Sport Pilot (Airplane) Normal & Crosswind Approach & Landing Lesson Plan
Sport Pilot (Airplane) • PTS Area IV, Task B
The Sport Pilot (Airplane) Normal And Crosswind Approach And Landing 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, Descent Planning:0:10Part 3, Descent Performance Calculations:0:10Part 4, Factors Impacting Approach and Landing Performance:0:10Part 5, Landing Performance Calculations:0:10Part 6, Normal Approach & Landing Procedures:0:10Part 7, Anomalies and Malfunctions:0:10Part 8, Normal Approach & Landing Risk Management:0:10Part 9, Guided Scenario(s):0:15Part 10, 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:
- Crosswind aircraft landings are the most basic of all landing procedures/maneuvers.
- The purpose of this maneuver is to safely execute a landing under crosswind conditions (i.e., hard surface, minimal wind, plenty of available landing distance).
- Crosswind landings are closely related to the performance of flight at minimum controllable airspeeds.
- While this procedure is for crosswind landing, assuming the wind is blowing right down the runway, that will almost never be the case.
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 crosswind approach and landing.
- Part 2, Descent Planning:
- Introduce crabbing to compensate for winds.
- Introduce slips to landing to compensate for winds.
- Part 3, Descent Performance Calculations:
- Introduce pitch angle and it's relation to slide slope.
- Introduce vertical speed and it's relation to slide slope.
- Introduce vertical speed and it's relation to slide slope.
- Part 4, Factors Impacting Approach and Landing Performance:
- Introduce winds (airborne into surface) impacts to crosswind approach and landing performance, including determining wind direction with or without visual indicators.
- Introduce wind shear impacts to crosswind takeoff and climb performance.
- Introduce wake turbulence considerations during crosswind approach and landing.
- Introduce outside air temperature and field elevation/density altitude impacts to crosswind takeoff and climb performance.
- Introduce runway surface condition impacts to crosswind approach and landing.
- Introduce runway slope impacts to crosswind approach and landing.
- Introduce gross weight impacts and to crosswind approach and landing.
- Introduce flight profile impacts to crosswind approach and landing.
- Introduce tire pressure impacts to crosswind approach and landing.
- Part 5, Landing Performance Calculations:
- Review Performance and Limitations lesson plan (as appropriate), specifically takeoff and climb performance.
- Review weight & balance performance calculation.
- Part 6, Crosswind Approach & Landing Procedures:
- Review taxiing, as required.
- Introduce aircraft configuration considerations.
- Introduce crosswind landing procedures.
- Introduce multiengine considerations, as appropriate.
- Introduce crosswind landing common errors.
- Introduce crosswind landing lessons and case studies.
- Introduce rejected takeoff considerations.
- Part 7, Anomalies and Malfunctions:
- Introduce potential emergency procedures during crosswind takeoff & climb.
- Introduce aborted/rejected landing.
- Part 8, Normal Approach & Landing 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 9, Guided Scenario(s):
- 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.
Guided Scenario(s)
- Discuss the purpose of an conditions which warrant a crosswind takeoff and climb procedure.
- Conduct a weight and balance calculation for the day.
- Conduct a takeoff distance calculation for the day, noting where takeoff should occur in reference to the airport runways (save for later in lesson)
- Provide simulated variables that cover different airfield elevations (takeoff distance), temperatures, surface conditions, and winds for subsequent calculations and discuss on how they effect takeoff and climb performance.
- Conduct a crosswind takeoff and compare actual rotation location to calculated location.
- Discuss how crosswind takeoffs.
- How do control inputs change as the aircraft accelerates?
- How does the pilot manage the liftoff/transition to climb?
- Discuss rejecting the takeoff in the rain/snow.
- How would rejecting a takeoff on a wet runway change a pilot's action?
- How would performance change?
- Discuss an engine failure on takeoff roll, just after takeoff, and while in the climb.
- How does a pilot recognize loss of performance? What is crosswind RPM expected?
- How do pilot options change as the aircraft gains altitude?
- Discuss the importance of checking for aircraft on final before taxiing onto the runway.
- What are some reasons pilots may be on final without other pilots otherwise knowing?
- Discuss hazards by providing an example of taking off after a larger aircraft (windshear).
- Discuss minimum safe altitudes.
- Describe minimum safe altitudes for a given area?
- Discuss how minimum safe altitudes apply to takeoff/airport operations?
- Discuss reasons where Vx and Vy would be most appropriate for climbout.
- Discuss risk in climb (power-on stall) as well as terrain avoidance being low altitude, nose-high, high workload.
- Discuss why noise abatement procedures exist and where to find them.
- Have student locate noise abatement procedures for the local or a nearby airport.
- Related scenarios:
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) Normal & Crosswind Approach & Landing Practical Test Standards
- Source: FAA-S-8081-29A, Section 1 - Sport Pilot Airplane.
- Task: NORMAL AND CROSSWIND APPROACH AND LANDING (ASEL and ASES).
- Note: If a crosswind condition does not exist, the applicant’s knowledge of crosswind elements shall be evaluated through oral testing.
- References: FAA-H-8083-3, FAA-H-8083-23; AFM/POH.
- Objective: To determine that the applicant:
Objective Elements 10 PTS Elements
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SP.1: Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to a normal and crosswind approach and landing. -
SP.2: Adequately surveys the intended landing area. (ASES) -
SP.3: Considers the wind conditions, landing surface, obstructions, and selects a suitable touchdown point. -
SP.4: Establishes the recommended approach and landing configuration and approach airspeed/attitude, adjusting pitch attitude and power as required. -
SP.5: Maintains a stabilized approach and recommended airspeed, or in its absence, not more than -
SP.6: 3 V , +10/−5 knots, and/or appropriate approach attitude, with wind gust factor applied. SO -
SP.7: Contacts the water at the proper pitch attitude. (ASES) -
SP.8: Touches down smoothly at approximate stalling speed/attitude. (ASEL) -
SP.9: Touches down at or within 400 feet beyond a specified point, with no drift, and with the airplane’s longitudinal axis aligned with and over the runway center/landing path. -
SP.10: Maintains crosswind correction and directional control throughout the approach and landing sequence.
Conclusion
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Re-Motivation:
- Normal and Crosswind Approach and Landing requires disciplined planning, stabilized energy management, and precise control from the approach through touchdown and rollout.
- Evaluating wind, runway conditions, obstacles, aircraft performance, and personal limitations helps pilots recognize when an approach remains safe and when a timely go-around is required.
- Consistent airspeed control, runway alignment, traffic scanning, communication, and checklist discipline integrate aircraft handling with sound operational judgment.
- Continued practice with Normal and Crosswind Approach and Landing prepares sport pilots for changing conditions and increasingly demanding landing scenarios 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.