# Fixed Wing sUAS Flight Training

• New Pilot Tendencies



## • Maneuvers

• Set up and flight around structures

• Pilots for Pinnacl X must be flying at the AMA instructor level

• Pilots must be able to land there aircraft at any 

## point and attitude when the Pinnacl X instructor reduces the engine throttle to idle

1 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

# New Pilot Tendencies

• No established procedure

• No memorized or written down check list of go/ no go decision making

• Forgets to check props, frame, bat voltage, GPS lock, security of electronics wire connections

• Forgets the mode on start up

• Orients aircraft in wrong direction

• Takes off in wind conditions beyond pilots or aircrafts capabilities

• Wants to keep the aircraft close to pilot

• Wants to land the aircraft ASAP (you have to get it away and up and fly it around)

• Flips incorrect mode switch and it crashes or flies away

• Gets disoriented while flying fixed wing aircraft

• Does not have the experience to detect when an aircraft is starting to go out of control. Example flight in wind shear zone.

2 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

# Manned Aircraft Flight Procedures

• Process of doing procedures with same 

## sequence of operations

• This aids in producing the same outcome (a successful flight)



## • The procedures will identify problems early on which can be resolved

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© Alfred A. Gates, 2014Transmitter Set up for fixed

wing aircraft similar to a multicopter

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© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

# Autopilot Familiarization

• Goal: Getting use to control switches on transmitter and the flight modes

• The pilot must be able to operated the transmitter, flight modes with out looking at the transmitter.

• In flight autopilot and switch familiarization

• Fly in manual mode

• S witch to semi

- auto fly and switch back

• Fly aircraft a ways away and switch to return to land (switch back to manual and fly)

• Repeat above

• Fly in manual and stall and spin aircraft switch to semi

- auto

• Fly aircraft in manual switch to auto and switch back to manual

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# Takeoff and Landing

• Set up T/O point such that flight will not be over 

## people or roadway traffic. Turn on the aircraft at the takeoff point. The autopilot will remember that point as the home point.

• Landing point can be at another point. The aircraft should be landed in manual or semi

- auto.

6 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

# Flight Training

• Use a flight simulator

• Buy a cheep remote control airplane and fly it



## • Fly at different locations

• Fly at different heights/distances

• Fly next to trees

• Fly different patterns

• Practice in front of other people

• How can you tell if the aircraft is facing you when you can’t tell since its too far away



## • Flip modes while flying

7 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

# Flight Training

• Join an AMA approved flying club and receive a check out by an AMA flight instructor



## • Become an AMA flight instructor

• The Pinnacl X flight test will involve engine 

## failure or mode failure at the worst possible condition

• The Pinnacl X instructor will be able to 

## recover the aircraft

8 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

# Required Flight Maneuvers

• Right and left traffic pattern



### • Figure 8

• Climbing and descending turns

• Rolls loops

• Stall, power on, power off

• Stall spin

• Inverted flight in right and left traffic pattern

• Engine out in all flight maneuvers followed by a touch 

### down roll to stop with in 75 feet of the pilot

• Flight in all modes

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# Official Flight Equipment

• Main aircraft

• Spare aircraft/ parts/ battery's

• Tools

• Carpet or platform

• Check list

• Documents

• Phone number of near by airport

10 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

# Flying Site Evaluation

• Locate T/O and landing points direction of flight location inspection or testing, you want to be down wind, not always possible

• Size: How big is the landing and take off area

• Shape: Is it set up to easily fly in and out of

• Surface: Sand, grass, pavement

• Slope: Is it flat

• Surroundings: What are the obstructions that could cause a problem like trees buildings power lines. Is there anything that helps show the direction of the winds. Anything that could cause a GPS signal loss or autopilot failure. (High tension power lines building over hangs)

• Forced landing Area: Locate areas next to where you will be flying taking your pictures to land or crash. Can you see the ground at the forced landing area.

11Preferred takeoff and Landing Point Based on Winds

If possible fly from a down wind position:

• If you lose orientation the winds will blown the aircraft towards you

• Flight back to you will be faster Winds Take off and landing point Direction of flight

12 Forces landing locations around the building Next to building GPS signal loss possible

# Winds and Up Drafts

• Wind velocity will increase between building



### • Thermal up drafts will occurs over parking lots and fields

• Aircraft will get hit by winds over tree canopies, above buildings

• Wind shear (turbulence) will occur next to trees, buildings etc.

• Trying to get the aircraft down from up drafts and turbulent air, move it to a different position. Do not put throttle at lowest position there may be a timed shut 

### off. In open areas fly a circular pattern with a reduce throttle.

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# Weather Evaluation

• Tweed New Haven Airport weather. Example



## • WX ASOS: Phone 203 466

- 6205 Guilford

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# Weather Evaluation

• Tweed New Haven Airport weather

• WX ASOS: Phone 203 466

- 6205

• Winds Direction, Velocity, Gust Velocity

• Example

• Winds 240 at 05 Gust 10

• Winds are coming out of the south west at 5 KTS and gusting to 10KTS N 360

90

180 270

15 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

# Pilot Decision M aking

• Is the aircraft flying correctly

• Are the winds and updrafts moving the aircraft around

• Yes looks good continuing flying

• No aircraft is drifting off position

– Are winds to high: Yes flip into Semi

- Auto mode and control aircraft hold position

– Winds are ok: Let the aircraft move back into position after gust dies down or over ride with control

• Aircraft moving off position circle in calm winds

– Possible GPS signal loss flip into Semi

- Auto mode (show video)

– Compass may need calibration

– Continue flight in Semi

- Auto mode

• You will have a few seconds to determine action

• Aircraft moving off position in Auto mode and not responding as expected

– Yell to bystanders to look out (aircraft landing)

– Reduce throttle and land

• Aircraft moving rapidly off position in Auto mode and not responding

– Yell to bystanders to look out (aircraft landing)

– Anticipated direction of flight identify a safe crash location

– Cut throttle and allow aircraft to crash

16Pilot: Always watching the aircraft Observer: O perating the camera and advising the pilot on the surroundings Landing pad

Spare aircraft

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