Summer Pre-Solo Ground School Review

Pilot Responsibilities & Getting Started

• The role of the pilot-in-command (PIC) begins the moment training starts; expect to be held to professional standards of preparation, decision-making, and safety.
• Day-1 objective: Understand legal, procedural, and ethical obligations before first solo.
• Self-assessment: IMSAFE (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Eating/Emotion) should be applied before every lesson.
• Early emphasis on building habits that will be evaluated on the Pre-Solo Knowledge Test and throughout one’s career.

Required Personal Documents & Materials

• Government-issued photo ID, FAA medical certificate, and student pilot certificate must be in your possession for every flight (FAR\ 61.3).
• Bring an individual logbook; flights for instruction or currency must be recorded (§61.51).
• Charting & airport references:
– Sectional aeronautical chart covering KDAN area.
– Chart Supplement (formerly A/FD) for detailed airport data.
– Both available in paper form or digitally via ForeFlight for iPad.
• Regulatory & reference texts: Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR/AIM), Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK), Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH), etc., all integrated within ForeFlight if you subscribe.
• Additional school-specific manuals: Averett Operations Manual and Archer Procedures Guide.

Training Structure: Flight & Ground

• Dual track each lesson:
– Flight session: Master aircraft control from basic maneuvers to traffic-pattern operations.
– Ground session: Cover knowledge areas required by §61.87 Presolo Knowledge Test—airspace rules, aircraft systems, regulations, and local procedures.
• Skill progression in flight sessions:
– Basic attitude flying → stalls → steep turns → emergency procedures → pattern work → landings.
• Knowledge progression on ground:
– Airspace & airport ops → aircraft systems → Federal & university regulations → weather & performance.

Basics of Flight

• Four aerodynamic forces determine aircraft motion.
• Control accomplished via primary (aileron, elevator, rudder) and secondary (flaps, trim) surfaces.
• Recognize distinct forms of drag and the concept of ground effect.
• Study multiple airspeeds (V-speeds) and their relation to aircraft performance.

Four Forces of Flight

• Lift opposes weight; thrust opposes drag.
• In level, unaccelerated flight: Lift = Weight and Thrust = Drag.
• Any imbalance produces acceleration or a climb/descend tendency.

Aircraft Control Overview

• Pitch controlled by elevator; roll by ailerons; yaw by rudder.
• Coordinated flight keeps the ball centered and prevents side-loads & spin entry.
• Trim relieves control pressures—integral for precise flying.

Lift Principles

• Newton: Action (air deflected downward) = Reaction (wing pushed upward).
• Bernoulli: Faster airflow over curved upper surface → lower static pressure → differential pressure produces lift.
• Angle of attack (AOA) is primary variable; gross weight, load factor, and air density also influence lift.

Drag Taxonomy

• Induced drag: By-product of lift; inversely proportional to airspeed (greatest when slow, high AOA).
• Parasite drag: Skin friction, form, interference; increases with V^2, dominating at high speed.
• Wake turbulence is an induced-drag manifestation—stay above and upwind of preceding aircraft’s path on takeoff/landing.

Stalls

• Occur when critical AOA is exceeded—independent of airspeed, attitude, or aircraft configuration.
• Recovery steps (PARE for normal stalls):
– Push (lower nose to reduce AOA).
– Power (full).
– Cleanup (incrementally retract flaps).
– Establish climb.

Spins

• Aggravated, uncoordinated stall in which both wings are stalled (one more deeply).
• Immediate recognition vital; entry signs: stalled tone, yaw rate, rolling motion.
• Standard recovery (per AFH):
– Power idle.
– Ailerons neutral.
– Rudder full opposite to rotation.
– Elevator briskly forward to break stall.
– After rotation stops, neutralize rudder, ease out of dive, level wings, and recover to cruise.
• Prevention: Maintain coordination, observe stall cues, and respect AOA.

Airport Familiarization – Danville (KDAN)

• Class E (controlled to the surface only by weather minimums, no tower).
• Field elevation: 571\ \text{ft}\ MSL.
• Runways:
– 02/20: 5900 \times 100\ \text{ft}—primary.
– 13/31: 3910 \times 100\ \text{ft}—crosswind option.
• Additional data: Lighting, frequency info, obstacles—all found in Chart Supplement or ForeFlight.

Taxi Operations

• Carry an airport diagram; study routes before departure.
• Keep head outside; stop completely before head-down tasks.
• Stay centered on taxiway; leave centerline only to avoid collision.
• Mandatory runway incursion avoidance: look, broadcast, and verify clearance before crossing or entering any runway.

Radio Communications Basics

• Three-part format: (1) Addressee, (2) Call-sign, (3) Message.
– Example: “Danville traffic, N2477S, downwind runway 20.”
• Brevity and clarity improve situational awareness.
• Monitor before transmitting; think—key—speak.

Traffic Pattern Operations

• Standard rectangular pattern, generally left turns unless published otherwise.
• Legs: upwind → crosswind → downwind → base → final.
• Uniformity enhances predictability and collision avoidance.

Radio Frequencies & Emergencies

• CTAF at KDAN: 123.05\ \text{MHz}.
• Weather (AWOS-3): 128.125\ \text{MHz}.
• Emergency guard: 121.5\ \text{MHz}; transponder code 7700 if in distress.
• Automatic ELT activates on impact; verify functional test during preflight per §91.207.

Airspace Classification

• Controlled: Classes A, B, C, D, E—ATC separation rules vary by class, especially for IFR vs VFR.
• Uncontrolled: Class G—see-and-avoid principle; pilots solely responsible for separation.
• Visual identifiers on sectional: thick blue rings (B), magenta (C, E begin @ surface), dashed lines (E surface), etc.

Federal Aviation Regulations – Overview

• FARs codified in 14\ CFR.
• Key Parts for GA: 43 (maintenance), 61 (certification), 91 (operation).
• Knowledge of structure allows quick reference in flight planning and while exercising PIC authority.

Part 43 – Maintenance

• Defines preventive vs required maintenance.
• §43.3 grants certificated pilots permission to perform preventive tasks (e.g., oil changes, tire replacement) listed in Appendix A, Subsection C.
• All maintenance must be recorded in aircraft logs.

Part 61 – Pilot Certification

• §61.3: PIC must carry ID, medical, pilot certificate.
• §61.23: Medical durations
– 1st-class: 12 mo (\leq40\ \text{yr}) / 6 mo (>40).
– 2nd-class: 12 mo all ages.
– 3rd-class: 60 mo (\leq40) / 24 mo (>40).
• §61.51: Logbook entries for training, currency, endorsements.
• §§61.56/61.57: Flight review every 24 mo; 3 TO/landings within 90 days to carry passengers (night requires full-stop).
• §61.89: Student limitations—no passengers, no for-hire carriage, VFR criteria (>3\ \text{SM} day, >5\ \text{SM} night), sight of surface required, must honor CFI limitations.

Part 91 – General Operating Rules

• §91.3: PIC has final authority; may deviate for emergencies—written report if requested.
• §91.7: Aircraft must be airworthy—PIC’s responsibility.
• §91.13: No careless/reckless operation endangering life or property.
• §91.17: Alcohol prohibitions—\text{BAC} < 0.04 and 8-hour bottle-to-throttle. • §91.103 Preflight: – Local: runway lengths, performance data. – Nonlocal: weather, fuel, alternates, delays. • §91.107: Seat belts secured for taxi, takeoff, landing. • §91.111: Collision avoidance & formation flight restrictions. • §91.113: Right-of-way hierarchy—distress > balloons > gliders > airships > airplanes/rotorcraft.
• §91.119 Minimum altitudes:
– Congested: 1000\ \text{ft} above highest obstacle within 2000\ \text{ft}.
– Other: 500\ \text{ft} AGL.
– Remote: 500\ \text{ft} from people/vessels/structures.
• §91.151: VFR fuel—30\ min day, 45\ min night reserve.
• §91.203: Required documents on board—AROW (Airworthiness, Registration, Operating Limitations/POH, W&B).
• §91.215: Transponder usage—inside/above B, within 30\ \text{NM} Mode C veil, C class, above 10,000\ \text{ft} MSL, etc.

Averett University Rules & Procedures

• Utilize the Operations Manual and Archer Procedures Guide—supplements FARs with institutional policies.
• Fuel minimums: \geq2 hrs aboard for local flights or full tanks for cross-country.
• Oil: \geq4 qt local, \geq6 qt extended ops.
• Specific checklists, callouts, and grading rubrics must be adhered to—non-compliance affects dispatch and solo privileges.

Piper Archer Aircraft Familiarization

• Model: PA28\text{–}181.
• Engine: Lycoming O\text{–}360\text{–}A4M (carb) or IO\text{–}360\text{–}A4M (fuel-injected).
• 4 cylinders, 180\ \text{HP} at 2700\ \text{RPM}, dual magnetos.
• Max gross weight: 2558\ \text{lb}; max takeoff 2550\ \text{lb}; baggage limit 200\ \text{lb}.
• Fuel: 50\ \text{gal} total, 48\ \text{gal} usable; 100/100LL avgas; typical burn 9.5\ \text{gph}.
• Oil capacity 8\ \text{qt}; minimum 2\ \text{qt}.

Key Performance Numbers (V-Speeds)

• Vy (best rate): 76\ \text{KT}. • Vx (best angle): 64\ \text{KT}.
• V{SO} (stall landing config): 45\ \text{KT}. • V{S1} (stall clean): 50\ \text{KT}.
• V{NE}: 154\ \text{KT}. • V{NO} (max structural cruise): 125\ \text{KT}.
• VA (maneuvering): 89\text{–}113\ \text{KT} (varies with weight). • V{FE} (flaps): 102\ \text{KT}.
• Best glide: 76\ \text{KT}.
• Max demonstrated crosswind: 17\ \text{KT}.
• Flap settings: 0^\circ,\ 10^\circ,\ 25^\circ,\ 40^\circ.

Carburetor vs Fuel Injection

• Carburetor: Mixes fuel/air via Venturi; susceptible to carb icing—apply carb heat.
• Fuel injection: Fuel metered directly to cylinders—better distribution, no carb ice, but potential vapor lock; requires fuel-pump priming for start.

Avionics & Instrument Systems

• Pitot-static: Drives airspeed indicator, altimeter, VSI; verify pitot heat in icing.
• Analog vs ADC: Traditional gauges vs digital air-data computer.
• Attitude sources: Gyroscopic vacuum-driven vs modern AHRS (solid-state).
• GPS: Triangulates satellite signals to compute 3D position; WAAS improves vertical accuracy—integral for situational awareness and georeferenced charts.

Weather Information Sources

• METAR: Hourly surface observation; coded report with winds, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, altimeter.
• PIREP: Pilot-reported conditions—icing, turbulence, cloud tops.
• Surface analysis chart: Synoptic overview—pressure patterns, fronts.
• Access through ForeFlight, AviationWeather.gov, or FSS briefers.

Weather Forecasting Tools

• TAF: 24\text{–}30\ \text{hr} aerodrome forecast; issued 6\ \text{hr} intervals.
• Prog charts: 12\text{–}48\ \text{hr} outlooks displaying fronts, pressure systems, and precipitation.
• Evaluate trends: Compare METARs & TAFs to anticipate changes along route.

Hazardous Weather Products

• AIRMET (Sierra, Tango, Zulu): IFR/mountain obscuration, moderate turbulence, moderate icing, surface winds >30\ \text{KT}.
• SIGMET: Severe icing/turbulence, dust/sand storms \gt 3\ \text{SM} visibility reduction, volcanic ash.
• Convective SIGMET: Thunderstorm criteria—line \gt 60\ \text{mi}, embedded, hail \geq 0.75\ \text{in}, tornadoes.
• Thunderstorm hazards: Wind shear, hail, icing, lightning, microbursts, severe turbulence.
• Icing consequences: Wing contour change, drag rise, weight increase → requires higher airspeed and longer landing rollout.
• Ice types:
– Clear: Glossy, transparent, heavy.
– Rime: Opaque, brittle, lighter.
– Frost: Crystalline layer—must be removed pre-flight.

Atmospheric Mechanics & Pressure Systems

• Weather driven by uneven solar heating; diurnal cycle creates pressure gradients.
• Surface winds flow from high → low pressure but deflect due to Coriolis.
• Low pressure: Counter-clockwise rotation (NH) → rising air → clouds/precip.
• High pressure: Clockwise rotation (NH) → sinking air → clear skies.
• Understanding these patterns aids en-route decision-making and fuel/altitude planning.

Pilot Responsibilities & Getting Started

Required Personal Documents & Materials

• Government-issued photo ID, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate, and student pilot certificate must be in your possession for every flight (FAR\ 61.3).
• Bring an individual logbook; flights for instruction or currency must be recorded (§61.51).
• Charting & airport references:
– Sectional aeronautical chart covering KDAN area.
– Chart Supplement (formerly Airport/Facility Directory - A/FD) for detailed airport data.
– Both available in paper form or digitally via ForeFlight for iPad.
• Regulatory & reference texts: Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual (FAR/AIM), Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK), Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH), etc., all integrated within ForeFlight if you subscribe.
• Additional school-specific manuals: Averett Operations Manual and Archer Procedures Guide.

Training Structure: Flight & Ground

Basics of Flight

Four Forces of Flight

• Lift opposes weight; thrust opposes drag.
• In level, unaccelerated flight: Lift = Weight and Thrust = Drag.
• Any imbalance produces acceleration or a climb/descend tendency.

Aircraft Control Overview

Lift Principles

Drag Taxonomy

Stalls

• Occur when critical AOA is exceeded—independent of airspeed, attitude, or aircraft configuration.
• Recovery steps for normal stalls:
– Push (lower nose to reduce AOA).
– Power (full).
– Cleanup (incrementally retract flaps).
– Establish climb.

Spins

• Aggravated, uncoordinated stall in which both wings are stalled (one more deeply).
• Immediate recognition vital; entry signs: stalled tone, yaw rate, rolling motion.
• Standard recovery (PARE per AFH - Power idle, Ailerons neutral, Rudder full opposite to rotation, Elevator briskly forward to break stall):
– Power idle.
– Ailerons neutral.
– Rudder full opposite to rotation.
– Elevator briskly forward to break stall.
– After rotation stops, neutralize rudder, ease out of dive, level wings, and recover to cruise.
• Prevention: Maintain coordination, observe stall cues, and respect AOA.

Airport Familiarization – Danville (KDAN)

• Class E (controlled to the surface only by weather minimums, no tower).
• Field elevation: 571\ \text{ft}\ MSL (Mean Sea Level).
• Runways:
– 02/20: 5900 \times 100\ \text{ft}—primary.
– 13/31: 3910 \times 100\ \text{ft}—crosswind option.
• Additional data: Lighting, frequency info, obstacles—all found in Chart Supplement or ForeFlight.

Taxi Operations

Radio Communications Basics

Traffic Pattern Operations

Radio Frequencies & Emergencies

• Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) at KDAN: 123.05\ \text{MHz}.
• Weather (Automated Weather Observing System - AWOS)-3: 128.125\ \text{MHz}.
• Emergency guard: 121.5\ \text{MHz}$; transponder code 7700 if in distress.
• Automatic Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) activates on impact; verify functional test during preflight per §91.207).

Airspace Classification

• Controlled: Classes A, B, C, D, E—Air Traffic Control (ATC) separation rules vary by class, especially for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) vs Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
• Uncontrolled: Class G—see-and-avoid principle; pilots solely responsible for separation.
• Visual identifiers on sectional: thick blue rings (B), magenta (C, E begin @ surface), dashed lines (E surface), etc.

Federal Aviation Regulations – Overview

• FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations) codified in 14\ CFR (Code of Federal Regulations).
• Key Parts for General Aviation (GA): 43 (maintenance), 61 (certification), 91 (operation).
• Knowledge of structure allows quick reference in flight planning and while exercising PIC authority.

Part 43 – Maintenance

Part 61 – Pilot Certification

• §61.3: PIC must carry ID, medical, pilot certificate.
• §61.23: Medical durations
– 1st-class: 12 mo (\leq40\ \text{yr}) / 6 mo (>40).
– 2nd-class: 12 mo all ages.
– 3rd-class: 60 mo (\leq40) / 24 mo (>40).
• §61.51: Logbook entries for training, currency, endorsements.
• §§61.56/61.57: Flight review every 24 mo; 3 takeoffs (TO)/landings within 90 days to carry passengers (night requires full-stop).
• §61.89: Student limitations—no passengers, no for-hire carriage, VFR (Visual Flight Rules) criteria (>3\ \text{SM} day, >5\ \text{SM} night), sight of surface required, must honor Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) limitations.

Part 91 – General Operating Rules

Averett University Rules & Procedures

Piper Archer Aircraft Familiarization

• Model: PA28\text{\unicode{x2013}}181.
• Engine: Lycoming O\text{\unicode{x2013}}360\text{\unicode{x2013}}A4M (carburetor) or IO\text{\unicode{x2013}}360\text{\unicode{x2013}}A4M (fuel-injected).
• 4 cylinders, 180\ \text{HP} (Horsepower) at 2700\ \text{RPM} (Revolutions Per Minute), dual magnetos.
• Max gross weight: 2558\ \text{lb}; max takeoff 2550\ \text{lb}; baggage limit 200\ \text{lb}.
• Fuel: 50\ \text{gal} total, 48\ \text{gal} usable; 100/100LL avgas; typical burn 9.5\ \text{gph} (gallons per hour).
• Oil capacity 8\ \text{qt} (quarts); minimum 2\ \text{qt}.

Key Performance Numbers (V-Speeds)

• V*y (best rate): 76\ \text{KT} (Knots).
• V*x (best angle): 64\ \text{KT}.
• V*{SO} (stall landing config): 45\ \text{KT}.
• V*{S1} (stall clean): 50\ \text{KT}.
• V*{NE}: 154\ \text{KT}.
• V*{NO} (max structural cruise): 125\ \text{KT}.
• V*A (maneuvering): 89\text{\unicode{x2013}}113\ \text{KT} (varies with weight).
• V*{FE} (flaps): 102\ \text{KT}.
• Best glide: 76\ \text{KT}.
• Max demonstrated crosswind: 17\ \text{KT}.
• Flap settings: 0^\circ,\ 10^\circ,\ 25^\circ,\ 40^\circ.

Carburetor vs Fuel Injection

Avionics & Instrument Systems

• Pitot-static: Drives airspeed indicator, altimeter, VSI (Vertical Speed Indicator); verify pitot heat in icing.
• Analog vs ADC (Air Data Computer): Traditional gauges vs digital air-data computer.
• Attitude sources: Gyroscopic vacuum-driven vs modern AHRS (Attitude and Heading Reference System) (solid-state).
• GPS (Global Positioning System): Triangulates satellite signals to compute 3D position; WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) improves vertical accuracy—integral for situational awareness and georeferenced charts.

Weather Information Sources

• METAR (Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report): Hourly surface observation; coded report with winds, visibility, ceiling, temp/dewpoint, altimeter.
• PIREP (Pilot Report): Pilot-reported conditions—icing, turbulence, cloud tops.
• Surface analysis chart: Synoptic overview—pressure patterns, fronts.
• Access through ForeFlight, AviationWeather.gov, or FSS (Flight Service Station) briefers.

Weather Forecasting Tools

• TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast): 24\text{\unicode{x2013}}30\ \text{hr} aerodrome forecast; issued 6\ \text{hr} intervals.
• Prog charts (Prognostic charts): 12\text{\unicode{x2013}}48\ \text{hr} outlooks displaying fronts, pressure systems, and precipitation.
• Evaluate trends: Compare METARs & TAFs to anticipate changes along route.

Hazardous Weather Products

• AIRMET (Airmen's Meteorological Information) (Sierra, Tango, Zulu): IFR (Instrument Flight Rules)/mountain obscuration, moderate turbulence, moderate icing, surface winds >30\ \text{KT}.
• SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information): Severe icing/turbulence, dust/sand storms \gt 3\ \text{SM} (Statute Miles) visibility reduction, volcanic ash.
• Convective SIGMET: Thunderstorm criteria—line \gt 60\ \text{mi}, embedded, hail \geq 0.75\ \text{in}$$, tornadoes.
• Thunderstorm hazards: Wind shear, hail, icing, lightning, microbursts, severe turbulence.
• Icing consequences: Wing contour change, drag rise, weight increase → requires higher airspeed and longer landing rollout.
• Ice types:
– Clear: Glossy, transparent, heavy.
– Rime: Opaque, brittle, lighter.
– Frost: Crystalline layer—must be removed pre-flight.

Atmospheric Mechanics & Pressure Systems

• Weather driven by uneven solar heating; diurnal cycle creates pressure gradients.
• Surface winds flow from high → low pressure but deflect due to Coriolis.
• Low pressure: Counter-clockwise rotation (NH - Northern Hemisphere) → rising air → clouds/precip.
• High pressure: Clockwise rotation (NH) → sinking air → clear skies.
• Understanding these patterns aids en-route decision-making