Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area V, Task A

The Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with steep turns.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
    0:05
    Part 2, Application of Steep Turns:
    0:10
    Part 3, Factors Affecting Steep Turn Performance:
    0:10
    Part 4, Steep Turns Procedure:
    0:10
    Part 5, Steep Turns Risk Management:
    0:10
    Part 6, Steep Turns Guided Scenario(s):
    0:15
    Part 7, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research and present 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:

    • Steep turns develop a pilot's skill in flight control smoothness and coordination, an awareness of the airplane's orientation to outside references, division of attention between flight control applications, and the constant need to scan for hazards and other traffic in the area.
    • Maximum performance turns are defined as using the fastest rate of turn and shortest radius.
    • These turns will cause a much higher stalling speed.
      • Limiting load factor determines the maximum bank without stalling.

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Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Materials

Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Review the supporting-topic common errors and assess the learner's understanding of their mitigations.
  • Review the common errors and their associated mitigations with the learner.
    • Have the learner explain how to recognize, prevent, and correct each applicable error using aircraft-specific procedures and limitations.
    • Use a scenario or observed practice error to verify the learner can select and apply the mitigation.
  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
  • Part 2, Application of Steep Turns:
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of situations in which steep turns would be performed.
  • Part 3, Factors Affecting Steep Turn Performance:
    • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain the aerodynamics associated with steep turns, including coordinated flight, overbanking tendency, maneuvering speed and weight effects, load factor, accelerated stalls, and rate and radius of turn. (PA.V.A.K2)
    • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain turn performance.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply the relationship between rate and radius of turn. (PA.V.A.K2e)
    • Demonstrate a maneuvering speed calculation for several different variables.
      • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply situations that would result in changes in maneuvering speed.
      • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply weight-adjusted maneuvering speed and the limits of its protection.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply load factor.
  • Part 4, Steep Turns Procedure:
    • Require the learner to clear the area. (PA.V.A.S1)
    • Require the learner to establish the manufacturer-recommended entry airspeed, or an appropriate speed not exceeding VA when none is recommended. (PA.V.A.S2)
    • Observe coordinated 360° steep turns at approximately 45° of bank in each assigned direction. (PA.V.A.S3) (PA.V.A.S4)
    • Require the learner to maintain entry altitude within ±100 feet, airspeed within ±10 knots, bank within ±5°, and roll out on the entry heading within ±10°. Identify and correct observed deviations; brief safe exercise limits and control-transfer responsibilities. (PA.V.A.S5)
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of clearing, entry planning, coordinated pitch and power control, division of attention between aircraft control and orientation, scanning, rollout, and stabilization. (PA.V.A.R1)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply the steep turns procedure. (PA.V.A.K1)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply the steep turns common errors.
  • Part 5, Steep Turns Risk Management:
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply collision hazards and the use of traffic displays as supplements to visual clearing. (PA.V.A.R2)
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of maneuvering-area selection and terrain/recovery margins to mitigate low-altitude stall, spin, and controlled-flight-into-terrain hazards. (PA.V.A.R3)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply deferring nonessential tasks and restoring orientation before resuming to manage distractions, task saturation, loss of situational awareness, and disorientation. (PA.V.A.R4)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply discontinuing for turbulence, traffic, fixation, or diminishing stall and terrain margins.
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply uncoordinated flight and risk of spins. (PA.V.A.R5)
    • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply accelerated stalls.
    • Relate risk back to situations in which steep turns would be performed.
  • Part 6, Steep Turns Guided Scenario(s):
  • Part 7, Conclude Lesson:
    • 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.
  • Update the instructor log and student progress. Select the student and sign off completed objectives. If the student does not have a connected account, record the update manually in the instructor log and student training record.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • A pilot is conducting a local sightseeing flight with a passenger over a large lake. Visibility is excellent, winds are light, and the aircraft is established in cruise flight at 3,500 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level).
  • While approaching the shoreline, the passenger points toward a lighthouse on a peninsula and requests a closer view. The pilot elects to maneuver around the landmark while maintaining a safe altitude and remaining clear of nearby terrain and traffic.
  • As the aircraft approaches the lighthouse, the pilot begins a coordinated turn to keep the landmark in sight. The turn gradually steepens as the pilot attempts to maintain visual reference with the lighthouse while simultaneously monitoring altitude and scanning for traffic.
  • During the maneuver, the passenger points out a sightseeing helicopter operating near the shoreline. The pilot's attention is now divided between maintaining aircraft control, tracking the landmark, and maintaining separation from other aircraft.
  • As bank angle increases, the aircraft begins to lose altitude. Additional back pressure is required to maintain the selected altitude while avoiding excessive angle of attack.
  • The increasing bank angle creates an overbanking tendency. The aircraft attempts to continue rolling into a steeper bank as the pilot maintains visual reference with the lighthouse.
  • While maintaining the turn, the pilot notices airspeed beginning to decrease. The aircraft is now operating at a higher load factor with a reduced stall margin than existed in straight-and-level flight.
  • The sightseeing helicopter changes direction and begins moving toward the opposite side of the landmark. The pilot must continue clearing the area while maintaining orientation and aircraft control.
  • The aircraft completes a full 360° turn and returns to the original heading. Without pausing, the passenger requests a view from the opposite side of the lighthouse. The pilot immediately transitions into a steep turn in the opposite direction while maintaining altitude, airspeed, coordination, and situational awareness.
  • As the second turn develops, the pilot encounters a slight distraction from a radio call announcing nearby traffic entering the area. The pilot must continue dividing attention between aircraft control, traffic avoidance, orientation, and maneuver execution.
  • The scenario concludes when the aircraft rolls out on the original entry heading following the second steep turn while maintaining aircraft control, coordination, altitude, airspeed, and situational awareness throughout the maneuver.
Aircraft maneuver illustration for Steep Turns.

The Turbulent Steep-Turn Lesson

Manage steep turns through clearing, load factor, stall-speed margin, overbanking, energy, rollout lead, wake avoidance, and recovery. Abbreviations used in this scenario: Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC).

19 DecisionsScenario-Based TrainingSteep TurnsConsequence-BasedRetry and Debrief
Decision 1
0%

Scenario Complete

Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 2 ACS Elements
Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
  • PA.V.A.R1:
    Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
  • PA.V.A.R2:
    Collision hazards.
  • PA.V.A.R3:
    Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
  • PA.V.A.R4:
    Distractions, improper task management, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • PA.V.A.R5:
    Uncoordinated flight.
Skills 5 ACS Elements
  • PA.V.A.S1:
    Clear the area.
  • PA.V.A.S3:
    Roll into a coordinated 360° steep turn with approximately a 45° bank.
  • PA.V.A.S4:
    Perform the Task in the opposite direction, as specified by evaluator.
  • PA.V.A.S5:
    Maintain the entry altitude ±100 feet, airspeed ±10 knots, bank ±5 degrees, and roll out on the entry heading ±10°.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Steep Turns Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Steep Turns 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 Steep Turns 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.