Flight Plans and Primary Paths (Preview)

A flight plan is a pre-calculated set of guidelines a pilot will stay within during a flight. Wind and terrain are taken into account and based on these and knowledge of the site, an experienced pilot or instructor can use the plan to manage risks and optimize flights for safety from launch to landing.

Instructors provide a flight plan on almost every flight a student takes during training. In the beginning, these plans are ultra simple and adjustments are not necessary. Later, when lift, sink and flying tasks affect the flight, adjustments become necessary and are incorporated as part of the plan. The students learn to understand the reasons for adjustments and how the flight plan is designed to minimize risks and hazards.

Every time you fly, not just in lessons, a flight plan needs to be in your head with all of the elements that a flight plan can provide. Even cross country pilots plot out their courses near mountains with knowledge of bail outs along a possible flight path.

Flight Plans Include:

• Primary Path
• Tasks to work on including possible Thermal or Ridge Soaring
• Altitude Adjustments
• Landing Approach
• Bail Out plans if LZ becomes unreachable.
• ……
  

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