AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023 - 88

RUDDER & WRENCH
energy state without first pushing forward
on the yoke, at the expense of some altitude,
to reach an airspeed for which the climb
rate is positive (C to D). This assumes, of
course, that the pilot takes corrective action
while such a trade is possible.
It should be noted that potential energy
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is considered with respect to a fixed plane
and kinetic energy with respect to the air
mass. The Airplane Flying Handbook continues,
" In contrast, changes in agl-altitude
and groundspeed are affected by external
factors, such as varying elevation and wind,
which the pilot cannot alter. " This statement
is curious because the pilot certainly
can affect these by choosing a route that
involves or avoids high terrain and goes
with or against the wind.
At the risk of extending an already long
chapter, the Airplane Flying Handbook
discussion of energy management would
benefit by including terrain and air mass
effects. Pilots should realize that flying
over high terrain throws away potential
energy and must accept a lower energy
state until lower terrain is reached.
Additionally, motion of the air can alter
an aircraft's energy state. Updrafts are the
equivalent of free potential energy-as
glider pilots know well-and downdrafts
have the opposite effect. Headwinds and
tailwinds alter the kinetic energy when
measured with respect to the ground.
While we can't orchestrate favorable winds
for a given route, we can choose to depart
and land into the wind with the lowest
possible kinetic energy with respect to the
ground. Landing into the wind is especially
important if there is an engine failure over
less-than-ideal terrain.
The energy management chapter in
the Airplane Flying Handbook introduces
valuable topics and opens the door for further
thought. Certainly, no one will reach
for this resource in an emergent situation
or even as part of preflight planning.
But a rainy day or long overseas flight can
provide the perfect opportunity for pilots
to learn and adopt an energy-centered
mindset in piloting aircraft. Catherine
Cavagnaro owns Ace Aerobatic School
in Sewanee, Tennessee, and is the Gaston
Swindell Bruton professor of mathematics
and computer science at Sewanee: The
University of the South.
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AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023

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