Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area V, Task B

The Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ground reference maneuvering which may include a rectangular course, S-turns, and turns around a point.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Factors Impacting Ground Reference Maneuvers:
    0:10
    Part 3, Wind Drift Circle:
    0:10
    Part 4, Turns Around a Point:
    0:10
    Part 5, S-Turns:
    0:10
    Part 6, Rectangular Course:
    0:10
    Part 7, Eights Along a Road:
    0:10
    Part 8, Eights Across a Road:
    0:10
    Part 9, Eights Around Pylons:
    0:15
    Part 10, Ground Reference Maneuvers Risk Management:
    0:15
    Part 11, Ground Reference Maneuvers Guided Scenario(s):
    0:15
    Part 12, 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:

    • Ground reference maneuvers develop basic pilot skills, using the ground to gauge deviations, as well as serve as the basis for follow-on maneuvers
    • To begin, pilots must understand wind and wind drift.
    • To demonstrate an understanding of wind and wind drift, pilots must first select suitable areas above which to perform each ground reference maneuver.
    • Performing the wind drift circle takes those principles and demonstrates them in flight.
    • With the effects of winds understood, pilots can practice correcting for it by performing turns around a point and S-turns.
    • These training exercises ultimately prepare a pilot for the rectangular course, which trains the pilot for the next phase of training, the traffic pattern.
    • Later, if/when working toward a commercial pilot certificate, eights along a road, eights across a road, eights around pylons, and finally eights on pylons expand upon the previously introduced ground reference maneuvers to demonstrate increasingly proficient control while making corrections throughout the maneuver.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Materials

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
  • Part 2, Factors Impacting Ground Reference Maneuvers
  • Part 3, Wind Drift Circle:
    • Introduce wind drift circle purpose.
      • Emphasize why the circle flown in the air does will not trace a circle over the ground.
      • Emphasize preparing for turns around a point.
    • Introduce wind drift circle procedure.
    • Introduce wind drift circle common errors.
  • Part 4, Turns Around a Point:
    • Introduce turns around a point purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon wind drift circle (correcting for wind) and preparing for s-turns.
    • Introduce turns around a point procedure.
    • Introduce turns around a point common errors.
  • Part 5, S-Turns:
    • Introduce s-turns purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon turns around a point and preparing for rectangular course.
    • Introduce s-turns procedure.
    • Introduce s-turns common errors.
  • Part 6, Rectangular Course:
    • Introduce rectangular course purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon s-turns and preparing for the traffic pattern.
    • Introduce rectangular course procedure.
    • Introduce rectangular course common errors.
  • Part 7, Eights Along a Road:
    • Introduce eights along a road purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon wind drift circle, turns and a point, s-turns, and rectangular course while preparing for eights across a road.
    • Introduce eights along a road procedure.
    • Introduce eights along a road common errors.
  • Part 8, Eights Across a Road:
    • Introduce eights across a road purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon eights along a road and preparing for eights around pylons.
    • Introduce eights across a road procedure.
    • Introduce eights across a road common errors.
  • Part 9, Eights Around Pylons:
    • Introduce eights around pylons purpose.
      • Emphasize building upon eights along a road and preparing for eights around pylons.
    • Introduce eights around pylons procedure.
    • Introduce eights around pylons common errors.
  • Part 10, Ground Reference Maneuvers Risk Management:
  • Part 11, Guided Scenario(s):
  • Part 12, Conclude Lesson:
    • Relate lesson to power-on stalls.
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • While flying near an airport a passenger suddenly experiences an emergency, necessitating a landing as soon as possible and therefore a turn toward the runway.
    • The pilot begins a turn toward the airport and completes the necessary radio communications but suddenly realizes the wind is coming from the runway toward them.
    • How should the pilot adjust their turn to line up on the runway's extended centerline?
    • When lined up on the runway centerline, what does the pilot need to do if the wind is now coming from the right side of the aircraft?
    • How do the pilot's actions change if the wind directions were reversed?
  • While flying over an open area, the pilot looks for a reference point to practice ground reference maneuvers.
    • The pilot see's a car parked on the side of the road, several lines of trees, but one of wthe trees is noteably taller than the others, and a lone tall telephone pole along a driveway in an otherwise open area.
    • Which reference should the pilot select as a ground reference point, and why not the other options?
  • While flying over the same open area, the pilot looks for a reference line to practice ground reference maneuvers.
    • The pilot see's the same car, trees, and telephone pole.
    • Which reference should the pilot select as a ground reference line, and why not the other options?
  • When selecting a ground reference area, what are some safety precautions the pilot must consider? As a reminder, ground reference maneuvers are entered between 600 to 1000 feet.
    • Consider lateral and vertical hazards to include obstacles and other air traffic.
    • If hazards are identified, how far from these obstacles is safe?
    • What maneuver can we perform to scan the area for airborne hazards?
    • Since pilots must divide their attention inside/outside of the aircraft - what does that mean for ground reference maneuvers?
  • Understanding the effect of wind in a turn, the pilot enters a wind drift circle.
    • What airspeed is the pilot flying when entering the wind drift circle?
    • What altitude is the pilot flying when entering the wind drift circle?
  • The pilot realizes after flying over an intersection they ended in a different location than where they started.
    • Where should the pilot end up?
    • What are some reasons the pilot may not finish where they would expect to? Think airspeed, altitude, angle of bank, and wind variations.
  • How can a pilot apply the lessons of a wind drift circle to more than demonstrating the effects of wind?
  • Understanding wind drift circles, the pilot enters a turn around a point.
    • What airspeed is the pilot flying when entering the turn around a point?
    • What altitude is the pilot flying when entering the turn around a point?
  • The pilot ends up flying ends up overflying the point, what happened?
    • What are some reasons the pilot was not able to maintain a consistent distance from the point? Think airspeed, altitude, angle of bank, and wind variations.
  • How can a pilot apply the lessons of a turn around a point?
  • Understanding turns around a point, the pilot enters an S-turn.
    • What airspeed is the pilot flying when entering the S-turn?
    • What altitude is the pilot flying when entering the S-turn?
  • The pilot's semi-circles end up not being symmetrical, what happened?
    • What are some reasons the pilot was not able to maintain a consistent distance from the point? Think airspeed, altitude, angle of bank, and wind variations.
  • How can a pilot apply the lessons of s-turns?
  • Understanding s-turns, the pilot enters a rectangular course.
    • What airspeed is the pilot flying when entering the rectangular course?
    • What altitude is the pilot flying when entering the rectangular course?
  • How do turns around a point apply to flying a rectangular course?
  • How do s-turns apply to flying a rectangular course?
Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with ground reference maneuvering which may include a rectangular course, S-turns, and turns around a point
  • Note: The evaluator selects at least one ground reference maneuver for the applicant to demonstrate
  • References: 14 CFR part 61; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge)
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
Risk Management 5 ACS Elements
  • PA.V.B.R1:
    Division of attention between aircraft control and orientation.
  • PA.V.B.R2:
    Collision hazards.
  • PA.V.B.R3:
    Low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin, or controlled flight into terrain (CFIT).
  • PA.V.B.R4:
    Distractions, improper task management, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
  • PA.V.B.R5:
    Uncoordinated flight.
Skills 7 ACS Elements
  • PA.V.B.S1:
    Clear the area.
  • PA.V.B.S2:
    Select a suitable ground reference area, line, or point as appropriate.
  • PA.V.B.S3:
    Plan the maneuver:
    • PA.V.B.S3a: Rectangular course: enter a left or right pattern, 600 to 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL) at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area, 45° to the downwind leg.
    • PA.V.B.S3b: S-turns: enter perpendicular to the selected reference line, 600 to 1,000 feet AGL at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area.
    • PA.V.B.S3c: Turns around a point: enter at an appropriate distance from the reference point, 600 to 1,000 feet AGL at an appropriate distance from the selected reference area.
  • PA.V.B.S4:
    Apply adequate wind-drift correction during straight and turning flight to maintain a constant ground track around a rectangular reference area, or to maintain a constant radius turn on each side of a selected reference line or point.
  • PA.V.B.S5:
    If performing S-Turns, reverse the turn directly over the selected reference line; if performing turns around a point, complete turns in either direction, as specified by the evaluator.
  • PA.V.B.S6:
    Divide attention between airplane control, traffic avoidance and the ground track while maintaining coordinated flight.
  • PA.V.B.S7:
    Maintain altitude ±100 feet; maintain airspeed ±10 knots.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Ground Reference Maneuvers Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Ground Reference Maneuvers 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 Ground Reference Maneuvers 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.