PPL Stage Check 2

Go-Around Procedures

• Decision: initiate when approach unstable or runway unsafe

• Steps (mnemonic):
  • Stop descent → level wings
  • Add full power, carb heat OFF
  • Pitch to climb attitude (Vx or Vy)
  • Retract flaps incrementally—NEVER all at once; confirm positive rate before full retraction
  • Side-step: always move right if needed

Risk Assessment & ADM

• PAVE checklist: Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures

• IMSAFE personal check: Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion

• ADM goal: right action at right time; avoid “taking chances”; use all human/tech resources

• CRM/SRM: effective crew or single-pilot resource management

• Memorize emergency checklists; follow full pre-flight (NOTAMs, weather, restrictions)

Communication & SA

• ATC: speak clearly & concisely, listen actively, ask when unsure

• Maintain situational awareness—stay ahead of the aircraft

Collision Avoidance

• Visual scan: small eye movements $10^{\circ}$ apart every second

• Blind spots:
  • High-wing (Cessna): above during climbs/turns
  • Low-wing (Piper): below during turns/descents

• Procedures:
  • Scan final & runway before takeoff/landing
  • Gentle clearing turns in climb/descent & straight-and-level
  • Enter traffic pattern at altitude; never descend in pattern
  • Extra caution near busy VOR/nav fixes & during maneuver training

• Right-of-Way hierarchy: Distress → Balloon → Glider → Airship/Parachute → Tow/Refuel → Powered aircraft; aircraft on right, lower, or already landing has priority; head-on: both turn right

• Respond to ATC traffic call: “Negative contact” or “Traffic in sight”

Airspace: Class B (Bravo)

• Surface to $10,000\,\text{ft MSL}$; “upside-down wedding cake”

• Requirements inside $30\,\text{NM}$ Mode C/ADS-B veil:
  • Altitude-encoding transponder & ADS-B Out
  • ATC clearance BEFORE entry; establish two-way radio comm

Wake Turbulence

• Wingtip vortices strongest: Heavy, Clean, Slow aircraft

• Vortices sink & drift with wind; most hazardous with light quartering tailwind

• Stay above & upwind of preceding large aircraft on takeoff/landing

Student Pilot Essentials

• Eligibility: $\ge 16$ yrs; flight training; medical certificate

• Required carriage on solo:
  • Photo ID, Medical, Student Pilot cert, Logbook with current solo endorsement(s)
  • Aircraft ARROW: Airworthiness, Registration, Radio (if Intl), Operating limits/POH, Weight & balance

Pre-Solo Written Topics

• Engine type/limits, V-speeds (incl. best glide), fuel & oil requirements

• Airport data: pattern alt, runway numbers/lengths, frequencies

Lost-Com Light-Gun Signals (ground/air)

• Steady green: Cleared for takeoff / cleared to land

• Flashing green: Cleared to taxi / return for landing

• Steady red: Stop / give way & continue circling

• Flashing red: Taxi clear of RWY / airport unsafe—DO NOT LAND

• Alternating red/green: Exercise extreme caution (ground & air)

Stalls & Spins

• Stall: exceed critical AOA → loss of lift (starts at wing root)

• Stall recovery: nose lower, full power, level wings, regain climb

• Spin recovery (PARE): Power idle, Ailerons neutral, Rudder opposite, Elevator forward (per POH)

Stabilized Approach Criteria

• On glide path ≈ $3^{\circ}$; correct airspeed per POH; gear & flaps set; centered on runway

• Use pitch + power for performance

• Not stabilized by $500\,\text{AGL}$ on final → GO-AROUND