AIR TAXI / QUICK STOP

5PL · Maneuver Study Card
5:00
5 minutes down — keep going?

Objective

To simulate a condition when a rapid decrease in forward airspeed is required, as in an aborted takeoff.

Performance standards

  • Heading: ±10° (Private), ±5° (Commercial).
  • Altitude: ±15' (Private), ±10' (Commercial).
  • Termination point: ±50' (Private), ±25' (Commercial).
The Profile
1Hovering — start to accelerate
  • Slowly forward cyclic to get ETL.
  • Up collective to maintain 5' in no wind.
2At ETL (~20 KIAS) — forward cyclic
  • Forward and left cyclic to maintain 5'.
  • Right pedal to stay straight.
  • Do not lower collective.
3At 40 kts — start to climb
  • Aft cyclic to 50 kts attitude.

Card note near this step: "85 knots attitude."

4@ 25' AGL — make air taxi
  • Lower collective to maintain 25'.
5Quick stop — start to decelerate
  • Aft cyclic to slow down.
  • Lower collective to maintain 25'.
  • Right pedal for straight heading.
6Level — approach
  • Forward cyclic to level attitude.
  • Up collective to sink slowly.
  • Left pedal to keep heading straight.
7Hovering @ 5' AGL

Card shows 5"; read as 5 feet.

Common quick stop errors

  • Insufficient aft cyclic to maintain altitude.
  • Rapid aft cyclic causing ballooning.
  • Failure to control rate of descent.
  • Stopping forward motion with tail-low attitude.
  • Waiting too long for collective recovery.
  • Failing to maintain ground clearance.
  • Improper pedals.
  • Excessive nose-high attitude.

Common air taxi errors

  • Erratic cyclic.
  • Improper pedal control.
  • Failure to maintain altitude.
  • Overflying parked aircraft.
  • Flying in the H/V diagram shaded area.
  • Excessive tail-low attitudes.
  • Excessive power to stop.
  • Failing to maintain alignment.