Chapter 10
Airport Traffi c Patterns .....................................10-1
Introduction .................................................................10-1
Airport Operations .......................................................10-2
Standard Airport Traffi c Patterns .................................10-2
Chapter Summary ........................................................10-8
Chapter 11
Approaches and Landings ...............................11-1
Introduction ..................................................................11-1
Normal (Calm Wind) Approaches and Landings ........11-2
Throttle Use ..............................................................11-2
Base Leg ...................................................................11-2
Estimating Height and Movement ............................11-5
Roundout (Flare) ......................................................11-6
Touchdown ...............................................................11-7
After-Landing Roll ...................................................11-7
Effect of Headwinds During Final Approach ..............11-8
Stabilized Approach Concept ....................................11-10
Go-Around (Rejected Landings) ................................11-13
Power ......................................................................11-13
Short and Soft Field Landing Techniques .................11-14
Short-Field Approaches and Landings ...................11-14
Soft and Rough Field Approaches and Landings ...11-15
Power-on Approach and Landing for
Turbulant Air ....................................................11-16
Crosswind Approaches and Landings ........................11-17
Crosswind Pattern Procedures ...............................11-17
Effects and Hazards of High Crosswinds
for Approaches and Landings ................................11-17
Crosswind Landings ...............................................11-19
Maximum Crosswind Velocities ............................11-19
Steep Approaches .......................................................11-20
Steep Angle ............................................................11-21
Alternating Turns ...................................................11-21
Power-Off Accuracy Approaches ..............................11-21
90° Power-Off Approach .......................................11-22
180° Power-Off Approach .....................................11-23
360° Power-Off Approach .....................................11-25
Emergency Approaches and Landings
(Simulated Engine Out) .............................................11-26
Faulty Approaches and Landings ...............................11-27
Low Final Approach ...............................................11-27
High Final Approach ..............................................11-27
Slow Final Approach ..............................................11-27
Use of Power ..........................................................11-28
High Roundout .......................................................11-28
Late or Rapid Roundout .........................................11-28
Floating During Roundout .....................................11-28
Ballooning During Roundout .................................11-29
Bouncing During Touchdown ................................11-29
Porpoising ...............................................................11-29
Wing Rising After Touchdown ..............................11-30
Hard Landing ..........................................................11-30
Chapter Summary ......................................................11-30
Chapter 12
Night Operations ...............................................12-1
Introduction ..................................................................12-1
Pilot Requirements .......................................................12-2
Equipment and Lighting ..............................................12-2
Pilot Equipment ........................................................12-3
Airport and Navigation Lighting Aids .....................12-4
Night Vision .................................................................12-5
Unique WSC Flight Characteristics .............................12-7
Night Illusions ..............................................................12-7
Preparation and Prefl ight ..............................................12-8
Starting, Taxiing, and Runup .......................................12-8
Takeoff and Climb .......................................................12-9
Orientation and Navigation ........................................12-10
Approaches and Landings ..........................................12-11
Night Emergencies .....................................................12-12
Chapter Summary ......................................................12-13
Chapter 13
Abnormal and Emergency Procedures ...........13-1
Introduction ..................................................................13-1
Ballistic Parachute System (BPS) ................................13-2
Procedures for Using a BPS .....................................13-3
Emergency Landings ...................................................13-3
Types of Emergency Landings .................................13-3
Psychological Hazards .............................................13-3
Basic Safety Concepts ..............................................13-4
Attitude and Sink Rate Control ................................13-5
Terrain Selection ......................................................13-6
Approach ..................................................................13-6
Terrain Types ...........................................................13-7
Water Landings (Ditching) .......................................13-8
Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear ...............13-8
Engine Failure After Takeoff ...................................13-9
Emergency Descents ..................................................13-10
Infl ight Fire ................................................................13-10
Engine Fire .............................................................13-10
Electrical Fires ........................................................13-12
System Malfunctions .................................................13-12
Electrical System ....................................................13-12
Pitot-Static System .................................................13-12
Landing Gear Malfunction .....................................13-13
Inadvertant Propeller Strike ...................................13-13
Stuck or Runaway Throttle ....................................13-13
Abnormal Engine Instrument Indications ..............13-13
Weather Related Emergencies ...................................13-15
High Winds and Strong Turbulence .......................13-15
High Winds and Turbulence During
Cruise Flight .......................................................13-15
High Winds and Turbulence During Takeoffs
and Landings .......................................................13-15
High Winds During Taxi ....................................13-15
Inadvertent Flight into Instrument Meteorological
Conditions (IMC) ...................................................13-16
Recognition .........................................................13-17
Maintaining Aircraft Control ..............................13-17
Attitude Control ..................................................13-18
Turns ...................................................................13-18
Chapter Summary ......................................................13-19
Glossary ..............................................................G-1
Index ......................................................................I-1
Introduction
Weight-shift control (WSC) aircraft means a powered aircraft
with a framed pivoting wing and a fuselage controllable only
in pitch and roll by the pilot’s ability to change the aircraft’s
center of gravity (CG) with respect to the wing. Flight control
of the aircraft depends on the wing’s ability to deform fl exibly
rather than on the use of control surfaces.
This chapter provides background on the development of the
WSC aircraft, its unique characteristics, the requirements for
obtaining a WSC license (airman certifi cate), aeronautical
decision-making (ADM), and the unique medical factors
required to operate WSC aircraft safely. Further, it is highly
recommended that all pilots develop a general understanding
of aviation by becoming familiar with the Pilot’s Handbook
of Aeronautical Knowledge and the Aeronautical Information
Manual (AIM). Listings of other available handbooks can be
found on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website
at www.faa.gov.
Introduction To
Weight-Shift Control
Chapter 1
Figure 1-1. Otto Lilienthal, the German “Glider King.”
Figure 1-2. Various models of Otto Lilienthal’s glider, the forerunner of weight-shift control aircraft today.
History
From the beginning of mankind, we have looked to the skies
where legends and myths have entertained and provided us
the dream to fl y. Through the middle ages, the idea of fl ight
evolved across Europe, with Leonardo Da Vinci well known
for designing fl ying machines to carry humans. In 1874, Otto
Lilienthal, a German mechanical engineer, started designing,
building, and flying bird-like wings. [Figure 1-1] He
published his work in 1889, and by 1891 made fl ights of
over 100 feet in distance. Otto was the fi rst successful hang
glider pilot to design, build, and fl y a number of wing designs.
[Figure 1-2]
In 1903, the Wright brothers’ gliders became powered and
the airplane was born as the Wright Flyer. In the early 1900s,
aircraft confi gurations evolved as faster speeds and heavier
loads were placed on aircraft in fl ight. As a result of the new
demands, the simple fl exible wing was no longer suffi cient
and aircraft designers began to incorporate rigid wings with
mechanical aerodynamic controls. These new ideas in wing
design eventually resulted in the familiar aileron and rudder
confi gurations found on the modern airplane.
Commercial applications were driving the need for faster and
heavier aircraft; however, the dream of achieving manned
powered fl ight in its most bird-like form was evolving along
a different path. As rigid wing design enjoyed development
for military and commercial applications, the fl exible wing
concept lay largely dormant for decades. In 1948, a fl exible
wing design was created by Francis Melvin Rogallo as a fl ying
toy kit for which he obtained a patent in 1951. [Figure 1-3]
Rogallo’s design concept evolved down two parallel paths
in the early 1960s, military and sport fl ight. The military
application was the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) development of the Rogallo wing
into the Paresev (Paraglider Research Vehicle) later renamed
the Parawing. That aircraft had rigid leading edges shown
in Figure 1-4. NASA had the cart attached to the keel hanging
below the wing and using weight shift to control the wing in
the same fashion as modern WSC aircraft today.
Figure 1-3. Rogallo’s flexible wing for a kite, submitted for patent
in 1948.
Figure 1-5. Barry Palmer flying a foot-launched hang glider in
1961.
Figure 1-4. NASA testing the Rogallo wing, which led to the modern
hang glider and WSC aircraft.
During this same period, other pioneering engineers and
enthusiasts started developing the Rogallo wing for sport. One
was aeronautical engineer, Barry Palmer, who saw pictures of
the NASA wings and, in 1961, constructed and fl ew a number
of hang gliders based on the Rogallo design. [Figure 1-5]
His efforts and others evolved to the WSC aircraft in the late
1960s. Another pioneer was John Dickenson of Australia
who used the NASA Rogallo wing design but incorporated
a triangular control bar that provided structure for the wing
during fl ight with fl ying wires. [Figure 1-6]