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Ground Reference Maneuvers

  • Used to teach the effect of wind.
  • Need to be low or slow to see the effect of wind.
  • Have an emergency landing spot ahead of time.

Tracking a Straight Line​

Straight course with wind

  • Determine the wind on the ground; can use GPS and ground speed.
  • Find the wind correction angle that keeps you on a straight path over the ground.

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 7-4

Rectangular Course​

Rectangular course

  • Start on the upwind leg.
  • Turn 1: Less than 90 degrees onto crosswind.
  • Turn 2: Turn more than 90 degrees onto downwind.
  • Turn 3: Turn more than 90 degrees onto base leg.
  • Turn 4: Turn less than 90 degrees onto upwind.
  • Tip: Look for 1/2 mile of distance by measuring the object 1/2 up the strut in the window.

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 7-6

S-Turns Across a Road​

S-turns across a road

  • Pick a road that is perpendicular to the wind.
  • Start on the downwind.
  • Turn to keep a turn radius about 1/2 mile across the road.
  • Turn with a softer bank angle on the upwind side.
  • Turn with a steeper bank angle on the downwind side.
  • You want to turn wings level just as you cross the road.

Common Errors​

  • Failure to clear the area.
  • Failure to remain coordinated.
  • Failure to establish proper altitude and wind correction angle.
  • Gaining or losing altitude.
  • Abrupt control usage.
  • Inability to divide attention inside and outside the airplane.

Turns Around a Point​

Turns around a point

  • Hardest of the three private ground reference maneuvers.
  • Start on the downwind leg.
  • Downwind requires the steepest bank.
  • Upwind requires the shallowest bank.
  • Students will often try to keep the wing on the pylon.

Aviation Instructor's Handbook pg. 7-8

8's on Pylons​

8's on Pylons

  • Dependent on flying at a "pivotal" altitude.
  • There's no wind correction; just holding the pylon on the wing.
  • Pick pylons about 1 mile apart.
    • Flying perpendicular between the pylons, a 1-mile pylon should be just under the tip of both wings.
  • Enter on the downwind leg.
  • A given ground speed is associated with one pivotal altitude.
    • A cone shape forms the path for a given ground speed.
    • The faster the ground speed, the higher the pivotal altitude.
  • If we descend, the airplane will speed up, meaning the pivotal altitude increases.
  • Between the pylons, wait until you are abeam the pylon before turning.
  • Climb "away" from a pylon behind you, and climb "into" a pylon in front of you.

Pivotal altitude

Common Errors​

  • Failure to clear the area.
  • Failure to maintain coordination.
  • Excessive altitude change.
  • Over-concentration on the pylon, failure to scan for traffic.
  • Poor choice of pylons.
  • Not entering on the downwind leg.
  • Failure to account for wind drift when flying between the pylons.
  • Abrupt control movements.