Transcript Sport Pilot Training Program

Post-Solo Training Module
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Short and Soft Fields
In cooperation with Mid Island Air
Service, Inc. Brookhaven, NY
(Michael Bellenir, CFI)
Lesson 11 Objectives
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In this briefing, you will learn the procedures
for making takeoffs and landings on soft
fields, as well as takeoffs and landings in a
confined area.
Upon completion of this briefing, you will
continue to practice takeoffs and landings.
You will also simulate short-field and softfield conditions.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Soft Field (Unimproved runway)
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Landing on something other than pavement,
most commonly grass, but could be dirt, gravel,
or any combination thereof.
“Soft” fields have hazards that are not typically
found on pavement, and you must operate in a
manner that minimizes the risk of these hazards
appropriately.
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Rocks
Mole hills/surface irregularities
Sink areas/soft spots
Hidden hazards
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Soft Field Operations
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To help minimize the risk of hazards found on
soft fields, minimize the time you are operating
directly on the surface.
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Avoid running for extended periods of time on the
surface; avoid stopping and sitting when possible.
On takeoff, get the airplane airborne as soon as
possible.
On landing, touchdown as softly as possible.
Keep the nose up as long as possible to keep the
nose gear and propeller as far away from potentially
damaging hazards as possible.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Keeping the Nose UP!
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Full back stick on taxi.
Taxi with flaps set for takeoff.
Minimum brake usage.
Minimum power (less RPM).
Look ahead/Plan ahead
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Soft Field Takeoff
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Get the airplane off of the surface and into the air as
soon as possible. You can accomplish this by using
ground-effect to your advantage. With less induced drag
on the airplane and downwash making contact directly
with the surface, the airplane can be lifted off the ground
pre-maturely. Be careful not to climb out of ground effect
too quickly (potential stall), make sure you’ve
accelerated to safe flying speed before climbing out.
Be careful not to let the airplane settle back onto the
surface.
It may be necessary to level-off momentarily after
becoming airborne to accelerate in ground-effect to flying
speed.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Soft Field Takeoff
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Soft Field Landings
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Land as smoothly and softly as possible.
You can cheat a little by adding a small
amount of power as the airplane settles to
cushion the touchdown (too much will induce a
climb).
Keep the nose up as long as you can on rollout.
Touchdown at minimum speed (use flaps).
Minimize use of the brakes.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Soft Field Landing
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Effect of Soft Fields on Performance
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Soft fields often create more friction with the
tires and can have a noticeably longer takeoff
roll.
Soft fields also reduce traction of tires, this
may cause the brakes and steering to be
less effective.
Plan on needing more distance
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Short Field/Confined Area Operations
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Operating in an area with limited space
requires you to get the most performance out
of your airplane. It also reduces your
margins for error and requires proper
technique and careful planning.
Use all the available space to give yourself
the most room and largest margin for error
possible.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Short Field Takeoff
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Maximize lift-Set flaps appropriately
Drag race start: Apply full power before releasing the
brakes to get the fastest acceleration.
Make sure you’re developing full power. If the you
suspect the engine isn’t making full power early in the
takeoff roll, abort immediately.
Climb at Vx, the best angle climb speed, until you’ve
cleared the obstacles.
Once the obstacles have been cleared, you can
transition to a climb at best rate (Vy) and retract the
flaps.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Short Field Takeoff
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Short Field Landing
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Stabilized Approach at minimum speed.
Set up to land at beginning of runway.
Ensure glide path clears obstacles.
Touchdown on your selected point on the
runway.
Maximize brake effectiveness; hold full back
stick on rollout and retract the flaps.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Short Field Landing Concerns
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Flying too slow with flaps extended significantly
reduces tail effectiveness and will require
extremely accurate timing and placement of
the flare. Don’t approach too slow.
Don’t approach too low, carrying power to clear
the obstacles. Fly a stabilized approach at a
steeper angle (using full flaps) to clear
obstacles.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Short Field Approach
Stabilized Approach: Good
Note: when landing over obstacles, the runway length you can
actually use is less than the total length of the runway
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Short Field Approach
Unstabilized Approach: Bad
If engine quits, you go here
On an unstabilized approach, power is required to clear obstacles. This is more
work for the pilot, requires fast and accurate correction, reduces margin for error,
and is potentially dangerous. Go around, try again.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Speed Control
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Speed control is especially important when
you need the maximum performance out of
the airplane.
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Climb speeds for the SportStar MAX:
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Flaps T/O-15 degrees
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Vx: 54
– Vy: 57
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Flaps UP
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Vx: 56
– Vy: 65
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Speed Control
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Approach Speed
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Do not let the airplane get too slow with flaps extended.
Flaps will block airflow over the tail, reducing elevator
effectiveness at low speed; low speed will also reduce the
effectiveness of the other controls
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Minimum Approach Speeds (Do NOT get any slower!)
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Flaps Up: 60 Knots
– Flaps 15: 59 Knots
– Flaps 30 or 50: 48 Knots
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Fly the approach at 60 Knots unless you really need to slow to a
minimum speed for a short field landing
Minimum Touchdown Speed is 40 Knots. If touchdown does not
occur and speed drops below 40 knots, execute a go around
immediately, and carefully regain climb speed
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Review Questions
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How does an unpaved runway impact takeoff distance? Landing
distance?
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What precaution should you take to avoid soft field hazards?
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How can you minimize runway use in a short field takeoff?
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In a short field landing?
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What is the key to clearing obstructions on landing?
Write down your answers before
continuing to next slide
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
Review Answers
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How does an unpaved runway impact takeoff distance? Landing
distance?
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What precaution should you take to avoid soft field hazards?
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Lift off at lower than normal airspeed and accelerate in ground effect
In a short field landing?
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Keep the nosewheel up as long as possible, with back pressure
How can you minimize runway use in a short field takeoff?
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Increases / decreases
Approach at minimum speed with full flaps
What is the key to clearing obstructions on landing?
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A stabilized, steeper than normal approach
Review any missed questions before
continuing to today’s flight.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 11
On Today’s Flight
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Practice Short/Soft Field Takeoffs and
landings
Maintain proper speeds on climb out and
approach.
Do not let airplane stall out or land hard. Go
around if necessary.
Thanks to Mid Island Air Service, Inc.
Brookhaven, NY (Michael Bellenir, CFI)Flight
Briefing: Lesson 11