Normal Maneuvers Guide

Maneuvers List

V-Speeds
Before Starting Engine
Taxiing
Normal Takeoff
Normal Landing
Short Field Takeoff
Short Field Landing
Soft Field Takeoff
Soft Field Landing
CHAMPS – Pre Maneuver Checklist
Slow Flight
Power Off Stall
Power-On Stall
Steep Turns
Turns Around a Point
S-Turns Across a Road

Top

V-Speeds (Piper Warrior)

VY = 79 KIAS — Best Rate of Climb
VX = 63 KIAS — Best Angle of Climb
VSO = 44 KIAS — Stall Speed (Landing Configuration)
VS = 50 KIAS – Stall Speed (Clean Configuration)
VFE = 103 KIAS — Maximum Flaps Extended Speed
VNO = 126 KIAS — Maximum Structural Cruising Speed
VNE = 160 KIAS — Never Exceed Speed
VA = 88 – 111 KIAS — Maneuvering Speed
VG = 73 KIAS — Best Glide Speed

Top

Before Starting Engine

  • IMSAFE- Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Eating/Emotion
  • PAVE- Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, External Factors

Top

Taxiing

  • Hand on the throttle at all times.
  • Avoid large power changes
  • Regulate speed with the throttle and avoid use of brakes unless necessary
  • Only use brakes when the power is at idle or if you are doing a sharp turn at a very low speed
  • Speed 12-14 knots
  • Stay on the centerline at all times- no shortcuts
  • Hot spot: verbalize “Clear left, clear right, direction turning”
  • Crossing a runway verbalize “Clear left, clear right, cleared to cross” All lights on

Top

Normal Takeoff

  • No Flaps, Elevator Neutral upon entering
  • Landing Light on
  • Upon entering runway verbalize “clear left, clear right, cleared for takeoff runway…”
  • Full Aileron into the wind for a crosswind- slowly work out the correction as airspeed increases
  • Smoothly apply full power
  • Use rudder pressure to stay on the centerline- small corrections
  • Begin applying back pressure at 55 KIAS
  • Apply a little bit of right rudder (as required) as you rotate
  • Pitch attitude – for 79 knots (Vy)

Completion Standards

  • Stay on centerline the entire time
  • No drift
  • Rotate at 55 KIAS
  • Vy +10 / -5 knots

Top

Normal Landing

  • Downwind ~2100 RPM / 90 KIAS
  • Abeam touchdown point – Fuel Pump on – 1700 RPM, < 103 KIAS, first notch of flaps, 80 KIAS
  • Base – 1700 RPM, second notch of flaps, 75 KIAS
  • Final  14-1700 RPM, third notch of flaps, 70 KIAS
  • Aileron into the wind for a crosswind. Aileron keeps us on the centerline, rudder keeps us pointed down the runway.

Normal Landing Completion Standards

  • Stabilized Approach
  • Minimal control and power changes / inputs on final
  • On centerline
  • No drift
  • Correct wind inputs
  • All speeds +10/-5 knots (with gust factor applied.)

Top

Short Field Takeoff

  • 25° of Flaps (2 notches), Elevator Neutral upon entering
  • Landing Light on
  • Upon entering runway verbalize “clear left, clear right, cleared for takeoff runway…”
  • Full Aileron into the wind for a crosswind- slowly work out the correction as airspeed increases
  • Use the maximum runway space available and get on the centerline with the nose-wheel straight and come to a stop. Smoothly apply full power while holding the brakes. Verify static RPM of 2330-2440. Verify gages in the green. Release brakes evenly.
  • Use rudder pressure to stay on the centerline- small corrections
  • Begin applying back pressure at 52 KIAS (55 KIAS if no flaps)
  • Apply a little bit of right rudder as you rotate
  • Climb out at 57 KIAS (63 KIAS if no flaps)
  • Once clear of your obstacle, pitch for 65 knots, incrementally retract flaps and climb at 79 knots.

Completion Standards

  • Verification of RPM and gauges before releasing brakes
  • Stay on centerline
  • No drift
  • Vx +10/-5 knots 
  • Vy +10/-5 knots
  • Correct management of flaps

Top

Short Field Landing

  • Downwind- 2100 RPM and 90 KIAS
  • Abeam touchdown point – Fuel Pump on – 1700 RPM, < 103 KIAS, first notch of flaps, 80 KIAS
  • Base- 1700 RPM, second notch of flaps, 75 KIAS
  • Final- 14-1700 RPM, third notch of flaps, 70 KIAS
  • Cross threshold (or designated threshold) at 63 KIAS with adequate clearance
  • Touchdown on the thousand-foot markers and apply maximum braking without locking up the tires

Completion Standards

  • Minimal control and power changes/inputs on final
  • On centerline
  • No drift
  • Correct wind inputs
  • All speeds +5/-0
  • Cross your 50 ft obstacle height with adequate clearance
  • Touchdown on the thousand-foot markers +200/0 ft

Top

Soft Field Takeoff

  • 25 ° of Flaps (2 notches), Elevator full aft upon entering
  • Landing Light on
  • Upon entering runway verbalize “clear left, clear right, cleared for takeoff runway…”
  • Full Aileron into the wind for a crosswind- slowly work out the correction as airspeed increases
  • Smoothly apply full power
  • Use rudder pressure to stay on the centerline- small corrections
  • Reduce a little back pressure as the stabilator becomes more effective
  • Lift off at the lowest possible airspeed
  • Accelerate in ground effect to either Vx (with obstacle) or Vy (no obstacle) and climb out at that airspeed

Completion Standards

  • Stay on centerline
  • No drift
  • Lift off at lowest possible airspeed
  • +10/-5 knots
  • Correct management of flaps

Top

Soft Field Landing

  • Downwind- 2100 RPM and 90 KIAS
  • Abeam touchdown point – Fuel Pump on – 1700 RPM, < 103 KIAS, first notch of flaps, 80 KIAS
  • Base- 1700 RPM, second notch of flaps, 75 KIAS
  • Final- 14-1700 RPM, third notch of flaps, 70 KIAS
  • Touchdown at slowest possible airspeed and as smoothly as possible. Keep the weight off the nose-wheel
  • Avoid a tail strike or stall at low altitude

Completion Standards

  1. Minimal control and power changes/inputs on final
  2. On centerline
  3. No drift
  4. Correct wind inputs
  5. All speeds +10/-5 knots
  6. Touchdown as smoothly and as slowly as possible
  7. Keep weight off the nose-wheel for as long as possible
  8. No braking unless absolutely necessary

Top

CHAMPS – Pre Maneuver Checklist

  • Clear the area (clearing turns)
  • Heading
  • Altitude (adequate altitude)
  • Mixture Full Rich
  • Place to land / Fuel Pump On
  • Seats and seatbelts / Switches positioned properly

Top

Slow Flight

  • CHAMPS Checklist and make a position report on ECAC traffic frequency (123.5)
  • Reduce power to 1700 RPM while holding altitude
  • Verify below 103 KIAS and extend the first notch of flaps
  • Incrementally extend the next two notches of flaps and continue holding altitude
  • Pitch for 55 knots. You will need ~ 2000 RPM to hold altitude at 55 knots
  • Pitch for airspeed, power for altitude
  • When making turns, clear before turning and use a maximum of 15° of bank
  • Recovery-Full power, first notch of flaps immediately, incrementally retract the rest of the flaps after you hit 65 knots. You must maintain altitude during the entire recovery

Completion Standards

  • Airspeed +10 / -0
  • Altitude ±100
  • Specified angle of bank, ±10°
  • Coordinated
  • Assigned headings/references ±10°

Top

Power-Off Stall

  • CHAMPS Checklist and make a position report on ECAC traffic frequency (123.5)
  • Completed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL)
  • 1700 RPM, verify below 103 KIAS, first notch of flaps
  • Incrementally extend flaps to full
  • Begin a descent at 65 KIAS to a defined “simulated runway altitude”
  • Transition smoothly from the approach or landing attitude to a pitch attitude that induces a stall.
    • ~150-200 feet above your simulated runway, raise the nose to the horizon and reduce the power to idle
  • Keep holding this pitch attitude until the airplane fully stalls
  • Recovery – Full power, reduce angle of attack, first notch of flaps immediately, pitch for 65 KIAS
  • After you reach 65 KIAS, incrementally retract the flaps and pitch for a Vy climb

Completion Standards

  1. Coordinated
  2. Appropriate procedure
  3. Appropriate recovery
  4. Initiates a climb
  5. Maintain a specified heading ±10° if in straight flight; maintain a specified angle of bank not to exceed 20°, ±10° if in turning flight, while inducing the stall.

Top

Power-On Stall

  • CHAMPS Checklist and make a position report on ECAC traffic frequency (123.5)
  • Reduce the power to idle and slow to 65 KIAS
  • Increase the power to full and begin pitching up so that you are losing 1 knot of airspeed per second
  • Keep holding this pitch attitude until the airplane fully stalls
  • Recovery- Full power, reduce angle of attack, pitch for Vy climb

Completion Standards

  1. Coordinated
  2. Appropriate procedure
  3. Appropriate recovery
  4. Initiates a climb
  5. Maintain a specified heading ±10° if in straight flight; maintain a specified angle of bank not to exceed 20°, ±10° if in turning flight, while inducing the stall.

Top

Steep Turns

  • CHAMPS Checklist and make a position report on ECAC traffic frequency (123.5)
  • Power 22-2300 RPM and 95 knots
  • Find a large visual reference point on the horizon
  • After clearing left or right, Initiate a 45° bank to the left or right
  • Upon banking through 30° add 1-200 RPM and begin applying enough back pressure to keep the airplane level. Roll trim back x 2 to relieve control pressures.
  • Roll out on your chosen point and apply some forward pressure and reduce the power be 1-200 RPM as you roll out so the airplane does not balloon. Trim forward x 2 (or for hands off level flight.)

Completion Standards

  1. Actively clearing the area the entire time
  2. Altitude +/- 50 ft
  3. Airspeed +/- 5 knots
  4. Rolls out on selected point
  5. Coordinated
  6. Maintain the entry altitude ±100 feet, airspeed ±10 knots, bank ±5°, and roll out on the entry heading
  7. ±10°.

Top

Turns Around a Point

  • CHAMPS Checklist and make a position report on ECAC traffic frequency (123.5)
  • Altitude 600-1000 AGL (depending on the area) – We use 1500 MSL around Devens for safety reasons
  • Power 22-2300 RPM and 95 Knots
  • Enter on a 45° angle to the downwind leg
  • Steeper bank on downwind legs, shallower bank on the upwind legs
  • Maintain altitude the whole time and actively clear the area
  • Keep a constant radius around the selected point
  • Be aware of obstacles and minimum safe altitudes

Completion Standards

  1. Chooses a safe and adequate point
  2. Coordinated
  3. Maintain altitude ±100 feet
  4. Airspeed ±10 knots.
  5. Understands the relationship between groundspeed, radius of turn, and angle of bank

Top

S-Turns Across a Road

  • CHAMPS Checklist and make a position report on ECAC traffic frequency (123.5)
  • Altitude 600-1000 AGL (depending on the area)- We use 1500 MSL around Devens for safety reasons
  • Power 22-2300 RPM and 95 Knots
  • Enter on a 45° angle to the downwind leg
  • Steeper bank on downwind legs, shallower bank on the upwind legs
  • Adjust your angle of bank so that your wings are level over the road
  • Clear before making any turns

Completion Standards

  1. Chooses a safe and adequate road
  2. Coordinated
  3. Maintain altitude ±100 feet
  4. Airspeed ±10 knots. 
  5. Understands the relationship between groundspeed, radius of turn, and angle of bank
  6. Manages bank angle so that the wings end up being level over the road