Sport Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan
Sport Pilot (Airplane) • PTS Area VIII, Task A
The Sport Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Lesson Plan covers the knowledge and skills required by FAA-S-8081-29A.
Introduction
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Schedule:
Topic:Time:Part 1, Introduction:0:05Part 2, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Performance:0:10Part 3, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Procedure:0:10Part 4, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Risk Management:0:10Part 5, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Guided Scenario(s):0:15Part 6, Conclude Lesson:0:10Remotivation/Closure:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
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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.
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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
Materials
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Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Weight and Balance worksheet.
- Pilot Information/Operating Handbook.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
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Optional Materials:
- Personal Weather Minimums Worksheet.
- Instructor endorsement log.
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Reference Materials:
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.
- Federal Aviation Regulations Part 93.
- Aeronautical Information Manual.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Airman Certification Standards:
- Hard copies of the ACS and Oral Exam Guides are available on Amazon.
- Digital copies of the ACS are available on the FAA's website.
Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Introduce maneuvering during slow flight.
- Part 2, Factors Impacting Takeoff Performance:
- Review the cause of stalls and what factors increase/decrease stall speed (AOA)
- Discuss maneuvering during slow flight.
- Discuss region of reverse command.
- Discuss small airplane specifics.
- Discuss large airplane specifics.
- Discuss multi-engine considerations during slow flight.
- Part 3, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Procedure:
- Part 4, Maneuvering During Slow Flight Risk Management:
- Introduce collision hazards.
- Introduce low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin and controlled flight into terrain risks.
- Introduce distractions, task prioritization, situational awareness, and disorientation.
- Introduce runway incursion risks.
- Part 5, Guided Scenario(s):
- Part 6, Conclude Lesson:
- Discuss risk management: Is this procedure low, medium, or high risk?
- Disucss calculated versus actual performance.
- 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.
Guided Scenario(s)
Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Ask pertinent questions.
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate.
Airman Certification Standards
Sport Pilot (Airplane) Maneuvering During Slow Flight Practical Test Standards
- Source: FAA-S-8081-29A, Section 1 - Sport Pilot Airplane.
- Task: MANEUVERING DURING SLOW FLIGHT (ASEL and ASES).
- References: FAA-H-8083-3; AFM/POH.
- Objective: To determine that the applicant:
Objective Elements 6 PTS Elements
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SP.1: Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to maneuvering during slow flight. -
SP.2: Selects an entry altitude consistent with safety, which allows the TASK to be completed no lower than 1,000 feet AGL. -
SP.3: Establishes and maintains an airspeed at which any further increase in angle of attack, increase in load factor, or reduction in power, would result in an immediate stall. -
SP.4: Accomplishes coordinated straight-and-level flight, turns, climbs, and descents with landing gear extended and retracted as appropriate, and various flap configurations, if appropriate, specified by the evaluator. -
SP.5: Divides attention between airplane control and orientation. -
SP.6: Maintains the specified altitude, ±100 feet; specified heading, ±10°; airspeed, +10/−0 knots and specified angle of bank, ±10°.
Conclusion
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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.
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Closure:
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
- Assign study materials for the next lesson.