Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan

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

Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with maneuvering during slow flight in cruise configuration.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
    0:05
    Part 2, Slow-Flight Aerodynamics:
    0:10
    Part 3, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Procedure:
    0:10
    Part 4, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Risk Management:
    0:10
    Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    0:15
    Part 6, 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:

    • Slow flight develops the ability to recognize changes in aircraft flight characteristics and control effectiveness at critically slow airspeeds in various configurations
    • While pilots may perform slow flight to loiter over an area during cruise flight, it is most often performed incidental to takeoff and landing
    • With multi-engine aircraft the concept of minimum controllable airspeed comes into play
    • Speed Instability:
      • Flying slower than minimum drag speed (LD/max), more power will be required, due to total drag curve and slight disturbances will decrease airspeed

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Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan

Materials

Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
  • Part 2, Slow-Flight Aerodynamics:
  • Part 3, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Procedure:
    • Observe and assess clearing the area and selecting an entry altitude that permits completion no lower than 1,500 feet AGL for single-engine airplanes or 3,000 feet AGL for multiengine airplanes, as applicable. Identify and correct deviations and reinforce safe exercise limits and positive transfer of control. (PA.VII.A.S1) (PA.VII.A.S2)
    • Observe and assess establishment of an airspeed at which any further increase in angle of attack or load factor, or reduction in power, would produce a stall warning; require coordinated straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, and descents in the specified configuration without a stall warning. (PA.VII.A.S3) (PA.VII.A.S4)
    • Assess maintenance of specified altitude ±100 feet, heading ±10°, airspeed +10/-0 knots, and bank angle ±10° throughout the maneuver. (PA.VII.A.S5)
    • Discuss maneuvering during slow flight procedure.
    • Discuss maneuvering during slow flight common errors.
  • Part 4, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Risk Management:
    • Discuss recognition of inadvertent slow flight or flight with a stall warning and the prompt response needed to prevent loss of control. (PA.VII.A.R1)
    • Discuss aircraft-specific stall-warning cues, their range and limitations, and the possibility of unreliable, delayed, or absent warnings. (PA.VII.A.R2)
    • Recognize uncoordinated flight through control feel and available indications, and correct yaw before increasing load factor or angle of attack. (PA.VII.A.R3)
    • Discuss turbulence and microburst avoidance and the effects of density altitude on performance and recovery margins. (PA.VII.A.R4)
    • Discuss clearing, traffic-display limitations, terrain clearance, and discontinuing the maneuver when collision hazards cannot be adequately managed. (PA.VII.A.R5)
    • Introduce low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin and controlled flight into terrain risks.
    • Discuss deferring secondary tasks and restoring aircraft control, situational awareness, and orientation before resuming. (PA.VII.A.R6)
    • Introduce runway incursion risks.
  • Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
    • Lead the guided scenario and require the learner to select a safe area and altitude, configure the airplane, manage coordination and stall margin, maintain the ACS (Airman Certification Standards) tolerances, and discontinue or recover when warning cues, traffic, weather, workload, or performance reduce the safety margin.
  • Part 6, Conclude Lesson:
    • Discuss risk management: Is this procedure low, medium, or high risk?
    • Discuss calculated versus actual performance.
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons (power-off stalls) 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 instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan Interactive Guided Scenario

Interactive Guided Scenario

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Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with maneuvering during slow flight in cruise configuration
  • Note: See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight and Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task
  • References: FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM.
Knowledge 1 ACS Element
Risk Management 6 ACS Elements
  • PA.VII.A.R1:
    Inadvertent slow flight and flight with a stall warning, which could lead to loss of control.
  • PA.VII.A.R2:
    Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., airplane buffet, stall horn, etc.).
  • PA.VII.A.R3:
    Uncoordinated flight.
  • PA.VII.A.R4:
    Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high-density altitude).
  • PA.VII.A.R5:
    Collision hazards.
  • PA.VII.A.R6:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Skills 5 ACS Elements
  • PA.VII.A.S1:
    Clear the area.
  • PA.VII.A.S2:
    Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL) (ASEL, ASES) or 3,000 feet AGL (AMEL, AMES).
  • PA.VII.A.S3:
    Establish and maintain an airspeed at which any further increase in angle of attack, increase in load factor, or reduction in power, would result in a stall warning (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
  • PA.VII.A.S4:
    Accomplish coordinated straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, and descents with the aircraft configured as specified by the evaluator without a stall warning (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
  • PA.VII.A.S5:
    Maintain the specified altitude, ±100 feet; specified heading, ±10°; airspeed, +10/-0 knots; and specified angle of bank, ±10°.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Maneuvering during Slow Flight 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 Maneuvering during Slow Flight 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.