Student:_____________________
Date Completed:________________
Private Pilot Flight Training
S-Turns
Objective:
To develop the pilot's ability to compensate for drift during turns, orient the flightpath with ground
references, and divide the pilot's attention
Elements:
1. How to select a suitable altitude.
2. How to select a suitable ground reference line with suitable emergency landing areas.
3. Orientation, division of attention, and planning.
4. Configuration and airspeed prior to entry.
5. Entry technique.
6. Wind drift correction.
7. Tracking of semicircles of equal radii on either side of the selected ground reference line.
8. How to maintain desired altitude and airspeed.
9. Turn reversal over the ground reference line .
10. Coordination of flight controls.
Schedule:
Preflight Discussion
0:15
Demonstration and Student Practice
0:30
Postflight Discussion
0:15
All Times Dependent on Pilot's Ability
Equipment:
Aircraft
Drawing Surface and Marking Utensil
Instructor's Actions:
Student's Actions:
PREFLIGHT:
PREFLIGHT:
 Discuss lesson objective.
 Discuss lesson objective
 Listens and takes notes.
 Discuss common student errors in performing the
maneuver.
 Resolves Questions.
INFLIGHT:
 Discuss the FAA's emphasis on safety including collision
 Reviews maneuvers.
avoidance and division of attention.
INFLIGHT:
 Pays attention and asks questions.
 Demonstrate the maneuver.
 Practices maneuver as directed.
 Coach student practice.
 Answers questions posed by instructor.
 Evaluate student understanding of maneuver.
POSTFLIGHT:
POSTFLIGHT:
 Ask pertinent questions.
 Critique student performance.
 Answers questions posed by instructor.
 Answer student questions.
 Critiques own performance.
 Assign homework for next lesson.
 Completes assigned homework.
Private Pilot Flight Training
Completion Standards: FAA-S-8081-14AS (Private PTS, VI., B., 1-7)
1. Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to S-turns.
2. Selects a suitable ground reference line.
3. Plans the maneuver so as to enter at 600 to 1,000 feet AGL, perpendicular to the selected reference
line.
4. Applies adequate wind-drift correction to track a constant radius turn on each side of the selected
reference line.
5. Reverses the direction of turn directly over the selected reference line.
6. Divides attention between airplane control and the ground track while maintaining coordinated flight.
7. Maintains altitude, ±100 feet; maintains airspeed, ±10 knots.
Common Errors: FAA-H-8083-3A (Chapter 6-7)
1. Failure to adequately clear the area.
2. Poor coordination.
3. Gaining or losing altitude.
4. Inability to visualize the half circle ground track.
5. Poor timing in beginning and recovering from turns.
6. Faulty correction for drift.
7. Inadequate visual lookout for other aircraft.
References:
FAA-H-8083-3A (Chapter 6-6)
FAA-S-8081-14AS (Private PTS, VI., B., 1-7)
Things to Remember:
How this related to turns in the traffic pattern, and s-turning on final.
Go around instead of s-turns? Emergency/no choice?
Private Pilot Flight Training
S-Turns Across A Road:
DESCRIPTION:
 Select an altitude of 1000’ AGL.
Note: altitudes as low as 600’ AGL may be used by the instructor for demonstration purposes.
1. Select a road or other straight reference line running approximately perpendicular to the wind. Also,
the road should be close to a suitable place to land in case of an emergency.
 Perform Pre-Maneuver Checklist.
 Clear the area.
2. Establish normal pattern like airspeed (1700 RPM ~ 95 knots).
3. At a point directly over the reference line, heading downwind, initiate a 180o constant radius turn,
modifying the bank angle and wind Correction Angle (WCA) as necessary to compensate for wind drift.
At the completion of the turn, the aircraft should be directly over and perpendicular to the reference
line with the wings level.
4. Immediately upon completion of the first turn, an identical turn is begun on the upwind side of the
reference line in the opposite direction.
5. Bank and WCA should be adjusted, as necessary, through the maneuver to achieve two complete
semicircles of equal radius. (approximately ½ mile distance from perpendicular reference line).
Note: Straight and level flight should occur only during the transition in direction over the reference line.
S-Turns across a road