steepspiral

[glendalegoon]

wondering

do cfis still teach the spiral descent to landing (power off) for a USA commercial single engine?

I instructed last century, but no one ever seems to mention it now.

you know, fly over a field, spiral down in such a way as to enter a downwind base final all gliding, maybe clearing the engine once in awhile

[Flyingmac]

Funny you should ask. The instructor on my last biennial had me doing just that. I quite enjoyed it.

He's an ex 747 training captain who flies a taildragger.

[glendalegoon]

flyingmac

thanks for responding.

I enjoyed teaching them and doing them. I always felt more of a kinship with the pioneer aviators while doing them.

I trust you have read, "Fate is the Hunter". EKG spiraled down through the hole while his plane was on fire.


So many gadgets on planes now, I wonder how many pilots of any type could do a spiral to save their lives? Or any of the old techniques.

When I taught my commercial students, I included all the old ways like spirals (reqd) and how to follow rivers, or power lines and observe cows on the ground etc.