in flying the rectangular course when would

by Lucius Weimann 10 min read

Full Answer

What is a rectangular course?

Today, we’re featuring an excerpt from the Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3B) on a principle ground reference maneuver known as the rectangular course. The rectangular course is a training maneuver in which the airplane maintains an equal distance from all sides of the selected rectangular references.

What are the most common errors made while performing rectangular courses?

The following are the most common errors made while performing rectangular courses: Failure to adequately clear the area above, below, and on either side of the airplane for safety hazards, initially and throughout the maneuver. Failure to establish a constant, level altitude prior to entering the maneuver.

How far away from the ground should the airplane be?

The airplane should be flown parallel to and at an equal distance between one-half to three-fourths of a mile away from the field boundaries or selected ground references. The flightpath should be positioned outside the field boundaries or selected ground references so that the references may be easily observed from either pilot seat.

When flying a rectangular course when would the aircraft be turned less than 90 degrees?

(Refer to figure 62.) In flying the rectangular course, when would the aircraft be turned less than 90°? The correct answer is: Corners 1 and 4.

When can you fly in a rectangular course?

[Figure 6-4] The rectangular course is a training maneuver in which the airplane maintains an equal distance from all sides of the selected rectangular references. The maneuver is accomplished to replicate the airport traffic pattern that an airplane typically maneuvers while landing.

Why does the turn from downwind to base require more than 90 degree turn?

Point the nose into the wind, or crab, to make sure the airplane isn't pushed into or away from the field. Because of this, turns from the upwind to the crosswind will be less than 90 degrees, while those from the downwind to the base leg are more than 90 degrees.

How far from the field boundary should you fly during a rectangular course?

The airplane should be flown parallel to and at an equal distance between one-half to three-fourths of a mile away from the field boundaries or selected ground references.

What is rectangular course?

[Figure 6-4] The rectangular course is a training maneuver in which the airplane maintains an equal distance from all sides of the selected rectangular references. The maneuver is accomplished to replicate the airport traffic pattern that an airplane typically maneuvers while landing.

How do you enter a rectangular course?

5:248:23Rectangular Course - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPosition the airplane so that you enter the mover on a 45 degree angle to the center of yourMorePosition the airplane so that you enter the mover on a 45 degree angle to the center of your downwind leg.

When should I switch from crosswind to downwind?

Crosswind Turn: Airplanes staying in the pattern shouldn't start the crosswind turn until after they're beyond the departure end of the runway and within 300 feet of pattern altitude and they shouldn't join the downwind leg until they're at pattern altitude.

When should I turn my base leg?

Base Leg. When you're approximately 45-degrees from the touchdown point, it's time to make your base leg turn. You do it by entering a medium-banked turn until you're flying a perpendicular track to the runway.

How do you know when to turn downwind?

Without doing any math, just look at the number shown at the bottom of the heading indicator when you're aligned with the runway. That's the heading you'll fly on the downwind leg. You'll continue downwind until passing a point abeam the threshold of the landing runway.

Which aileron positions should a pilot generally use when taxiing in strong quartering headwinds?

When taxiing into a strong quartering headwind, the aileron should be up on the side from which the wind is blowing.The elevator should be in the neutral position for tricycle-geared airplanes. The elevator should be held in the up position for tailwheel airplanes.

How do you fly a steep turn?

8:159:37Steep Turns - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAdd or reduce power as necessary to maintain 95 knots within 20 to 25 degrees of the entry headingMoreAdd or reduce power as necessary to maintain 95 knots within 20 to 25 degrees of the entry heading begins smoothly rolling out the bank.

How do you teach eights on pylons?

0:585:01Eights on Pylons: Tips and Tricks - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs you enter the maneuver start the turn as soon as you lose the pylon on the leading edge of theMoreAs you enter the maneuver start the turn as soon as you lose the pylon on the leading edge of the wing. This should place the pylon. Directly off the reference point on your wing.

What is rectangular course?

The rectangular course is a training maneuver in which the airplane maintains an equal distance from all sides of the selected rectangular references. The maneuver is accomplished to replicate the airport traffic pattern that an airplane typically maneuvers while landing. While performing the rectangular course maneuver, the pilot should maintain a constant altitude, airspeed, and distance from the ground references. The maneuver assists the pilot in practicing the following: 1 Maintaining a specific relationship between the airplane and the ground. 2 Dividing attention between the flightpath, groundbased references, manipulating the flight controls, and scanning for outside hazards and instrument indications. 3 Adjusting the bank angle during turns to correct for groundspeed changes in order to maintain constant radius turns. 4 Rolling out from a turn with the required wind correction angle to compensate for any drift cause by the wind. 5 Establishing and correcting the wind correction angle in order to maintain the track over the ground. 6 Preparing the pilot for the airport traffic pattern and subsequent landing pattern practice.

What is the next leg of an airplane?

The next leg is where the airplane turns from a base leg position to the upwind leg . Ideally, the wind is directly on the nose of the airplane resulting in a direct headwind and decreased groundspeed; however, a real-world situation results in some drift correction.

What should the pilot do when the airplane turns into a steep bank?

The pilot should roll the airplane into a steep bank with rapid, but not excessive, coordinated aileron and rudder pressures. As the airplane turns onto the following base leg, the tailwind lessens and becomes a crosswind; the bank angle is reduced gradually with coordinated aileron and rudder pressures.

What are the basic principles of ground reference maneuvers?

Ground reference maneuvers are the principle flight maneuvers that combine the four fundamentals (straight-and-level, turns, climbs, and descents) into a set of integrated skills that the pilot uses in their everyday flight activity. A pilot must develop the skills necessary to accurately control, through the effect and use of the flight controls, the flightpath of the airplane in relationship to the ground. From every takeoff to every landing, a pilot exercises these skills in controlling the airplane.

How to compensate for crosswind?

To compensate for the crosswind, the pilot must angle into the wind, toward the outside of the rectangular course, which requires the turn to be less than 90°. The final turn is back to the downwind leg, which requires a medium-banked angle and a turn greater than 90°.

Where should the flightpath be positioned?

The flightpath should be positioned outside the field boundaries or selected ground references so that the references may be easily observed from either pilot seat. It is not practicable to fly directly above the field boundaries or selected ground references.

Should a pilot avoid flying close to the references?

The pilot should avoid flying close to the references, as this will require the pilot to turn using very steep bank angles, thereby increasing aerodynamic load factor and the airplane’s stall speed, especially in the downwind to crosswind turn. The entry into the maneuver should be accomplished downwind.

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