Steep Spirals

[Dazzler]

How are you supposed to teach steep spirals in the CFI checkride? I would imagine you would teach them to the left as that is what a student would be taught, but when I tried it from the right seat I found it very difficult to keep sight of the point that I was supposed to be circling, and messed up the whole maneuver. Or would a turn to the right be acceptable?

 

[CFIse]

They're certainly easier doing them looking out of the window on your side of the plane - but the examiner/inspector can ask you to do them in either direction - so if it's left to your choice I say do them to the right, but be prepared to do them to the left.

 

[kellwolf]

I had to do them to the left on my checkride. It was basically a "So, how's it looking over there?" maneuver.

 

[moxiepilot]

easiest way to teach it is by using refrence lines not a point. if you use two intersecting roads or prominent land marks is makes it a thousand times easier. i'm surprised your instructor didn't point this out.

when you roll in to the left you're at your steepest bank, so you can guage the rest of the turn. visualise where you are in relation to your reference lines so you end up there each pass around. do the same thing all the way around and you should hit it spot on.

good luck

 

[FOD]

Whats an appropriate distance from the point. Talking with a fellow instructor the otherday and he said he maintains about 1/2 a mile. I have always kept it a little closer, what is the norm?

 

[GirlInTraining]

I can't imagine doing it at 1/2 mile radius, unless you started at 5000+ AGL. I usually do mine at a quarter mile or less - pretty much fly at my point and start the turn when almost over it.

 

[mastermags]

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I can't imagine doing it at 1/2 mile radius, unless you started at 5000+ AGL. I usually do mine at a quarter mile or less - pretty much fly at my point and start the turn when almost over it.

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Even if you started at 5k, your radius would have to get smaller and smaller as you decended. I probably use around 800 feet as a radius, generally using runway numbers as a point.

 

[Josh]

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I can't imagine doing it at 1/2 mile radius, unless you started at 5000+ AGL. I usually do mine at a quarter mile or less - pretty much fly at my point and start the turn when almost over it.

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Even if you started at 5k, your radius would have to get smaller and smaller as you decended. I probably use around 800 feet as a radius, generally using runway numbers as a point.

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It should not get smaller as you decend.

"A steep spiral is a constant gliding turn, during which a constant radius around a point on the ground is maintained similar to the maneuver, turns around a point. " AFH 9-3