ANN's Daily Aero-Tips (10.09.06): Minimum Controllable Airspeed | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-10.28.24

Airborne-NextGen-10.29.24

Airborne-Unlimited-10.30.24

Airborne-Unlimited-10.24.24

Airborne-Unlimited-10.25.24

Mon, Oct 09, 2006

ANN's Daily Aero-Tips (10.09.06): Minimum Controllable Airspeed

Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network.

Aero-Tips 10.09.06

"Slow flight" and "Flight at minimum controllable airspeed" -- what are they, and what's the difference?

Slow flight

Slow flight is defined (by the Airplane Flying Handbook) as any "speed that is less than cruise." In most pilot training, though, "slow flight" consists of:

  • Flight and maneuvering at speeds appropriate for takeoff, climb, descent, approach and go-around, and
  • Maneuvering at the lowest airspeed possible without indications of a stall-usually within three to five knots of a stall.
Flight at minimum controllable airspeed (MCA)

MCA, by contrast, is defined as:

  • Demonstrating aircraft control at its minimum flying speed,
  • Maneuvering at a speed where any increase in angle of attack, increase in load factor, or decrease in power will immediately cause a stall.
Purpose

Whether slow flight or MCA, the purpose is to experience and master flight on the ragged edge, with reduced control effectiveness, delayed control response resulting from low indicated airspeed, and "back of the power curve" power management. Both prepare the pilot for low-airspeed phases of flight close to the runway on takeoff, landing or go-around, for stall avoidance, and in the initial phase of stall recovery at any altitude.

Note: The FAA Practical Test Standards call for "slow flight" for all levels of pilot certificate.

Aero-tip of the day: Practice to proficiency to flight at the lowest end of the airspeed range... no matter what you call it.

FMI: Aero-Tips

Advertisement

More News

Senator Pushes FAA to Accelerate Rocket Launch Licensing

States That Current Process is Damaging National Aerospace Development US Senator Jerry Morgan is pushing the FAA to speed up the process for rocket launch licensing. He argues tha>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: RJ Gritter - Part of Aviation’s Bright New Future

From 2015 (YouTube Edition): Model Aviator Aims For Full-Scale Career While at the 2015 Indoor Electric RC Festival, referred to as eFest, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell>[...]

Aero-FAQ: Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories -- ITBOA BNITBOB

Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories ITBOA BNITBOB ... what does that mean? It's not gibberish, it's a lengthy acronym for "In The Business Of Aviation ... But Not In The Busine>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (10.27.24)

Aero Linx: Cardinal Flyers Online The Cardinal Flyers Online Web site was created and is maintained by me, Keith Peterson. My wife Debbie and I have owned a 1976 RG since 1985. Wit>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.27.24): Clearance Void If Not Off By (Time)

Clearance Void If Not Off By (Time) Used by ATC to advise an aircraft that the departure release is automatically canceled if takeoff is not made prior to a specified time. The exp>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC