Air Facts

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

These maneuvers include an engine failure on takeoff, loss of lift on the wing during departure, en route, and approach, crosswind landings, wind shear scenarios, engine inoperative landings, low visibility landings, crash landings and evacuation. Checkrides are serious business, and failures can results in termination.

Pilot 94

Pilot Wind Shear Airline Airlines 94

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

Lazy eights sound like the least challenging commercial checkride maneuver to learn. The higher speed creates extra lift, causing the airplane to bank further into the turn. The aileron on the right wing deflects down, increasing the camber and creating more lift. The left wing’s aileron deflects up, decreasing lift.

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

They are also one of the most feared maneuvers during the private pilot checkride. Will you need a crosswind correction? Reducing lift puts more weight on the wheels. If conducting a checkride, you might blow past the stopping point, which could result in a failure. Almost every landing is a crosswind landing, after all.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Density Altitude 52

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

Going into a checkride (or a grass strip) without solid soft field skills is asking for trouble. A faster, reduced-flaps approach improves aircraft control during strong crosswinds or gusts. The sudden loss of lift can cause the wheels to dig into the ground. Soft field landings are widely misunderstood. Well, not exactly.

NOTAMs 52

NOTAMs Runway Approach Descent 52

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

For instance, if an aircraft is on the crosswind leg, they’ll ask you to extend the upwind If you don’t have the time, that’s okay. Reducing the flaps all at once will result in a large loss of lift, which can cause the aircraft to settle on the runway or stall. Radio Calls When you perform a go-around, you must inform ATC.

Wind Shear 52

Wind Shear Runway Approach Aeronautical Decision-Making 52

Air Facts

AUGUST 26, 2024

In fact, I believe most pilots need fewer stalls and more slow flight in their training diet (at least after the Private checkride). Of course wind can be a challenge, and crosswind landings often top the list of pilots’ least favorite maneuver, but that’s no excuse.

Knot 98

Knot Runway Airplanes Pilot 98