Hello , I have been flying for 6 years and am being ask to complete a flight test at a new field I joined. The problem I am having is , I don't think I know what a closed pattern manuever is in reference to flying an airplane. Please, if you will, explain what I should be trying to make the plane do.

Thanks .

Sounds like some sort of pattern routine such as in the Sportsman category of Pattern Flying.. half cuban eights, immelman, hammer-head (stall turn), loop, rolls, and so on. Sounds like they may call out what they want you to do.

Hell, in my club, if you fly straight, make left and right turns, and can land without crashing, you're ok. All that other stuff is great to watch, but is a learned proficency, not something that is necessarily taught.

A lot of clubs want people to perform certain maneuvers before they qualify a solo and I disagree with that. Who cares if you can do a slow roll or a half-cuban eight, or a split S. That does not show proficiency in the basic functions which are taking off, flying orbits, and landing without damaging the aircraft or hurting someone. We focus on landing on the centerline and in a coordinated way. That shows more proficiency than a lucky break making a straight loop. Sorry, but that's asking way to much of a new pilot.

I know, you are not a new pilot, and I am sure you can do all of the above, but I guess that I don't see the purpose of some of the requirements of some clubs. It seems as only a way to get rid of people that just want to fly and have a nice relaxing afternoon.

DS.

My best guess would be one quick trip around the pattern. To include:
preflight a/c and obtain freq pin before turning on radio
safely start a/c
taxi to or carry a/c to runway
smooth takeoff and initial climbout
turn to crosswind leg and climb
turn to downwind leg and start prep for landing
turn to base leg and begin descent as needed
turn final and continue smooth approach
land and bring plane to controlled stop safely
taxi or carry plane back to pit area stopping engine at appropriate time per their safety rules.

Just be sure you know what is expected before you attempt it. Unknown goals are hard to achieve.

Thank for the quick response. I have 15 things I must do to pass the test . I kinda understand situational testing but I think after 6 years of flying I am capable and have been through almost all manuevers possible. Thanks again.

Yeah, so are unnecessary ones, meaning those that are not specifically indicative of novice pilot proficiency. Advanced pilots are probably, more likely capable, but I've seen where some clubs put really unnecessary burdens on new pilots as a requiement to solo. Either they are to lazy to teach after the fact of solo, or they are trying to sabotage the novice's chances of qualifying.

Who cares if the guy can fly inverted. I've seen that as a requirement. It is not part of a novice's initial training. I can see, perhaps, a simulated dead stick from downwind, or upwind, or wherever, or a figure eight, or even perhaps an emergency downwind landing or some such thing.

DS.

Simulated deadsticks are a good thing to know! It became very useful after I soloed and was adjusting the engine myself all the time. I got so used to deadstick landings for a while there that the first couple of times I managed to adjust the engine to keep it runing, I over shot the runway!! [X(]

I can see your point that you have been flying for 6 years but the new club doesn't know that and I have seen a guy show up at our club with a few planes and not one of them went back into his car in the same condition they came out. they don't know you and you should have to perform a basic profiency unless someone can vouch for your profiency. A test should be simple enough to prove that you will not take out people or property or shoot anyone down or show poor judgement which could injure someone.

This sounds like some sort of elitist club where they want certain types of pilots in and certain types to go away. Granted I have a tendancy to see the dark side and be suspicous of others motives in a hurry.... okay I have trust issues. Anyway there is a club in my area here that is a "large scale" club, meaning that if you join this club some time within your first year you must obtain and fly an 80 inch or larger wing span plane to remain as a member. The club has a lot of trailers being towed by Escalades and Mercedes SUV's too and I think they want to keep it that way. While I do own an 81 inch span plane I think I will stay with my redneck freinds who fly for the fun of flying because I can't afford a new SUV

But like someone said,who truly is willing to be at the field everytime someone wants to join, not the club but, the county flying field which requires you to join a club. I personnaly , don't mind following the rules. Maybe it's because I fly at another field so I win either ways. As far as crashing , I have seen people that have been flying for 40 years wreck planes week after week and never once did it enter my mind , that person needs to be retested or needs to lose his permit because I have seen that person fly flawlessly numerous times. Although he followed every rule in order to fly the plane ,mishaps happened. When I join a flying field I don't know whos friend is flying that never took the test but I will be standing there next to him flying and trusting that he knows what he is doing.

When at my other field I swear to you not , when a new flyer comes along I stand WAY BACK to protect myself. If the flyer crashes into my planes behind the flight line I am sure he will make good on the damage and I will be safe from getting hit.

HAHAHAHA don't feel that way. There is a guy I fly with that told me about a club like this. I beleive the true reason they have clubs like this is because they don't want a $100 airplane crashing into their $2500 planes and only receiving a shoulder shrug for compasation. Although I don't agree I don't knock it either.

You have to understand a club is exactly what it is a CLUB. The people that pay for the field or in some cases own the field , make the rules. I have been cold shouldered at a few clubs and that's when I discovered County flying fields that don't have as many rules as you think.

no doubt having some basic flying rules makes sense for the safety factor but I have to agree with the majority that knowing the manuevers for a contest is a bit of a burden for entering a club,and flying your plane un assisted.
I can say with confidence most of my landings and flights are mishap free and I can greese most of my landings, but if someone asked me to do a certain turn I wouldnt know what they were talking about even though I have most likely done it many times.
I should add our club has competitive pilots in it some who regularly win contests and if I wanted to learn a particular turn or trick all I would need to do is ask, and many of our members have helped me to improve my skills, it depends on what you want out of your flying conforming to a rigid structure or just having some fun with your plane a safely flying and landing I would take a hard look at a particular club and see if its what you are after in the sport and if it fits your style and personality before commiting to joining it.

I have to agree with CG. When I learned ( although I`m really still learning! ) and soloed, I had to be able to safely set up my trainer, take off, fly a few circuits, land, and then demonstrate a deadstick. I thought those requirements were quite reasonable. I threw in a couple of loops and rolls for the heck of it but they weren`t required. I think demonstrating a knowledge of safety practices and basic flight skills is sufficient

Some of those rulz are nuts.About 2 years ago. I use to stop by a model airplane field on the way home from work on fridays an sats. Back when i thought man i wish i could do that, while looking at a pt-40 climbing out. Anyhow to complete your solo at that field you had to pop a baloon taped to the top of a 2 liter soda bottle with your rudder an you had to be at w.o.t. I thought that was kinda crazy. Nedless to say, I have never spun a prop there. I don't think i could do that to this day.

Tide I also agree with CG, well I kinda have too he instructed and soloed me. But I did not have to fly inveterted and perform a flawless rolling harrier. All that was asked of me was to fly a basic pattern upwind takeoff a few landing approaches and a safe landing.
Basically I had to prove I could safely fly without risking my equipment or anyone elses. What more can you realistically ask from a new pilot. OH and we spent a while on deadsticks which later that day saved my plane 3 times.

The club I started at required you to take off, fly a the pattern ( oval around the field ) do a figure 8, then a touch n go, and then take it up high until the instructor told u to kill the motor, then you had to deadstick it and land anywhere on or on the other side of the runway in a safe manner. I think by doing that, you have a better beginner, they show better control over the plane when they are flying by themselves or with others. I have seen some beginners that have been "signed off" by other clubs, and taking off and landing can be an adventure. Is there an AMA training type regimen that clubs should follow ? I may surf their site some.