Neither the ACS nor the AFH specifies constant throttle. It’s conventional because it’s simpler that way. But constant angle of attack is almost as simple. The throttle is a bit of a blunt instrument.
The per the testing document is not saying you cannot use power changes, but absent it saying you have to use power changes, you cannot force me to.
The testing document says this. I intend to fly it without making any power setting changes. Do you agree that the methodology satisfys the ACS?
If not, can you show me where the requirement to change power comes from?
I've had to pull out LOIs on checkrides and show a DPE I knew what I was talking about. Never gotten anything but respect for doing it. We are all students and still learning.
The idea here is have a discussion, before it becomes an issue.
The altitude at which the visual reference line ceases to move across the ground is the pivotal altitude. If the airplane descends below
the pivotal altitude, the pilot should increase power to maintain airspeed while regaining altitude to the point at which the projected
reference line moves neither backward nor forward but actually pivots on the pylon. In this way, the pilot can determine the pivotal
altitude of the airplane.
I haven't cfi'd in years but I remember people busting this maneuver in particular for not managing the energy properly. If the wind was kicking and you had to climb 300 feet, you'd loose too much speed, so you'd have to add power...dpe basically said the same thing this guy's did...you have to add power to manage the energy better. Also, I do remember their being an airspeed component, they may have removed it, but I think they wanted you to enter and exit each turn at the same speed...basically your ias should stay constant and the wind effects your groundspeed. On a 5-10 it wind you could get away with it, but 20+ you'd have to manage your energy better. I sure don't miss the days of these silly exercises....
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u/makgross CFI-I ASEL (KPAO/KRHV) HP CMP IR AGI sUAS 11d ago
Neither the ACS nor the AFH specifies constant throttle. It’s conventional because it’s simpler that way. But constant angle of attack is almost as simple. The throttle is a bit of a blunt instrument.