Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area IV, Task C

The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with chandelles.

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Chandelles:
    0:10
    Part 3, Chandelles Risk Management:
    0:15
    Part 4, Chandelles Guided Scenario(s):
    0:15
    Part 5, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research and present a mishap case study:
      • .
    • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap.
    • Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap.
    • Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario.

  • Motivator:

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Materials

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Materials

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the Lesson:
    • Review the lesson plan, including the attention-getter and motivator.
    • Review the airman certification standards.
    • Explain that this lesson integrates previous maneuvers into a structured, real-world traffic pattern environment.
    • Set expectations for situational awareness, communication, aircraft control, and adherence to standardized procedures.
  • Part 2, Chandelles:
    • .
  • Part 3, Chandelles Risk Management:
  • Part 4, Chandelles Guided Scenario(s):
  • Part 5, Conclude Lesson:
    • Relate lesson to normal approach and landing and overall pattern integration.
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
    • Debrief the student's understanding of knowledge, risk management, and skill elements associated with traffic pattern operations.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan Interactive Guided Scenario

Interactive Guided Scenario

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Scenario Complete

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
  • CA.V.C.K1:
    Purpose of chandelles.
  • CA.V.C.K2:
    Aerodynamics associated with chandelles, to include:
  • CA.V.C.K3:
    Appropriate airplane configuration for maximum performance climb.
  • CA.V.C.K4:
    Proper pitch control required for continuously decreasing airspeed.
Risk Management 7 ACS Elements
  • CA.V.C.R1:
    Failure to divide attention between airplane control and orientation.
  • CA.V.C.R2:
    Collision hazards, to include aircraft and terrain.
  • CA.V.C.R3:
    Low altitude maneuvering, including stall or spin.
  • CA.V.C.R4:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • CA.V.C.R5:
    Uncoordinated flight.
  • CA.V.C.R6:
    Energy Management.
  • CA.V.C.R7:
    Rate and radius of turn with confined area operations.
Skills 8 ACS Elements
  • CA.V.C.S1:
    Clear the area.
  • CA.V.C.S4:
    Select an altitude that will allow the maneuver to be performed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL).
  • CA.V.C.S3:
    Establish the appropriate entry configuration, power, and airspeed.
  • CA.V.C.S4:
    Establish the angle of bank at approximately 30°.
  • CA.V.C.S5:
    Simultaneously apply power and pitch to maintain a smooth, coordinated climbing turn, in either direction, to the 90° point, with a constant bank and continuously decreasing airspeed.
  • CA.V.C.S6:
    Begin a coordinated constant rate rollout from the 90° point to the 180° point maintaining power and a constant pitch attitude.
  • CA.V.C.S7:
    Complete rollout at the 180° point, ±10° just above a stall airspeed, and maintaining that airspeed momentarily avoiding a stall.
  • CA.V.C.S8:
    Resume a straight-and-level flight with minimum loss of altitude.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Chandelles Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Chandelles strengthens the coordination, energy awareness, and precise control needed to keep the airplane within safe aerodynamic limits.
    • Recognizing changes in angle of attack, load factor, control effectiveness, wind drift, and developing errors allows pilots to correct before safety margins disappear.
    • Structured practice builds visual awareness, aircraft feel, checklist discipline, and the judgment required to discontinue or recover when a maneuver becomes unstable.
    • Mastery of Chandelles provides a foundation for the more precise and complex aircraft-control tasks encountered in later training.

  • Closure:

    • The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.
    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.