1. Instruments, V-Speeds, and Airport Traffic Pattern Procedures
FAA-H A, FAA-H A, FAR/AIM, Cessna P Information Manual

2. What we will be covering…
What each instrument does in the cockpit and how we use it
V-Speeds (what we use each V-Speed for)
How to fly/Procedures to do an airport traffic pattern
Any questions feel free to ask!

3. First off, the cockpit panel…

4. The Airspeed Indicator
Gives you airspeed in knots
The pitot tube on the outside of the plane collects the ram air to give you a reading on the airspeed indicator
FAA-H A 7-8

5. The Attitude Indicator
Also known as the artificial horizon, this instrument gives you pitch and bank information
Gives you an instantaneous indication to all changes in pitch and bank
FAA-H A 7-18

6. The Altimeter
This instrument measures your height above a given pressure setting
You can set the given pressure in the Altimeter pressure window
It works like a clock, the small hand gives you thousands and the large hand gives you hundreds of feet
What altitude is it reading?
FAA-H A 7-3

7. The Turn Coordinator
The Turn Coordinator gives you rate of turn and the side to side movement of the aircraft (Yaw)
The dashes under the aircraft signify a standard rate turn at 3 degrees per second
FAA-H A 7-17, 7--18

8. The Heading Indicator Gives you a heading
You must first set it using the Magnetic Compass
The plane rotates around to give you the heading reading
FAA-H A 7-20

9. The Vertical Speed Indicator
Gives you vertical speed/rate of climbs and descents ( measured in hundreds)
Gives you an instantaneous indication of vertical speed
After 6-9 seconds the measure will be more exact and read how many ft. you’re climbing or descending
FAA-H A 7-8

10. Questions What instrument tells you airspeed?
What instrument tells you heading?
What instrument tells you bank?
What instrument tells you attitude?

11. V-Speeds! But Why?
V-Speeds are designated speeds for a specific flight condition
Each type and model of aircraft has its own set of V-Speeds because no two models of aircrafts are exactly alike.
This data is based on a Piper Warrior
FAA-H A G-16, G-17

12. Vr – Rotation Speed
Vr is the speed that the pilot begins rotating the aircraft prior to lift-off
This speed is 60 KIAS
Skyhawk 172P information manual 4-3 and FAA-H A 8-3, FAA-H A G-16, G-17

13. Vx – Best Angle Vx is for best angle of climb
Vx gives the greatest altitude gain in the shortest horizontal distance
This would help to clear a 50ft obstacle
The plane has a steep attitude to clear obstacles with no regard to the amount of time to get to a given altitude.
This speed is 66 KIAS
Skyhawk 172P information manual 4-3 and FAA-H A 8-3, FAA-H A 3-13

14. Vy – Best Rate This speed will get you to your altitude the fastest
“The best rate of climb (Vy) has no regard to the distance traveled over the ground, but instead to the amount of time it will take to get to a given altitude.”
You might use this V-Speed to get to pattern altitude after takeoff
This speed is 75 KIAS
Skyhawk 172P information manual 4-3 , FAA-H A 8-3, FAA-H A 3-13

15. Vy vs. Vx
Vx has a steeper angle over Vy so you can clear obstacles at the end of the runway
Vy is for getting to your altitude the fastest way possible. This would be used when there are no obstacles to clear on the ground
In a race between a plane climbing at Vx and one climbing at Vy, Which one would get to 3,000 ft first?
Vy would win because you are going faster over all even though you have a lower angle, with Vx you have a higher angle but you are climbing at a slower speed
Skyhawk 172P information manual 4-3, FAA-H A 8-3, FAA-H A 3-13

16. Vy vs. Vx Graph

17. Va – Maneuvering Speed The maximum speed for an abrupt maneuver
You can make one full scale deflection of one of the control surfaces on one of the axis’s, the plane will stall before it breaks apart
This speed is 107 KIAS

18. Vs – Stall Speed Clean
Vs is Stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed at idle power
This means with your flaps up, this is the speed you will stall at
This speed is 56 KIAS
FAA-H A G-16, G-17

19. Vso – Stall Speed Dirty
Vso is Stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in landing configuration (flaps full down) and idle power
This speed is 50 KIAS
FAA-H A G-16, G-17

20. Vfe – Maximum flaps extended
This is the maximum speed with flaps extended.
If you are above this speed and you put the flaps down you risk shearing off the flaps
This speed is 100 KIAS
FAA-H A G-16, G-17

21. Vno – Maximum normal operating
Vno is the maximum structural cruising speed
Do not exceed this speed unless in smooth air
This speed is 121 KIAS
FAA-H A G-16, G-17

22. Vne – Never Exceed Never-exceed this speed
Operating above this speed is strictly prohibited because it could result in a structural failure
Basically DO NOT EXCEED THIS SPEED!
The aircraft structure can only support so much stress and going above this speed would put a considerable amount of stress on the airframe that with a result of the airframe ripping apart
This speed is 153 KIAS
FAA-H A G-16, G-17

23. Vglide – Best glide speed
This is the speed in which the least amount of drag is induced on the aircraft, thus resulting in the best speed to glide at
This speed is used during normal landings and engine failures
This speed is 69KIAS
FAA-H A G-16, G-17

24. Maximum demonstrated crosswind
This is a recommended crosswind component , but I strongly suggest you don’t exceed this crosswind component
The Max crosswind Component is 17 knots of a direct crosswind
FAA-H A G-16, G-17

25. Questions What V-Speed does the plane stall in a clean configuration?
What V-Speed would you use to clear a 50 foot tall tree at the end of the runway?
What V-Speed would you use if you wanted to climb to 2,500 ft. fast?
What V-Speed would tell you when its ok to put the flaps down?

26. Airport Traffic Patterns
Airport Traffic Patterns are deigned to give a “flow” to the airport. This is so its not a free-for-all to see who can get to the runway first.
The pattern provides specific routes for takeoffs, departures, arrivals, and landings
Each airport has a pattern, and for the most part are all the same. Some airports have special rules to their patterns. These can be found in the Airport Field Directory
This information is based on calm winds
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

27. The Standard Pattern Every turn in the pattern is made to the left
Patterns should be flown 1,000 ft. above the Airports field elevation
A pattern is basically a rectangle that is flown after departing the runway
The Air Traffic Control Tower has ultimate authority over the pattern
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

28. Before we start you should know the legs of the pattern
departure
Upwind
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

29. How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern? Departure Leg
As soon as the plane leaves the ground the departure leg begins
Maintain your heading and continue climbing to your pattern altitude
Once you are within 300 ft. of the pattern altitude turn your crosswind
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

30. How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern? Crosswind leg
Once on crosswind, continue climbing to your TPA (Traffic Pattern Altitude)
Fly ½ to one mile away from the airport and then turn your downwind
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

31. How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern? Downwind leg
This leg is parallel to the runway
(flying tip: the runway should be 2/3 up the strut)
Final landing checks
Fly this leg until the runway is 45 degrees behind you then turn your base
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

32. How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern? Base leg
Fly this leg until you are perpendicular to the extended centerline of the runway
Look outside and make sure there is no other landing or departing traffic to prevent a collision
After you have cleared the final approach leg, turn final
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

33. How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern? Final Approach
This is a descending flight path
(note: you have the right-of-way over aircraft in flight or operating on the ground, if there is another aircraft on final, the aircraft with the lower altitude has right-of-way)
Once on final continue to make a normal landing
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

34. How to fly an Airport Traffic Pattern? Upwind leg
This is for aircraft going around
Wait until an initial climb is established, then start a shallow bank to join the upwind leg
Turn onto your crosswind once the runway is 45 degrees behind the plane
Continue the pattern as normal
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

35. Departure, and entry into the pattern
You can only exit the pattern in two ways. One being a straight out departure
Instead of turn crosswind, continue flying straight out until you have departed the airport environment.
You can also turn 45 degrees left on your departure leg to depart the airport environment.
To enter the pattern, enter in level flight abeam the midpoint of the runway at pattern altitude in a 45 degree angle to the downwind
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

36. Power, airspeed, flaps, and pitch
On downwind, you should be at your TPA, Adjust your RPM to 2,100 and your airspeed should be 85 KIAS.
Continue downwind until abeam the numbers before turning base
After you’ve abeam the numbers, pitch down, set power to 1,500 rpm, carb heat on (because you are out of the green ark on your RPM’s gauge) and set flaps to 10 degrees
Before the runway is 45 degrees behind you and you turn base, you should have descended 200 ft.
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

37. Power, airspeed, flaps, and pitch cont.
On base put your flaps down to 20 degrees and continue descending, your airspeed should be 75 KIAS
Once you are established on final, put your flaps down to 30 degrees and keep the nose of the airplane DOWN, maintain 65 KIAS for best glide
Once over the numbers power to idle and make a normal landing
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

38. departure
Upwind
FAA-H A 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, AIM , 4-3-3

39. Now you try!
Using masking tape, design a Standard Airport Traffic Pattern Label each leg/correct procedure using the paper strips HAVE FUN!

40. To sum up…
We covered instruments and how they work, and how to read them
We learned V-Speeds and why we use them
We learned proper Airport Traffic Patterns and procedures while flying the pattern