Slow flight on Cessna 172 is a mandatory procedure for PPL training according to Transport Canada
Slow Flight Procedure Video
The video contains very important information on performing the Slow Flight exercise, both with and without flaps. This exercise is explained and demonstrated by a certified Canadian flight instructor – Jonathan Hillaire. He also demonstrates potential mistakes in executing the Slow Flight procedure and their consequences. The instructor places emphasis on flight safety (CALT check, altitude control, traffic monitoring, etc.). Additionally, I have intentionally included some interesting moments from the flight.
The video is divided into chapters. In the video player, you can select the sections that are most interesting to you.
Video Chapters
- Radio: Give way to a track
- Hold Short
- Take Off 1:46
- Radio: Radar surveillance service is terminated 03:30
- Enroute frequency 05:20
- Radio: Traffic advisory 05:47
- CALT check 06:34
- Slow Flight Demonstration 07:13
- Power=Altitude and Yoke=Speed 09:26
- How to exit Slow Flight 10:36
- Slow Flight – STALL demonstration 11:06
- Stall 12:09
- Slow Flight – Stall demonstration again 12:54
- Incorrect procedure – demonstration 13:46
- SPIN due incorrect procedure Demonstration 14:16
- Altitude = Power & Speed = Yoke 15:51
- My Slow Flight (no flaps) 17:27
- Spiral Dive – Demonstration 21:20
- Training is over – Bring us back! 22:43
- Over Shambly lake (checkpoint) 22:59
- Radio: Request to enter St-Hubert airport airspace 23:47
- Radio: St Hubert Tower 24:11
- Radio: RWY approach in changed 24:49
- Radio: Descent on your discretion & Extend downwind 25:18
- Landing 26:04
Slow flight procedure’s performance Criteria:
– complete appropriate safety precautions before entering slow flight;
Transport Canada. Exercise 11 — Slow Flight
– stabilize and maintain the airspeed at 1.2 Vso, +/-5 knots;
– establish straight and level flight and complete level turns, with gear and flaps selected as specified by the instructor;
– maintain the specified altitude, +/-100 feet;
– maintain the specified heading during straight flight within +/-10°;
– maintain the bank angle within +/-10° during turns;
– roll out on a specified heading within +/-10°;
– maintain co-ordinated flight;
– divide attention between aeroplane and lookout;
– prevent a stall;
– recover promptly and smoothly to normal flight.
For flight simulators’ users
Default Cessna 172’s in Microsoft Flight simulator 2020 is very close to the real aircraft behaviour. Try to simulate this procedure in your simulator and see flight model behaviour. You can see all parameters such as IAS, RPM etc in the video above.
Write below in comments – was it easy to simulate slow flight on Cessna 172 in your simulator 😉