Steep Turns

[ATLplt]

I read an article form AOPA about steep turns stating that a student failed his checkride because he did not clear the area. While clearing the area is always standard procedure (and in the PTS), isn't a steep turn a clearing turn also? I've never performed a clearing turn prior to a steep during a checkride. I've always verbally stated that during my 360/180 I will be scanning for aircraft, thus clearing the area. I've never heard a omplaint from the examiner.

So, do you teach the student to verbally explain that the steep turn is a clearing turn or teach to always clear the area and then start the maneuver?

 

[erau79]

Did the student fail because he didnt do a clearing turn? Or did he fail because he didnt visually scan the area around him for traffic and brief that the steep turn is a clearing turn and he will be looking for traffic throughout the maneuver? It has always been my understanding that you visually clear the area prior to roll in(no clearing turn), and then continually scan during the maneuver. I've taught my students to do it that way and they've never had problems on their checkrides with examiners.

 

[ATLplt]

Thtat's what I thought also, but the article wasn't very clear on the details. I'm guessing the student never visually scanned or explained to the examiner what his intentions were. I think it would be a little excessive if the examiner actually required a full clearing turn prior to the start of the maneuver.

 

[bobbysamd]

Steep turns as clearing turns

I always taught my students to do ordinary clearing turns before starting steep turns (constant-altitude turns). Aside from safety, doing so ensures their asses are completely covered while in an examiner's presence. Moreover, the Flight Training Handbook stated that before executing steep turns the area "should be cleared of traffic because the rate of turn will be quite rapid." I interpreted that to execute clearing turns.

Just my $0.02.

 

[roundout]

i can't think of a maneuver that you'd perform for a checkride where clearing turns aren't required first. it's not worth pink-slipping over, i don't think. just do them - if the DE doesn't feel it's necessary, then he/she will make it known.

 

[pilotman2105]

i can't think of a maneuver that you'd perform for a checkride where clearing turns aren't required first. it's not worth pink-slipping over, i don't think. just do them - if the DE doesn't feel it's necessary, then he/she will make it known.

I've known people to fail CFI rides 'cause they forgot to do clearing turns, or at least mention them prior to the maneuver.

It's a good habit to get into prior to any maneuver. Clearing turns, flow check, then maneuver specific setup and execution. Keeps you out of trouble, too.

 

[dmspilot00]

I would have to agree with bobbysamd and roundout. In fact, I believe that clearing turns are more important before performing steep 45*+ banks than other maneuvers, because your turn rate is so fast, and no matter what type of airplane you're in, the wing will block your view.

 

[avbug]

Too often instructors falsely believe, and teach students, that clearing turns are formal maneuvers that must be done as a ritual before a certain other maneuver may be conducted. Nothing could be more false.

A clearing turn begins before the starter is ever engaged on the ramp, and God help you if it ends before you shut down at the end of the flight.

Clear every turn, every maneuver, every wing, be on a swivel, or for the love of pete, stay out of the air. I don't want you up there, not looking.

If you "cleared" the area for a stall series, are you then clear to begin steep turns? How long does it take an intruding aircraft to bust your little block of airspace? Not long.

Clear every moment, be constantly looking. Certainly you should be clearing yourself during a steep turn, but you should also do that before you ever begin.

When I first got in the C-130, prior to starting the GTC (apu), the checklist called for clearing it. The instructor would always grunt, "It's self-clearing!" and then fire it off. It was humerous then, because anybody who has been by the side of the airplane when it starts knows that the GTC on an early model herc will wake the dead. But is a steep turn self-clearing? Perhaps if you hit the other traffic you'll eliminate it as a factor, but that's small comfort to the paint shop or the old lady upon whom you rain down in small, sharp pieces.

Assume, always and forever, that aircraft are close, undetected, and waiting to collide. Look for them like your life depends on it.

Because it does.