

    Clear the area.

  • PA.V.B.S2:

    Select a suitable ground reference area, line, or point as appropriate.

  • PA.V.B.S3:

    Plan the maneuver:

    • PA.V.B.S3a:

      Rectangular course: enter a left or right pattern, 600 to 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL) at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area, 45° to the downwind leg.

    • PA.V.B.S3b:

      S-turns: enter perpendicular to the selected reference line, 600 to 1,000 feet AGL at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area.

    • PA.V.B.S3c:

      Turns around a point: enter at an appropriate distance from the reference point, 600 to 1,000 feet AGL at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area.

  • PA.V.B.S4:

    Apply adequate wind-drift correction during straight and turning flight to maintain a constant ground track around a rectangular reference area, or to maintain a constant radius turn on each side of a selected reference line or point.

  • PA.V.B.S5:

    If performing S-Turns, reverse the turn directly over the selected reference line; if performing turns around a point, complete turns in either direction, as specified by the evaluator.

  • PA.V.B.S6:

    Divide attention between airplane control, traffic avoidance and the ground track while maintaining coordinated flight.

  • PA.V.B.S7:

    Maintain altitude ±100 feet; maintain airspeed ±10 knots.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

  • Closure:

    • The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about earning 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.