Circuit Procedures
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Entering Runway
- Active listening to radio
- Aircraft configured for takeoff and all checks completed
- Think thru scenario for engine failure after takeoff
- Radio call prior
- Visual look for aircraft
Takeoff
- Check runway is safe for takeoff
- Confirm taking off into wind direction
- Use entire runway
- Line up centerline
- Full throttle
- Right rudder pressure
- Release brakes
- Hold center line
- Use controls as per POH and instructors lessons
After Takeoff
- Be careful to gain airspeed
- Hold centreline
- Do as instructions and lessons taught in regard to airspeed, throttle flaps etc
- Clear turn by checking for traffic
- Turn crosswind at or after 500 feet
Crosswind
- Continue climb to correct level, usually 1000 feet
- Level aircraft
- Then throttle back
- Approaching 45° from threshold
- Make downwind call
- Clear turn by checking for traffic
- Commence turn
Downwind
- Watch for joining traffic
- Check altitude within 50 feet
- Fly parallel to runway
- Perform pre landing checks BUMFISH (brakes, undercarriage, mixture, fuel instruments, switches, harness & hatches)
- Slow the aircraft if necessary ready for descent if on 1000 ft or 1500 ft circuits
- If aircraft ahead is on base extend downwind until they are on final and you pass
- Approaching 45° from runway threshold make base radio call
- Clear turn by checking for traffic
- Commence turn
Base – For aircraft at 1000 ft or 1500 ft circuits
- Aircraft doing circuits at 1000 or 1500 feet will begin descent
- Descent should be appropriate so that final turn is completed above or at 500 feet
- Configure aircraft for landing as taught
- Make turning final call if taught to do so
- Approaching the centerline clear turn by checking for traffic
- Check airspeed
- Commence turn
- End turn when on the centerline and at or above 500 feet
Base – For aircraft at 500 ft circuits
- Aircraft doing circuits at 500 feet will not begin descent
- Fly perpendicular to runway
- Configure aircraft for landing as taught
- Make call turing final, if you have been taught to do so
- Check airspeed
- Approaching the centerline clear turn by checking for traffic
- Commence turn
- End turn when on the centerline and at or above 500 feet
Final
- Commence at or above 500 feet
- Stabilise the aircraft
- Get approach speed correct and monitor airspeed regularly
- Use throttle to adjust distance
- Check windsock
- Check runway for aircraft
Landing
Note this is theory only and is null and void by anything an instructor teaches you.
- Approaching the ground effect begin the round out
- Hold the aircraft just off the runway raising the nose as the aircraft slows until it finally wont stay of the runway
- Hold the nose wheel up as required and even when it touches,keep back pressure on the elevator
- Ailerons should be turned into the wind
- Steer with rudder
- Apply brakes as required
- Configure aircraft for taxiing
- Exit runway and make clear of runways call
- or configure for takeoff and do a touch and go as taught by instructor