Teaching and Learning Flying - Private Pilot, Single-Engine Airplane

Turns Around a Point

A training maneuver in which the airplane is flown in two or more complete circles of uniform radii or distance from a prominent ground reference point using a maximum bank of approximately 45° and maintaining a constant altitude (AC 61-21)

• Select a ground reference point away from communities, livestock or groups of people and with an emergency landing area within gliding distance
• Fly maneuver at V_A with mix rich, prop high RPM, check temps (ready for emergency landing or max power recovery)

Private Pilot PTS, VIII, C
• Explain associated procedures and wind drift correction
• Select suitable ground reference points
• Enter left or right turn at desired distance and 600 to 1,000 feet AGL
• Divide attention, coordinated
• Apply necessary wind drift correction to track a constant radius turn
• Altitude +/- 100 feet
• Airspeed +/- 10 kts

To help the pilot develop the ability to subconsciously control the airplane while dividing attention between the flightpath and ground references and watching for other air traffic

• Discuss definition, safety factors, tolerances, objectives, and other elements of turns around a point
• How to select a suitable altitude
  Add 800 feet (600 to 1,000) to ground elevation
• How to select a suitable ground reference point with consideration given to emergency landing areas
  • Small, but prominent (eg: intersection of crossroads)
  • Away from communities, livestock or groups of people
  • Emergency landing area within gliding distance
• Orientation, division of attention, and planning
• Configuration and airspeed prior to entry
  • May be flown at normal cruise, but
  • Safest may be: V_A and mix rich, prop high RPM, check temps (ready for emergency landing or max power recovery)
• Entry technique
  • Enter downwind in SLF at distance equal to desired radius
  • In high wing plane, stay close enough to see point throughout
  • Roll into initial bank at relatively rapid rate when abeam
• Wind drift correction
  • Steepest bank on downwind (fastest groundspeed) entry
  • Then gradually shallow bank around to minimum when heading directly upwind
  • Then gradually increase bank to maximum when heading directly downwind
  • Bank is smoothly and continuously adjusted to maintain desired ground track
• How to maintain desired altitude, airspeed, and distance from reference point
  • Divide attention outside and in
  • Constant power setting
  • Vary bank to apply appropriate wind drift correction
  • Visualize desired ground track circle and fly over or parallel to it
• Coordination of flight controls
  Feel beginning slip or skid; confirm with ball in TC
• Demonstrate turns around a point in flight
• Coach student practice
• Critique student performance

• Faulty entry technique
• Poor planning, orientation, or division of attention
• Uncoordinated flight control application
• Improper correction for wind drift
• Failure to maintain selected altitude or airspeed
• Selection of a ground reference point where there is no suitable emergency landing area within gliding distance

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