Straight & Turning Descents
Straight and turning descents practice basic airmanship skills necessary to conduct approaches to land or engine-out situations.
Introduction to Straight & Turning Descents
- Used to practice approaches to land or engine-out situations
- Accomplished by increasing drag by decreasing thrust to decrease lift
- Partial Power Descent:
- Called cruise or enroute descent
- Average 500 FPM
- Descent at minimum safe airspeed:
- No greater than 1.3 Vso
- Glides:
- Balancing gravity and lift
- 100 feet forward losing 10 feet would mean a 10:1 ratio
- Lift over Drag ratio (L/D) determines ratio
- Wind plays a huge role
- Any speed other than best glide speed increases drag
- Gliding Turns:
- Lift will decrease due to being at an angle and the pull of gravity
- The nose will drop as rudder is used as well as the stability and inherent characteristics
- Too much rudder will caues a skid which increases the bank which could stall and spin the aircraft
- Turning decreases performance
- Test your understanding of Straight & Turning Descents by completing the knowledge quiz, applying your knowledge in the interactive scenario, comparing your performance against the applicable Airman Certification Standards, and concluding with the topic summary to reinforce the key concepts before moving on to the next lesson.
WARNING:
All procedures are GENERALIZED.
Use the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) procedures for specific aircraft performance and limitations.
and/or current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Straight & Turning Descents Key Highlights
- Straight and turning descents teach pilots to control aircraft altitude loss while maintaining coordinated and stabilized flight.
- Descents require proper management of pitch attitude, power settings, airspeed, and trim throughout the maneuver.
- Turning descents combine altitude reduction with heading changes while maintaining coordinated aircraft control.
- Pilots must monitor airspeed carefully during descents to avoid exceeding aircraft limitations or unstable flight conditions.
- Bank angle and load factor during turning descents affect aircraft performance and stall characteristics.
- Smooth and coordinated control inputs help maintain stable descent rates and precise aircraft handling.
- Pilots should divide attention between outside visual references and supporting flight instruments during descent operations.
- Wind conditions, turbulence, aircraft weight, and configuration changes can influence descent performance.
- Improper coordination during descents may result in skidding, slipping, or excessive airspeed increases.
- Understanding straight and turning descents improves aircraft control precision, energy management, and overall flight safety.
Straight & Turning Descents Procedure
WARNING:
All procedures are GENERALIZED.
Use the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) procedures for specific aircraft performance and limitations.
and/or current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).- Perform clearing turns.
- Reduce power and advance the propeller, if applicable:
- The aircraft will descend on its own
- Adjust Trim
- Cross-check Instruments:
- Cross-check the airspeed indicator, attitude indicator, and the position of the airplanes nose to the horizon to determine correct pitch attitude
- Heading should be constant with wings level for a straight turn
- Descending turns should have a constant angle of bank and rate of turn:
- Shallow (less than 20 degrees)
- Medium (20 degrees to 45 degrees)
- Steep (45 degrees or more)
- Adverse yaw and coordinated flight should be considered in turning
- Level-off:
- Level off abou 100 to 150 feet prior to the altitude met
- Cruise power should be added
- Decrease the elevator if in a turn to prevent climbing
- Complete cruise checklist
Instrument Reference
- For any maneuver of condition of flight, the pitch, bank, and power control requirements are most clearly indicated by certain key instruments
- Those instruments which provide the most pertinent and essential information will be referred to as primary instruments
- Supporting instruments back up and supplement the information shown on the primary instruments
| PITCH | BANK | POWER | |
| Primary | Airspeed Indicator | Heading Indicator | MP and/or RPM |
| Supporting | VSI | Airspeed / Turn Coordinator | Airspeed |
Straight and Turning Descent Common Errors
- Failure to adequately clear the area, as appropriate
- Inadequate back-elevator control during glide entry resulting in too steep a glide
- Failure to slow the airplane to approximate glide speed prior to lowering pitch attitude
- Attempting to establish/maintain a normal glide solely by reference to flight instruments
- Inability to sense changes in airspeed through sound and feel
- Inability to stabilize the glide (chasing the airspeed)
- Attempting to "stretch" the glide by applying back-elevator pressure
- Skidding or slipping during gliding turns due to inadequate appreciation of the difference in rudder action as opposed to turns with power
- Failure to lower pitch attitude during gliding turn entry resulting in a decrease in airspeed
- Excessive rudder pressure during recovery from gliding turns
- Inadequate pitch control during recovery from straight glides
- "Ground shyness" resulting in cross-controlling during gliding turns near the ground
- Failure to maintain constant bank angle during gliding turns
Straight & Turning Descents Interactive Scenario
Interactive Scenario
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Straight & Turning Descents Knowledge Check
Private Pilot
Core Knowledge Review
Review the foundational knowledge, key concepts, and practical considerations for Straight & Turning Descents.
Foundational
Immediate Feedback
Answer Explanations
Commercial Pilot
Advanced Application
Apply your knowledge of Straight & Turning Descents to advanced operational scenarios, risk management, and aeronautical decision-making.
Advanced
Scenario Based
Risk Management
Why Take a Quiz?
Quizzes reinforce key concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for real-world decisions in the cockpit. Quiz material is representative of the information provided here and is not based on or sourced from the Federal Aviation Administration test bank.
Airman Certification Standards
Straight & Turning Descents Conclusion
- Remain mindful that performance calculations are usually more optimistic than actual performance.
- Consider actual versus realized performance when doing any performance calculations
- Consider practicing maneuvers on a flight simulator to introduce yourself to maneuvers or knock off rust
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