|
NOTE
WELL: |
My
comments below are applicable to takeoff and landing practice in a Cessna 172
under calm conditions or with a light wind under the direction of a flight
instructor, i.e. me. |
Flying
a safe traffic pattern at a non-towered airport begins with developing an
awareness of other traffic using the airport.
Even as you are doing your pre-flight inspection, you can become more
aware of traffic currently using the airport.
For example, are there other aircraft doing landing and take off
practice? If so, make a mental note of
it.
After
you start the aircraft, you can and should turn on the radio. Is other traffic announcing intentions for
your airport? If so, make a mental note
of these. Continue doing this during
your taxi and run up.
After
you complete your run up, get a radio check from Unicom. A positive response will confirm that your
radio is both transmitting and receiving.
Review
you mental notes of other aircraft activity at your airport. Listen to the radio. Look at the final segment of the traffic
pattern. Do you hear or see any
conflicting traffic? If not you can
announce your intention to take off on the active runway making sure to include
its number and your intention to fly a (right or left) closed pattern.
As
you promptly taxi onto the active runway, continue listening to the radio and
watching for conflicting traffic. In
the absence of conflict, taxi onto the active runway.
|
1. |
Line
the aircraft up on the runway centerline.
|
|
2. |
Advance
the throttle from idle to full power over a period of 3 to 4 seconds. Expect a left turning tendency and counter
with right rudder. |
|
3. |
Check
that your engine instruments are all in the green operation range. |
|
4. |
Check
that the airspeed indicator begins to register. |
|
5. |
At
50 knots, lift the nose wheel slightly off of the runway. |
|
6. |
At
55 knots, that aircraft will lift off by itself. |
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7. |
After
lift off, simultaneously lower the nose to attain 65 knots (Vx), and crab
into the wind (if a cross wind exists). |
|
8. |
Once
over trees and other obstacles, lower the nose to attain a speed of 74 knots
(Vy). The horizon should remain
visible to you over the nose. |
|
9. |
Climb
straight ahead, maintaining the track of the extended centerline until you
are 500 feet above the ground. |
|
10. |
At
500 feet AGL, turn crosswind, continuing your climb to pattern altitude. |
|
11. |
After
you have flow approximately ½ mile from the extended runway centerline, turn
downwind. Crab into the wind to
maintain a track parallel to a ½ mile distant from the runway. |
|
Note: |
At
some point between the latter portion of your crosswind and the beginning of
your downwind leg, you will reach pattern altitude. When you are within 50 feet of pattern altitude, lower the nose
to the level position and reduce power to the bottom of the green arc. Trim
out control pressure. |
|
Note: |
Next
two steps can be done in either order. |
|
12. |
Make
a radio call to announce your position. |
|
13. |
Do
a pre-landing check (GUMPS). |
|
14. |
Abeam
the numbers of the landing runway: (1)
Apply carburetor heat, (2)
Reduce power to 1,500 to 1,700 rpm (3)
Maintain level flight and as the aircraft slows into the white arc,
deploy 10o of flaps (4)
When the aircraft further slows to 75 knots, lower the nose slightly
to maintain 75 knots (5)
Trim for 75 knots |
|
15. |
When
beginning of the landing runway is 45o behind you, turn to the
base leg. Pitch for 70 knots. |
|
16. |
Immediately
evaluate your position and take any appropriate corrective action. |
|
17. |
Deploy
another 10o of flaps when appropriate. |
|
18. |
Make
a radio call announcing your position. |
|
19. |
Plan
ahead for a shallow bank turn from base to the final leg. You want to make a shallow turn and you do
not want to cross the extended runway centerline. This is a very important turn!! |
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20. |
After
completing your turn from the base to final leg, evaluate your position and
take any appropriate corrective action.
Announce your position and your intention for a full stop landing. |
|
21. |
Pitch
for 65 knots. This is a very
important speed!! I
NEVER WANT YOU TO BE ON THE FINAL LEG WITH A SPEED OF LESS THAN 60 KNOTS -- IT’S VERY DANGEROUS!! |
|
22. |
Cyclically
manage three (3) important issues with minor corrections: (1)
Is airspeed 65 knots? (Pitch) (2)
Are you at an altitude appropriate for the current distance from the
runway? (Power) (3)
Are you over the extended runway centerline? (Ailerons & Rudder) |
|
23. |
Continue
decent until you are about 10 feet above the ground. Reduce power. Gently flare so that you are about 2 feet above the
runway. Maintain this altitude until
the aircraft stalls and lands. |
|
24. |
Keep
the aircraft under control while rolling on the runway. Slow to a speed where you can safely turn
90o to exit the runway.
Announce that you are clear of the active runway. |
|
25. |
Do
a post-landing check. |