Explore UPRT, the risks of spinning normal category aircraft, and the NASA Standard Spin Recovery procedure.
As a professional pilot, your journey in the aviation world is filled with continuous learning and skill enhancement. One such critical skill set is the understanding and execution of Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) and spin recovery. This article aims to provide an exploration of these topics, with a particular focus on spinning in normal category aircraft and the NASA Standard Spin Recovery procedure.
The Risk of Spins in Normal Category Aircraft
A common question among pilots is the risk associated with performing spins in normal category single-engine aircraft. While these aircraft are required to be fully recoverable within a one-turn spin, the risk lies in pushing beyond this limit. The cockpit placards in normal category aircraft clearly state, “No acrobatic maneuvers, including spins, approved.” This means that intentional spins in these aircraft are prohibited. The reasoning behind this prohibition is not just regulatory compliance, but also safety. The performance characteristics of these aircraft beyond a one-turn or 3-second spin are unknown, which is why they are placarded against intentional spins.
The NASA Standard Spin Recovery
NASA, the world-renowned space agency, has developed a standard spin recovery procedure that has been widely adopted in the aviation industry. This procedure consists of four essential steps:
- Throttle: Reduce to idle.
- Ailerons: Neutralize (center).
- Rudder: Apply full opposite to the direction of the spin.
- Elevator: Push forward to break the stall.
This procedure is designed to stop the spin and allow the pilot to regain control of the aircraft. It's important to note that the effectiveness of these steps can vary depending on the specific characteristics of the aircraft, and pilots should always refer to their aircraft's specific flight manual for spin recovery procedures.
The Role of the CFI in Stall Spin Training
The role of the Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) in relation to “stall spin” training is to provide spin-awareness and avoidance instruction through thorough academic examination of the student’s aeronautical knowledge and providing regulatory-compliant stall training in accordance with AC 61-67C.
The Importance of Stall Recoveries in Other Aircraft
As a CFI, it is crucial to be aware of the various Laws of Learning during the instruction and evaluation of other pilots. What are they learning about “stall spin” training first, most recently, and most often? Can what you teach be looked up in an official aviation training publication of some kind? If not, it should be.
Conclusion
The simple answer is that intentional spins in Normal category aircraft are not approved. As a professional CFI, this statement alone should keep us from ever even considering doing an intentional spin in a normal category aircraft, or worse, recommending that others do it.
For further reading, you can refer to the original article here.
References
- NASA. (n.d.). NASA Standard Spin Recovery Procedure. NASA. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/about/Organizations/Technology/Facts/TF-2004-15-DFRC.html
- Ransbury, P. (2020, January 22). Spinning Normal Category Aircraft - What’s the Risk? Aviation Performance Solutions. https://apstraining.com/resource/spinning-normal-category-aircraft-what-is-the-risk/