Flying the Pattern

We begin this scenario with an in-depth review of aerodynamics, systems, aircraft performance, and energy management. Next, the FARs and AIM recommendations for flying in an airport environment will be reviewed. Normal, short, and soft field take-off and landings will be practiced as well as simulated engine failures at various points in the pattern.

Weight and Balance

Many pilots are unaware of the change in handling qualities of their aircraft as the center of gravity moves forward or aft, or as the takeoff weight approaches the maximum limit. This scenario investigates different loading configurations for your aircraft that affect both runway requirements as well as controllability. We will first review the performance and design data for your aircraft. Then, we will factor in atmospheric conditions. Finally, we will load your aircraft to different corners of the weight and balance envelope and fly the airplane to explore its handling qualities.

Cross Country Flying

This is an advanced scenario that will explore all aspects of planning a cross country flight. Emphasis will be placed use of the VFR sectionals, alternate methods of navigation including pilotage and dead-reckoning, lost and emergency procedures, and three dimensional flight planning and navigation.

IFR for VFR Pilots

The accident record shows that inadvertent flight into IFR conditions is usually fatal for VFR pilots. The best survival tactic is learning to interpret weather reports, forecasts, and your own in-flight observations to avoid IFR conditions. But, if the weather unexpectedly closes in around you, your ability to fly on instruments could save your life. We will begin by reviewing some advanced weather products to help provide a better understanding of the atmosphere. This will be followed by a review of the available ground based services that can assist you in this situation. Then, we will depart VFR with you under the hood, to practice basic instrument flying. Weather and ATC conditions permitting, you will then remove your foggles and we will fly into a cloud. You will experience a total loss of visibility as well as have an opportunity to practice making a 180 degree turn out of the cloud. Your flight will conclude with you flying an ILS under the guidance of ATC.

Using the GPS

GPS has revolutionized and simplified the tasks of air navigation. Although the Direct-To button is most commonly used, even the most basic GPS receivers contain many other additional – and very useful – features that pilots seldom take full advantage of. In this scenario, we will explore the numerous capabilities of your GPS, including how to enter, save, and edit GPS flight plans; retrieve pertinent airport, runway and communication information; use the fuel, range, ETE and ETA functions; customize the moving map; navigate through the various pages and menus; create user-defined waypoints; obtain and interpret XM Weather data (equipment permitting); understand the capabilities and limitations of TCAS and TIS; and obtain nearest-airport information during an emergency.

Stalls and Spins

Stall and spin awareness is key to the success of every flight. This scenario will begin with an in-depth discussion about stalls and spins, and how to recover from them. The procedures to recover from a stall or spin, as documented in your POH, will be reviewed. You will learn the difference between a spin and a spiral. At a safe altitude, we will then practice power-off and power-on stalls both straight and turning, and practice recovery from spirals and unusual attitudes. An elevator trim stall, a secondary stall, and a deep stall will be demonstrated. Then, we will simulate flying the pattern at altitude and explore where stalls and spins can occur.

Emergencies

We will review the different types of emergencies that can arise during a typical flight, followed by a careful examination of factors that can mitigate each of these risks. We will fly a short cross-country flight and you will experience simulated radio failure, instrument failure, alternator / electrical failure, engine failure, getting lost, in-flight fire, emergency descents, hypoxia, sick passenger, loss of elevator control, gear failure (for retractable aircraft only,) and a door popping open on take-off.

Airspace

Lincoln Park airport is located in Class G airspace, below a Class B shelf, adjacent to a Class D airport, within 50 miles of a Class C aiport, within another 50 miles of a Class D aiport with a TRSA. We will first review all FARs and AIM procedures for traversing each of these airspaces and then fly a cross-country to land at a Class D airport, a Class C airport, a Class D airport with TRSA, and finally a class G airport.

Communications

Radio communications is a skill, that once mastered, will enable you to feel confident to fly anywhere. We will review proper phraseology for communicating pilot-to-pilot, and pilot-to-ground. Then, we will depart, contact FSS and FlightWatch for a weather update, contact ATC for flight following, communicate with a Class C control tower and ground control, communicate with clearance delivery for a pre-taxi clearance, and then communicate on CTAF. Also, you will practice receiving HIWAS, ATIS, AWOS, and ASOS transmissions.

Controlled and Uncontrolled Airports

We will first review the available information sources for obtaining a comprehensive overview of the destination airports, including taxi diagrams and A/FD data. A briefing of ground markings and airport signs will follow. Then, we will fly to several airports to practice aviating, navigating, and communicating. Of course, we will land in order to explore the various methods of getting around the airport environment.

Commercial Maneuvers

This is a fun flight (not that the other ones aren't!) In order to become a commercial rated pilot, you will need to learn to master several new maneuvers. Recognizing that most private pilots do not want to earn a commercial rating, this scenario is designed to introduce you to each of the new maneuvers without the burden of satisfying the other requirements. These maneuvers are fun, but challenging. They each require very good rudder skills and a deeper understanding of your airplane's dynamics. You will have an opportunity to practice each of the maneuvers and improve your overall flying skills.

Night Flying

While many pilots routinely fly VFR at night, the risks associated with this activity are considerably greater than during the day. We will begin by reviewing the FARs to learn about currency requirements as well as equipment requirements. A review of aeromedical factors will follow next. Then you will be introduced to information available to IFR pilots for the purpose of avoiding terrain while operating in the airport environment. You will fly a closed course at night using only pilotage and land a several types of airports - controlled and uncontrolled. While arriving to and departing from each of these airports, you will have an opportunity to use the IFR information to make a safe descent and climb. Finally, you will have an opportunity to breathe oxygen from a portable tank to learn about your physiology noting any changes in your vision and clarity of thought.

Weather

Weather is one of the least understood phenomena in aviation. You will learn how to review available weather products to improve your knowledge of atmospheric problems that might occur on your flight. You will then call FSS to obtain a weather briefing and compare what you learned with what they are telling you. You will then learn how to assess all available information to make good decisions and improve your judgment. During the flight, you will learn how to correlate how your briefings compare to what you are seeing. You will then contact FSS for a weather update while enroute.

High Performance Take-Offs and Landings

There are situations that arise in the normal course of aviation that will require you make take-offs and landings that are very close to the performance limits of your airplane and your abilities. For example, short runways with 50' obstructions at the runway end on a very hot day. This scenario begins with an in-depth review of your POH to learn about the performance capability of your aircraft. You will then practice short field and soft field take-offs at maximum gross weight. You will also practice short field and soft field landings at maximum gross weight. Also, you will learn how to fly final at a much higher speed than normal to accomodate a faster airplane behind you, and then quickly slow down for a normal landing. Lastly, you will review, and practice, LAHSO (land and hold short operations) at a nearby airport.