Max talks with Dr. Catherine Cavagnaro about her article in AOPA Pilot Magazine on the dangers of “timid turns,” also known as “lazy turns,” and their potential to create hazardous conditions in traffic patterns. The episode covers the physics of turns, best practices for pilots, and how to avoid common mistakes.
The Problem with “Timid Turns”
Dr. Cavagnaro explains how timid turns often result from pilots’ reluctance to bank steeply due to fear of stalling, which ironically can create conditions for stall-spin accidents. She shares a real-life example of a pilot, Steve, who overshot final approach while flying too fast in the traffic pattern. His shallow bank angles—20 degrees onto base and 15 degrees onto final—exacerbated by a crosswind, led to a skidding turn. Though Steve managed to recover and go around, the situation highlighted a recurring issue: overly cautious maneuvers in patterns can compromise safety.
Turn Physics Simplified
Max and Catherine break down the physics of turns:
- Turn Radius: The formula depends on velocity squared, divided by gravitational acceleration and the tangent of the bank angle. Speed has a much greater effect on turn radius than the angle of the bank. For instance, doubling speed quadruples the turn radius.
- Bank Angle: A 30-degree bank increases stall speed by only about 7%, making it safe and effective for tighter turns in traffic patterns. Comparatively, a 20-degree turn has a 59% larger turn radius, while a 45-degree turn increases stall speed by 19%.
Common Misconceptions and CFI Influence
The pair explore why many instructors discourage steeper banks:
- Fear of Stalls: Some CFIs overemphasize safety, leading students to adopt unnecessarily shallow turns.
- Experience Gap: High turnover among flight instructors due to airline hiring demands results in less experienced CFIs perpetuating conservative practices.
Best Practices for Safer Traffic Patterns
- Optimal Airspeeds and Bank Angles: Catherine advises slower speeds and appropriate bank angles. For example:
- Use 80 knots on downwind and 70 knots on base.
- Employ 30-degree banks onto base and final to stay within the traffic pattern and avoid overshooting.
- Time on Base Leg: Leveling wings on base is crucial for situational awareness—checking runway alignment and scanning for potential traffic.
- Wind Awareness: Pilots should always assess wind direction and speed, using cues such
- as water ripples, smoke, and GPS data for ground speed to adjust their approach.
Circling Approaches and Industry Challenges
Circling approaches, especially in poor weather, are prone to overshoots due to proximity to runways at lower altitudes. Catherine points out that using the same visual references as in standard traffic patterns doubles the risk of overshooting. Both Max and Catherine cite examples of fatal overshoots during circling approaches, including:
- A Learjet crash in San Diego caused by a 0.9-mile downwind at 140 knots.
- The Truckee Challenger accident, where overshooting led to loss of control.
Max emphasizes that he avoids circling at night and prefers landing with a tailwind when feasible, provided the runway length allows.
Practical Tools and Techniques
For pilots aiming to perfect their traffic patterns:
- Visual Estimation: Use landmarks or runway length to estimate distance from the airport.
- Glass Cockpit Tools: Use GPS functions and range rings to calculate accurate distances.
- Speed Discipline: Adhering to the correct approach speed, particularly in tailwind landings, is critical to avoid overshooting and ensure a safe landing.
High-Speed Aircraft in Traffic Patterns
The discussion highlights challenges posed by high-performance aircraft entering patterns at excessive speeds. Catherine recounts incidents involving Cirrus and Malibu pilots overshooting runways or entering parallel runways due to large turn radii. Max emphasizes the importance of slowing down before entering the pattern and avoiding autopilot use in traffic, as it turns too slowly for safe maneuvers.
Closing Thoughts
Dr. Cavagnaro stresses the importance of education and thoughtful decision-making to mitigate risks in traffic patterns. Pilots must balance speed, bank angle, and wind considerations to create safe and efficient approaches.
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