1.5 Airwork 3

Lesson 1.5 – Airwork 3Date: 26-09-2025

Introduction

In this lesson we performed several airwork exercises, preceded by theory briefings.

The focus was on aircraft control, procedures, and situational awareness.

Exercises covered:

• Basic climbing and descending to a specific altitude
• Memory items for emergency scenarios (QRH)
• Taxi briefing
• Take‑off briefing
• Normal turns (30° bank)
• Steep turns (45° bank)

Basic climbing and descending to a specific altitude

In cruise flight, we typically fly around 95 knots (175 km/h).

When climbing or descending to a new altitude, we must do this efficiently and precisely, avoiding overshooting or undershooting the target altitude.

Climbing (APT)

Important terminology- Altitude – Height above sea level (ft)- Attitude – Nose angle (pitch axis)

For a climb:

• Use Vy (best rate of climb)

  • Cessna 172: 75 knots

• Use full throttle

• Carburetor heat OFF (engine is already warm at high RPM)

Climb technique:

• From straight and level flight at 2000 ft:

  • Increase nose attitude until 75 knots
  • Apply full throttle
  • Trim as needed to reduce control pressure

• 50 ft before target altitude:

  • Reduce nose attitude to slow the climb

• At target altitude:

  • Level off
  • Accelerate to ~90–95 knots
  • Set cruise RPM (~2300 RPM)

Descending (PAT)

Descending differs from climbing:

• No additional power needed
• Controlled primarily by power reduction and attitude

Descent procedure:

• Carburetor heat ON
• Reduce power to ~1700 RPM
• Set nose attitude for descent (~500 ft/min vertical speed)

Level‑off technique:

• 100 ft before target altitude

  • Carburetor heat OFF

• 50 ft before target altitude

  • Adjust pitch and power to level flight

• Resume cruise:

  • ~95 knots
  • ~2300 RPM

Memory items in checklists

Aircraft Quick Reference Handbooks (QRH) contain checklists for various scenarios.

Some checklist items are marked as memory items which must be known by heart, as there is no time to read during the event.

Example: Fire during start

If fire occurs during engine start:

• Continue cranking for 5–10 seconds to try to suck the flames into the engine

If engine starts:

• Parking brake set

• 1700 RPM

• Wait max. 2 minutes

• Prepare seatbelts, doors, fire extinguisher

• If fire continues:

  • Mixture cut‑off
  • Throttle full open
  • Fuel selector OFF
  • Ignition OFF
  • Master switch OFF

If engine does not start:

• Mixture cut‑off
• Throttle full open
• Continue cranking briefly
• Ignition & Master switch OFF
• Fuel selector OFF
• Extinguish fire

Memory items exist because delay can cost the aircraft and lives.

They must be learned per aircraft type.

ImportantAlways learn memory items directly from the aircraft’s Quick Reference Handbook. Procedures can differ between aircraft types and models.

Magneto check

During the Before Take‑off checklist:

1. Set magnetos to Right first
2. Back to Both
3. Set magnetos to Left
4. Back to Both

This minimizes movement:

• Two counter‑clockwise
• Two clockwise
• One counter‑clockwise
• One clockwise

Airborne checks

While airborne, perform regular checks (once or twice per minute):

• Oil pressure
• RPM
• Engine temperatures
• Vacuum gauge

Additionally:

• Continuously scan for traffic using horizontal and vertical eye movement
• Deviate or perform a 180° turn if traffic is at the same altitude
• Be predictable, just like road traffic
• Make radio contact whenever possible

Briefings

Briefings are performed at the start of each flight phase to maintain shared situational awareness and reduce surprises.

We use the ANWB structure:

• Aircraft
• NOTAMs
• Weather
• Briefing

Taxi briefing

Performed during the Before Taxi checklist.

Items to brief:

• Aircraft status (defects / remarks)

• Relevant NOTAMs

• Weather impact

• Route to run‑up area

• Taxi speed and RPM

• Expected turns

• Instruments to check:

  • Turn coordinator (ball & symbol)
  • Gyro / magnetic compass
  • Heading indicator

• Avoid hotspots and deviate from yellow line to avoid nose‑wheel chimneys

• Effect of wind (counter‑steering)

• Brake check when starting taxi

• “Any questions?”

Departure briefing

Performed before take‑off.

Brief:

• Runway and usable length
• Flap setting (default: 10°)
• Power setting
• Rotation speed (55 knots)
• Climb speed after 200 ft
• Circuit height and exit (700 ft / 45°)
• Direction of departure
• Cruise altitude and speed

Emergency scenarios:

• Before 55 knots

  • Throttle idle
  • Braking
  • Inform ATC

• After 55 knots – non‑flyable

  • Forced landing ahead
  • 30° left or right (wind‑dependent)
  • Above 1000 ft: consider turn‑back

• After 55 knots – flyable

  • Stay in circuit at 700 ft
  • Full‑stop landing
  • Extra vigilance with gliders, parachuting or tow operations

Arrival briefing

Performed when approaching the destination airport.

Brief:

• Aircraft status

• Destination NOTAMs

• Weather

• Runway and usable landing distance

• Flap setting (40°, adjust for wind)

• Circuit direction

• Approach speed ( 65 knots )

• Go‑around procedure:

  • Complete circuit
  • Line up for another attempt

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