Instruments, V-Speeds, and Airport Traffic Pattern

Procedures FAA-H-8083-25A, FAA-H-8083-3A, FAR/AIM,

Cessna 1981 172P Information Manual

What each instrument does in the cockpit and how we use it

V-Speeds (what we use each V-Speed for) How to fly/Procedures to do an airport traffic

pattern Any questions feel free to ask!

What we will be covering…

First off, the cockpit panel…

The Airspeed Indicator

• Gives you airspeed in knots • The pitot tube on the outside of the plane collects the ram air to

give you a reading on the airspeed indicator

FAA-H-8083-25A 7-8

The Attitude Indicator

• Also known as the artificial horizon, this instrument gives you pitch and bank information

• Gives you an instantaneous indication to all changes in pitch and bank

FAA-H-8083-25A 7-18

The Altimeter

• This instrument measures your height above a given pressure setting

• You can set the given pressure in the Altimeter pressure window

• It works like a clock, the small hand gives you thousands and the large hand gives you hundreds of feet

What altitude is it reading?

FAA-H-8083-25A 7-3

The Turn Coordinator

• The Turn Coordinator gives you rate of turn and the side to side movement of the aircraft (Yaw)

• The dashes under the aircraft signify a standard rate turn at 3 degrees per second

FAA-H-8083-25A 7-17, 7--18

The Heading Indicator

• Gives you a heading• You must first set it using the

Magnetic Compass• The plane rotates around to give you

the heading reading

FAA-H-8083-25A 7-20

The Vertical Speed Indicator

• Gives you vertical speed/rate of climbs and descents ( measured in hundreds)

• Gives you an instantaneous indication of vertical speed

• After 6-9 seconds the measure will be more exact and read how many ft. you’re climbing or descending

FAA-H-8083-25A 7-8

What instrument tells you airspeed? What instrument tells you heading? What instrument tells you bank? What instrument tells you attitude?

Questions

V-Speeds are designated speeds for a specific flight condition

Each type and model of aircraft has its own set of V-Speeds because no two models of aircrafts are exactly alike.

V-Speeds! But Why?

FAA-H-8083-3A G-16, G-17

This data is based on a Piper Warrior

Vr is the speed that the pilot begins rotating the aircraft prior to lift-off

This speed is 60 KIAS

Vr – Rotation Speed

Skyhawk 172P information manual 4-3 and FAA-H-8083-25A 8-3, FAA-H-8083-3A G-16, G-17

Vx is for best angle of climb Vx gives the greatest altitude gain in the

shortest horizontal distance This would help to clear a 50ft obstacle The plane has a steep attitude to clear

obstacles with no regard to the amount of time to get to a given altitude.

This speed is 66 KIAS

Vx – Best Angle

Skyhawk 172P information manual 4-3 and FAA-H-8083-25A 8-3, FAA-H-8083-3A 3-13

This speed will get you to your altitude the fastest

“The best rate of climb (Vy) has no regard to the distance traveled over the ground, but instead to the amount of time it will take to get to a given altitude.”

You might use this V-Speed to get to pattern altitude after takeoff

This speed is 75 KIAS

Vy – Best Rate

Skyhawk 172P information manual 4-3 , FAA-H-8083-25A 8-3, FAA-H-8083-3A 3-13

Vx has a steeper angle over Vy so you can clear obstacles at the end of the runway

Vy is for getting to your altitude the fastest way possible. This would be used when there are no obstacles to clear on the ground

In a race between a plane climbing at Vx and one climbing at Vy, Which one would get to 3,000 ft first?

Vy would win because you are going faster over all even though you have a lower angle, with Vx you have a higher angle but you are climbing at a slower speed

Vy vs. Vx

Skyhawk 172P information manual 4-3, FAA-H-8083-25A 8-3, FAA-H-8083-3A 3-13

Vy vs. Vx Graph

The maximum speed for an abrupt maneuver

You can make one full scale deflection of one of the control surfaces on one of the axis’s, the plane will stall before it breaks apart

This speed is 107 KIAS

Va – Maneuvering Speed

http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2011/January/20/SAIB-aims-at-better-V-speed-understanding.aspx

Vs is Stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed at idle power

This means with your flaps up, this is the speed you will stall at

This speed is 56 KIAS

Vs – Stall Speed Clean

FAA-H-8083-3A G-16, G-17

Vso is Stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in landing configuration (flaps full down) and idle power

This speed is 50 KIAS

Vso – Stall Speed Dirty

FAA-H-8083-3A G-16, G-17

This is the maximum speed with flaps extended.

If you are above this speed and you put the flaps down you risk shearing off the flaps

This speed is 100 KIAS

Vfe – Maximum flaps extended

FAA-H-8083-3A G-16, G-17

Vno is the maximum structural cruising speed

Do not exceed this speed unless in smooth air

This speed is 121 KIAS

Vno – Maximum normal operating

FAA-H-8083-3A G-16, G-17

Never-exceed this speed Operating above this speed is strictly prohibited

because it could result in a structural failure Basically DO NOT EXCEED THIS SPEED! The aircraft structure can only support so much

stress and going above this speed would put a considerable amount of stress on the airframe that with a result of the airframe ripping apart

This speed is 153 KIAS

Vne – Never Exceed

FAA-H-8083-3A G-16, G-17

This is the speed in which the least amount of drag is induced on the aircraft, thus resulting in the best speed to glide at

This speed is used during normal landings and engine failures

This speed is 69KIAS

Vglide – Best glide speed

FAA-H-8083-3A G-16, G-17

This is a recommended crosswind component , but I strongly suggest you don’t exceed this crosswind component

The Max crosswind Component is 17 knots of a direct crosswind

Maximum demonstrated crosswind

FAA-H-8083-3A G-16, G-17

What V-Speed does the plane stall in a clean configuration?

What V-Speed would you use to clear a 50 foot tall tree at the end of the runway?

What V-Speed would you use if you wanted to climb to 2,500 ft. fast?

What V-Speed would tell you when its ok to put the flaps down?

Questions

Airport Traffic Patterns are deigned to give a “flow” to the airport. This is so its not a free-for-all to see who can get to the runway first.

The pattern provides specific routes for takeoffs, departures, arrivals, and landings

Each airport has a pattern, and for the most part are all the same. Some airports have special rules to their patterns. These can be found in the Airport Field Directory

Airport Traffic Patterns

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

This information is based on calm winds

Every turn in the pattern is made to the left Patterns should be flown 1,000 ft. above the

Airports field elevation A pattern is basically a rectangle that is

flown after departing the runway The Air Traffic Control Tower has ultimate

authority over the pattern

The Standard Pattern

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

Before we start you should know the legs of the pattern

departure

UpwindFAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

As soon as the plane leaves the ground the departure leg begins

Maintain your heading and continue climbing to your pattern altitude

Once you are within 300 ft. of the pattern altitude turn your crosswind

How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern?Departure Leg

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

Once on crosswind, continue climbing to your TPA (Traffic Pattern Altitude)

Fly ½ to one mile away from the airport and then turn your downwind

How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern?Crosswind leg

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

This leg is parallel to the runway (flying tip: the runway should be 2/3 up the strut) Final landing checks Fly this leg until the runway is 45 degrees

behind you then turn your base

How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern?Downwind leg

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

Fly this leg until you are perpendicular to the extended centerline of the runway

Look outside and make sure there is no other landing or departing traffic to prevent a collision

After you have cleared the final approach leg, turn final

How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern?Base leg

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

This is a descending flight path (note: you have the right-of-way over aircraft in flight or operating on the ground, if there is another aircraft on final, the aircraft with the lower altitude has right-of-way) Once on final continue to make a normal

landing

How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern?Final Approach

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

This is for aircraft going around Wait until an initial climb is established, then

start a shallow bank to join the upwind leg Turn onto your crosswind once the runway is

45 degrees behind the plane Continue the pattern as normal

How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern?Upwind leg

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

You can only exit the pattern in two ways. One being a straight out departure

Instead of turn crosswind, continue flying straight out until you have departed the airport environment.

You can also turn 45 degrees left on your departure leg to depart the airport environment.

To enter the pattern, enter in level flight abeam the midpoint of the runway at pattern altitude in a 45 degree angle to the downwind

Departure, and entry into the pattern

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

On downwind, you should be at your TPA, Adjust your RPM to 2,100 and your airspeed should be 85 KIAS.

Continue downwind until abeam the numbers before turning base

After you’ve abeam the numbers, pitch down, set power to 1,500 rpm, carb heat on (because you are out of the green ark on your RPM’s gauge) and set flaps to 10 degrees

Before the runway is 45 degrees behind you and you turn base, you should have descended 200 ft.

Power, airspeed, flaps, and pitch

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

On base put your flaps down to 20 degrees and continue descending, your airspeed should be 75 KIAS

Once you are established on final, put your flaps down to 30 degrees and keep the nose of the airplane DOWN, maintain 65 KIAS for best glide

Once over the numbers power to idle and make a normal landing

Power, airspeed, flaps, and pitch cont.

FAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

departure

UpwindFAA-H-8083-3A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM 4-3-2, 4-3-3

Using masking tape, design a Standard Airport Traffic PatternLabel each leg/correct procedure using the paper strips

HAVE FUN!

Now you try!

We covered instruments and how they work, and how to read them

We learned V-Speeds and why we use them We learned proper Airport Traffic Patterns

and procedures while flying the pattern

To sum up…