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Rectangular Course

Rectangular Course
Rectangular Course

Objective: The student will be able to explain the different legs of rectangular course and be able to explain the wind correction

Completion Standards: The student will be able to draw out the rectangular course and label each leg of the maneuver and be able to explain the setup, entry, the core, and the exit of the maneuver.

References: AFH CH7

Equipment: White board and markers, iPad/ computer 

IP’s Actions:

  • Assess student

  • State the objective and completion standards

  • Writes down references

  • Provide attention getter

  • Present content

  • Assessment

  • Assign Homework

SP’s Actions:

  • Take notes

  • Ask Questions

Introduction: Explain what a traffic pattern is and why it is important to know.

Attention getter: Give a scenario such as search and rescue or story about at a plane that was flipped over in a field (turns around a point)

Motivation its important to know how to use the ground as a reference when flying on the day to day basis.

Overview

  1. Intro to ground reference maneuvers

  2. Wind drift and ground track control

  3. Constant radius during turning flight

  4. Rectangular Course


Content: 

Ground Reference Maneuvers

Why? 

Ground reference maneuvers are the principal flight maneuvers that combine the four fundamentals (straight-and-level, turns, climbs, and descents)

To develop the proper coordination, timing, and attention in order to maneuver the airplane accurately and safely with regard to the required attitudes and ground references.

Where?

Multiple of places such as;

Breakwaters, canals, fence lines, field boundaries, highways, railroad tracks, roads, pipe lines, power lines, water tanks, and many other objects.

How?

Ground reference maneuvers are generally flown at altitudes between 600 and 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL)

The lower the maneuvering altitude, the faster the airplane appears to travel in relation to the ground.

⦁ Drift should be easily recognizable from both sides of the airplane.

⦁ The altitude should provide obstruction clearance of no less than 500 feet vertically above the obstruction and 2,000 feet horizontally.

⦁ In the event of an engine failure, lower altitudes equate to less time to configure the airplane and reduced gliding distance before a forced landing.


Drift and Ground Track Control

Wind direction and velocity variations create the need for flightpath corrections during a ground reference maneuver.

(Introduce the boat drift/ scenario) 

10 knots side wind= 6-degree wind correction angle


Mention crabbing, wind correction angle, elements of a traffic pattern, and ground speed.

Mention to stay straight you must turn into the wind


Constant Radius During Turning Flight

  • In a no-wind condition

    • A pilot may make a constant-radius turn over the ground using a fixed bank angle.

  • If wind is present,

    • The pilot will observe a change in the radius of a turn while maintaining that same constant bank angle.

  • As groundspeed increases

    • The observed radius of the turn increases. 

  • As groundspeed decreases,

    • The radius of the turn over the ground will decrease.

  • For a ground-referenced constant-radius turn,

    • The pilot compensates for changes in groundspeed by varying the bank angle throughout the turn. 

  • When groundspeed increases, 

    • The pilot banks more steeply to maintain a constant-radius turn over the ground. 

  • When groundspeed decreases, 

    • The pilot uses a shallower bank

Angle of bank

Shallow 0 to 15 degrees 

Medium 15 to 45 degrees

Steep 45 to 60 degrees












Rectangular Course

Draw the rectangle course and  label the different legs.

Mention wind correction throughout the maneuver


Setup: 

  1. Find a suitable area to do the maneuver 

  2. Clearing Turns making sure the area is safe with no obstacles or traffic.

Entry:

  1. Enter between 600-1000 feet using  Va

  2. 45 degrees to downwind

  3. Once on downwind 

    1. the wind will be at the tail

Core: there are 4 turns for the maneuver

  1. 1st turn

    1. 90 degree turn or more

    2. Wind will want to push plane away

    3. Turn toward the wind/ Base

Steeper turn

  1. 2nd turn

    1. 90 degree turn or less

    2. Wind will turn the plane onto the upwind leg

Shallow turn

  1. 3rd turn

    1. 90 degree turn or less

    2. Turning to Cross wind

Shallow turn

  1. 4th turn

    1. 90 degree turn or more

    2. Turning to downwind 

Steeper Turn

Exit:

Just like entry but opposite

  1. Once  turned on downwind exit the maneuver by 45 degrees away from the rectangle




Conclusion

Ask student what rectangular course is used fore and why it’s important?

Ask student to label the different legs and the angle of bank and wind correction?

HW: study the maneuver in the AFH for the flight.


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