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PA.IX.B.R1FAA-S-ACS-6C · Nov 2023Risk management

Altitude, wind, terrain, obstructions, gliding distance, and available landing distance...

ACS element text (the applicant demonstrates understanding of)

Altitude, wind, terrain, obstructions, gliding distance, and available landing distance considerations.

Bottom line

Attempting to stretch a glide with elevator back pressure is likely to lead to landing short and may even lead to loss of control if the airplane stalls. With a tailwind the airplane glides farther, and with a headwind it does not glide as far. The best glide airspeed maximizes the distance flown and occurs at the highest lift-to-drag ratio; any change in gliding airspeed results in a proportional change in the distance flown.

FAA references

  1. AFH ch. 3 (pp. 3-22–3-23) — FAA-H-8083-3C
  2. AFH ch. 9 (pp. 9-27–9-28) — FAA-H-8083-3C
  3. PHAK ch. 17 (p. 17-10) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
  4. AFH ch. 3 (p. 3-21) — FAA-H-8083-3C
  5. AFH ch. 9 (p. 9-28) — FAA-H-8083-3C
  6. SEA ch. 7 (p. 7-8) — FAA-H-8083-23
  7. RMH ch. 3 (p. 3-7) — FAA-H-8083-2A
  8. PHAK ch. 12 (p. 12-8) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
  9. AIH ch. 1 (p. 1-6) — FAA-H-8083-9B
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