Currently we are only able to provide this training in a customer-supplied aerobatic airplane. This course provides complete ground and flight training for pilots of all experience levels in the procedures and skills necessary for safe recovery from wake turbulence upset, accidental spin entry, spatial disorientation and icing encounters. Emergency evasive maneuvering is also covered in depth.
Typically one to two ground sessions and three to four flight lessons with thorough briefings are
necessary for course completion. Each flight lesson includes one to two hours of flying time based on
student progress and comfort level. The course training is custom – tailored to each student’s
background, skill level, tolerance level and goals. Upon satisfactory course completion, a graduation
certificate is issued which can be kept on file for pilot insurance renewals and required flight
department records. A package course program, which includes approximately 4 hours ground school, 4 hours dual flight and 4 hours preflight and post flight ground time is available. The instructor cost for the training hours shown is $2820.00. This course usually takes at least 3 days, but may be be accomplished in 2 days, depending on the weather and the student’s ability and physiological threshold. The maximum student weight in most aerobatic airplanes is around 220 lbs.
Thorough initial and recurrent training on recoveries and maneuvering is essential
to pilots who wish to maintain a high level of skill and competence in this vital area of safety.
The training is conducted by Steve Shaner, a veteran flight instructor and former FAA Pilot Examiner
who has been teaching this course along with aerobatics for over 45 years. American Air has an excellent safety record and an excellent reputation with the FAA. The student learns advanced skills in maneuvering in unusual attitudes with minimal stress to the
aircraft and passengers and minimal loss of altitude. Ten-turn spins, aileron rolls, split-s maneuvers,
inverted flight, 90 degree bank low-load turns and inverted flight recovery are some of the areas
covered in the course (see course outline below). Every student who has completed this
training has become a much safer pilot and has gained a much higher level of self confidence in
dealing with surprise emergency events.
Ground Training
- Personal Documents / Certificates / Logbook
- Course overview, procedures, schedule
- Introduction to the specific airplane operating procedures – Preflight, start, taxi, pre-takeoff, departure, enroute, arrival, landing, securing, checklists, traffic systems, normal and emergency procedures, surveillance,
operating numbers, emergency jettison and evacuation - Tailwheel ground dynamics and control clean, dirty, extreme attitude stall recoveries
- Parachute preflight and operation
- Airport and practice area procedures
- FARs regarding aerobatic flight
- Pilot physiology during aerobatic flight – zero-G pushover, thrust-pitch control, what to and not to eat, stagnant hypoxia, gray out, red out, G-LOC, anti-g straining, pilot AIMSAFFER checklist
- Traffic surveillance and reporting during aerobatics, sustained inverted flight and recovery
- Aircraft category stress limits
- Load factor control and chart analysis
- G – analysis, g-control, g-meter, zero, positive and negative g flight path control
- Load factor variation in turn
- Aerodynamics of lift vector variation in and disconnect – subtle / extreme maneuvers and control effect in critical attitudes
- Stalls, spins and angle of attack analysis, g-load, recovery & avoidance
- Stall speed variations with bank and load changes
- CG, stability, controllability, effect on stall
- Vertical maneuvers – altitude and airspeed parameters
- Recovery options – 3-D, pitch, power and bank, attitude orientation
- Unusual / critical attitude recoveries – visual, instrument
- Maneuver procedures – aileron roll, barrel roll, split-s, spin, loop, half-Cuban 8, 2-point roll, sustained inverted flight, wing over,
- Emergency upset causes and avoidance techniques
- Upset cause analysis – evasive maneuvers, mountain wave, rotor clouds, CAT, wing tip vortices, wake turbulence, runaway autopilot (subtle & obvious),
runaway trim, distraction, lack of attention to flight status, crew interference - limited control recovery characteristics
Flight Training
- Preflight, start, taxi, pre-takeoff, takeoff climb, cruise, clearing area and reporting in, descent, arrival, landing, securing, checklists, traffic surveillance
- Slow flight, stalls –power on, power off, accel., clean, dirty, extreme attitude stall recoveries
- Spin recovery, aileron roll, loop, split-s
- Turns – 35, 45, 60, 74, 90 degrees bank
- G – control and variation in turns and pull-ups, zero-G pushover, thrust-pitch control, barrel roll, roll reversal, 2-point roll & recoveries
- Negative G – right side up & inverted
- Reduced aileron and elevator recovery, wingover
- Sustained inverted flight and recovery
- Half Cuban-8 with normal and limited ail. recov.
- Pitch out-of-trim control, aileron out-of-trim control
- Mountain wave upset & recovery, windshear sim.
positive and negative g flight path control - Wake turbulence & wingtip vortices recovery
- Simulated autopilot and electric trim runaway and disconnect – subtle / extreme
- Distractions with emergency upset simulation
- Emergency upset scenarios recovery practice
- Steep bank diving spiral with high-g recovery