Subscriber question:
"What maneuvers should I practice to keep my flying skills up?" —Chris C.
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David:
“It depends on what you mean by ‘skills.’ A core flying skill is the ability to maintain the desired flight path, recognize deviations early, and correct efficiently to regain that flight path.
When I’m asked to evaluate a pilot’s skill, I invariably find a high correlation between two things. The first is how well the pilot transitions from the takeoff to the climb, flies any climbing turns when departing the pattern, and then levels out to transit to the practice area. The second is how well all the rest of the standard upper airwork goes.
I think closed pattern work is some of the best skill maintenance available. The pattern practices almost every skill: climbs, climbing turns, transitions, straight and level, level and descending turns, and flight path management at various airspeeds and configurations. Add on the challenge of hitting your planned touchdown point on speed, on the centerline, and in the proper landing attitude, and you have the whole flight skill enchilada. Flying the pattern is easy; flying every part of the pattern with precision and accuracy is surprisingly hard, but should be your goal every time you are in the pattern.
Do you make a smooth transition from liftoff to the climb attitude with no pitch bobbles? Is the ball in the center, the airspeed stable, and the aircraft tracking a perfect runway centerline? Do you have similar accuracy and smoothness all the way around until the airplane is down and stopped?
Unfortunately, pattern work is usually all about the landing. That’s a missed opportunity to hone your skills that you get at least once every time you get into the airplane.
The answer to your question of what flying maneuvers to practice is, ‘All of them.’ But those exercises should be an extension of the skills already honed on every flight.”