Preflight Briefing:
Review the step by step procedure and how to compensate for wind.
Rectangular Course (AFH 6-4)
- Purpose: simulates the conditions encountered in airport traffic pattern. To develop division of attention between the flight path and ground references, while controlling the airplane and watching for other aircraft in the vicinity. Develop recognition of drift toward or away from a line parallel to the intended ground track.
- Select a safe altitude
- Select a suitable ground reference with consideration given to emergency landing areas
- Focus on orientation, division of attention, and planning.
- Configure the aircraft and airspeed prior to entry.
- Consider the relationship of a rectangular course to an airport traffic pattern.
- Correct for wind drift
- Maintain desired altitude, airspeed, and distance from ground reference boundaries.
- Time turn entries and rollouts to maintain equidistance from rectangle (ground track)
- Coordinate flight controls
- Pick a clearly distinct rectangle like a rectangular country road pattern
- Enter 45° to Downwind
- Maintain a crab angle into the wind to keep a rectangular ground track
- Maintain an altitude and airspeed throughout the maneuver
- Divide attention between the flight path ground objects, and the handling of the airplane
- Adjust crab angles for wind changes to retain a set ground track around the rectangle by anticipating drift and turning radii.
- Common Errors
- Poor planning, orientation, or division of attention
- Uncoordinated flight control application
- Improper correction for wind drift
- Failure to maintain selected altitude or airspeed
- Selection of a ground reference where there is no suitable emergency landing area within gliding distance
Complete clearing turns before every performance maneuver—usually at least 180° change in direction, looking for traffic (Jeppesen Private Pilot pg. 4-6)
Post-Flight Debriefing:
Identify tasks that were completed to standards or above.
Identify and discuss tasks that were not completed to standards.
Record and grade completed tasks in the training record
Record training in the student’s logbook (reference the Areas of Operation above).
Give an assignment for the next flight session.
Next Assignment: Prepare for completing this lesson by reviewing tasks that were not performed to standards. If all tasks were performed to standards, assign the next lesson’s required material.