Private Pilot Maneuvers Guide
Build a clearer sight picture, smoother control inputs, and stronger checkride habits. Start with our complete steep-turn lesson, then use the maneuver roadmap to organize your next flight with your instructor.
Training at Chino Airport in Southern California • Airplane and helicopter instruction
How to Fly a Steep Turn
Follow the maneuver from setup through rollout while listening for the control cues an instructor would use in the airplane.
Private Pilot ACS Standards
FAA-S-ACS-6C calls for a coordinated 360-degree steep turn at approximately 45 degrees of bank, followed by the maneuver in the opposite direction when requested by the evaluator.
Before you practice: clear the area, use the manufacturer’s recommended entry speed or a speed not exceeding maneuvering speed, follow the POH/AFM, and practice with a qualified flight instructor.
See the Maneuver Before You Chase the Instruments
A strong steep turn starts with a stable airplane and a useful outside reference. Smoothly build the bank, support the added load factor, and use short instrument checks to confirm what the horizon is already telling you.
Set Up Before You Turn
Clear for traffic and terrain, establish the recommended entry speed, stabilize altitude and heading, and choose a distant landmark for rollout.
Roll, Support, and Coordinate
Use coordinated aileron and rudder. As the bank passes roughly 30 degrees, increase back pressure to support lift and add only the power your airplane needs.
Fly the Outside Sight Picture
Keep most of your attention outside. Hold the relationship between the nose, wing, and natural horizon, then use quick instrument checks for bank, altitude, airspeed, and coordination.
Look Through the Rollout
Lead the entry heading by about 20 to 25 degrees as an initial visual cue, then adjust for your airplane and turn rate. Relax back pressure and remove any added power as the wings level.
Common Steep-Turn Errors
Do not wait for a large deviation. Recognize the first trend, make a small correction, and let the airplane respond.
Altitude falling
If excessive bank is driving the nose down, reduce the bank first, restore the sight picture, and smoothly return to the desired bank.
Altitude climbing
Confirm the bank is not too shallow, then ease excessive back pressure while maintaining coordination.
Airspeed decaying
Check pitch attitude and power. Avoid pulling harder while allowing the airplane to become slow and overbanked.
Late rollout
Look through the turn toward your landmark and begin the rollout before reaching the entry heading.
Private Pilot Maneuver Roadmap
Use this roadmap to connect each maneuver to the practical skill it develops. More DuBois visual lessons will be added to this guide.
Steep Turns
Coordination, outside references, load factor, bank control, and precise rollout.
Slow Flight
Precise airplane control at high angle of attack and low airspeed.
Power-Off Stalls
Recognition and recovery in an approach-to-landing configuration.
Power-On Stalls
Recognition and recovery in a departure-style configuration.
Ground Reference Maneuvers
Rectangular courses, S-turns, and turns around a point using changing wind correction.
Normal, Short-Field, and Soft-Field
Directional control, rotation, obstacle planning, and energy management.
Normal, Short-Field, and Soft-Field
Stabilized approaches, aiming point control, touchdown accuracy, and crosswind technique.
Forward Slips and Go-Arounds
Manage excess altitude safely and make an early decision to discontinue an unstable approach.
Emergency Approach and Landing
Airspeed, landing-area selection, checklist discipline, planning, and cockpit priorities.
Basic Instrument Maneuvers
Maintain control and navigate safely when outside visual references are unavailable.
Official References
This guide supplements, but does not replace, instruction in the aircraft. Review the current POH/AFM and train with your instructor.
Fly With a DuBois Aviation Instructor
Train at Chino Airport with an instructor who can help you turn the visual cues in this guide into consistent aircraft control.