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2 Answers

Emergency Decent -positive load??

Asked by: 3261 views Flight Instructor

Why is it that one of the reasons to perform an emergency decent in a turn is to "maintain positive load factors on the plane?" (ASA oral exam guide).  I understand clearing for traffic and looking for a landing spot, but not this other reason. I'm probably missing something obvious.... I understand that turning will also reduce the vertical component of lift, but what does the load have to do with that in helpful way?    

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2 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Nov 14, 2015

    The Airplane Flying Handbook states that the maneuver should be made in a turn to look for other traffic and emergency landing areas.

    It also states that the maneuver should be “initiated” with a turn to maintain positive load factor. I suspect that they don’t want you to just push over to start the maneuver.

    As far as positive load factor is concerned, the Vomit Comet can only sustain zero G for about 25 seconds by following a parabolic flight path. I don’t think there is much chance that you will not maintain a positive load factor once in the descent.

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  2. thomas johnston on Nov 14, 2015

    I see, so maybe this is a way to practice not exceeding the negative g limit, which is much less than the positive limit. That is, if a pilot is to slam the nose down in a hurry.

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