Hovering Part 3 (All Controls)*

Purpose

To maintain motionless flight over a reference point at a constant altitude and heading; develop skills necessary for practicing pick-ups/set-downs and approaches.

Description

  • Brief student on positive exchange of controls.
  • Develop student’s sight picture for 5 ΄ hover by allowing him to control the collective and ATPs.
  • Demonstrate oscillation from overcontrolling and ability to recover.
  • Develop student’s understanding of the effect cyclic inputs have on aircraft control.
  • Use all three controls to hover over a reference point.

Instructional aids and pre-requisites

  • The Flight Controls module is a pre-requisite
  • Hovering 1 and Hovering 2 are pre-requisites
  • Ground Lesson: Pendular motion

Content

  • Pre-flight briefing: Positive 3-way exchange of controls
  • Position the aircraft into the wind over a large, clear, even surface with a distant reference (eg, a building or a pole) the student can use as an attitude and altitude reference
  • Clear the area for traffic and obstructions
  • In a 5 ΄ hover, transfer control of the collective and ATPs to the student; as deviations from 5 ΄ altitude develop, prompt student to make corrective collective inputs
  • Return control of the collective/ATPs to instructor and transfer control of the cyclic to the student
  • Maintain position within a large radius, accepting forward and lateral drift as long as the student can maintain control without inducing oscillation
    • Assist with arresting oscillation by making corrective input followed by a return to neutral position/hover attitude and waiting for movement to stop
  • When student is comfortable with the cyclic, transfer collective and ATP to student with goal of maintaining 5 ΄ hover altitude and position within large radius (no rearward drift)
  • Gradually increase standard as student proficiency improves

Common errors

  • Fixation on reference too close to aircraft
    • Position aircraft so that suitable distant reference is available
  • Overcontrolling
    • Set attainable goal initially—position within 30΄ circle and minimal drift; work toward standard of maintaining position within 10′ circle
    • Use distant visual reference and refocus student’s attention to it
    • Encourage student to evaluate effect of one input before attempting another
    • As long as aircraft control can be maintained, let students fix oscillations and drift so they understand what effect a control input has
  • Tension/death grip on controls
    • Provide frequent breaks
    • Encourage finger-tip flying
  • Resignation

Completion standards

  • Verbalizes positive exchange of controls
  • Heading ±10 °
  • Altitude ±2 ΄
  • Position within 10 ΄ diameter circle

Teaching considerations

  • Ensure that student maintains a 5 ΄ hover and intercede before risk of ground contact
  • Avoid rearward drift
  • Help student arrest oscillation before a dangerous attitude or excessive drift necessitates taking control
  • Intermingle hovering with lessons on normal approaches to hover; as student terminates approach to hover, initiate another takeoff just as the aircraft begins to get unstable
  • During breaks, set down while you provide your critique so the student isn’t comparing his performance to yours

Video on how to hover

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqHWnk2HWUU&feature=PlayList&p=584450ED140D552D

Additional practice

Additional resources

  • None specified

· Ensure that student maintains a 5 ΄ hover and intercede before risk of ground contact

· Avoid rearward drift

· Help student arrest oscillation before a dangerous attitude or excessive drift necessitates taking control

· Intermingle hovering with lessons on normal approaches to hover; as student terminates approach to hover, initiate another takeoff just as the aircraft begins to get unstable

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