Climbing and descending BASIC CONCEPTS

Objectives Air exercise

• To enter the climb and the descent from straight and level flight.
Climbing Descending
• To maintain a climb and a descent at a constant speed, constant rate, in a constant direction and
Entry Entry
PAT

in balance.
• To level off at specific altitudes.

PAT

Principles of flight
Climbing Climb performance
• Aeroplane is in equilibrium when climbing Power More power better climb performance 010
0 010 010
0 0
140 20 9 1 140
1402020 9 9 1 1

Altitude Limits the performance

2 2 2

• Lift is not increased

120 8 ALTMETER

301 120
120 8 8 ALTMETER
ALTMETER

301 301

KNOTS 40 4040
302 302 302
303 303 303

100 7 3 100
KNOTS
100
KNOTS
7 7 3 3
80 60 VACUUM 6
5 4 80806060 VACUUMVACUUM 6 6
5 54 4

• T must be greater than D Weight  weight –  rate of climb

• Rate of climb (climb Flap  drag –  rate of climb
Power mixt RICH, full power, balance Power mixt RICH, carb heat HOT, close throttle,
R2 Wind Affects climb angle and distance in climb
performance) depends Attitude climb attitude, wings level, balance balance
on excess power Trim to maintain attitude Attitude hold S+L attitude until glide speed, then set
available L
RA
F Climb configurations Airspeed = RoC =
glide attitude
Trim to maintain attitude
Airspeed controlled with attitude
T
Performance Power Attitude
Airspeed = RoD =
D T>D Best RoC full kt Airspeed controlled with attitude
RCW
Maintaining
T = D + RCW Best AoC kt Lookout
W1 L<W Cruise kt Attitude Change – check – hold – trim Maintaining
Instruments Lookout
RCW Recommended kt
W
Attitude Change – check – hold – trim
R1
Exit
APT
Instruments
anticipate...

Descending Descent performance Exit

• Aeroplane is in equilibrium when descending Power Controls rate of descent
• Flying speed maintained by lowering nose L/D ratio Efficiency of wing, steepness of glide anticipate...
attitude Weight  weight  FCW –  speed down slope Attitude select and hold S+L attitude, adjust as speed
• FCW balances D Flap Needs  FCW to balance D – increases, balance PAT
R
 rate of descent Power wait for aeroplane to accelerate, then set cruise Power carb heat COLD, increase power to cruise, balance
L Wind Affects descent angle and range power, balance Attitude simultaneously set to S+L, balance
Trim to hold S+L attitude Trim to hold S+L attitude

Descent configurations
D
FCW
Performance Power Attitude Airmanship Aeroplane management Human factors
• Situational awareness – what was, is, and will be • Smooth throttle movements • Trapped gases in ears
Glide idle kt
RA
F • VFR Met minima • Mixture RICH • Diving
Powered kt
• Minimum and maximum heights • Carb heat HOT for descent • Empty sky myopia
W
Cruise kt • Lookout – restrictions • Temperatures and pressures • Noise
• I’M SAFE

Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand Flight Instructor Guide