Upset Prevention and Recovery Training

Upset and recovery training might be (it will be) the best training you ever receive!

First and foremost, ask yourself, "am I confident to recover from any unusual attitude (upset)?"  If the answer is 'no', you are at the right place.  I will make you comfortable!

Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT) is training to overcome the most lethal threat in the air – loss of control in-flight (LOC-I).

But what is an “upset”?

• If you’re a numbers person, you can use this…
• Pitch > 25° nose up or
• Pitch > 10° nose down or
• Bank > 45° or
• Remember, these numbers are if you didn't expect/force it
• Airspeed inappropriate for the conditions (all if unexpected)
• If you’re not a numbers person (like me), I would use this: ‘anything beyond what you expect’.
• I.e., the airplane is not doing what you expect it to do
• I.e., control inputs are not doing what you you expect
• It is the simulated IMC unusual attitudes but well beyond.
• Think of this...if I give you the airplane in a vertical attitude, what do you do?
• Spins
• Academics for spins: Spin Training - FIG style
• "PARE" is the recovery.
• Power (idle)
• Ailerons (neutral)
• Rudder (full opposite direction of spin)
• Elevator (push to at least neutral - nose down)
• Spins are a bit different then other upsets (UPRT). You can't just push yourself out of a spin. You need to reduce the power and stop the rotation.
• An airplane has to stall before it can spin.  Prevent the stall, prevent the spin.
• Sluggish control responses.  This should make you 'very aware'.
• Uncoordinated flight.  Use your body when busy elsewhere.
• The danger duo.  Cross-control and slow = be very aware.
• Buffet.  If your airframe is shaking, you're approaching a stall.
• Profile or Spin Card

The training builds the time-sensitive, and typically, counter-intuitive actions required to prevent or recover from lethal upsets.  For example, when a power-off stall rolls right, the human response is to pull back and roll left.  Ironically, those are the last things you should do.  But this is the fun of upset training.  It takes you from a state of wondering/guessing what to do to a state of knowing what to do.

Just so you know, this is the sad reality of GA pilots.  They ‘exploit’ about 11% of the aircraft’s capabilities.  Which, if we're honest, is not good.  Our aircraft can do so much more than we're willing to try.  Turn your airplane, own your airplane, exploit your airplane.  We will help you do just that.

GA “Extended Envelope Training”

Not only is UPRT a great acronym, it actually reads "upright".  And the steps are straight forward.

• "Upset" and/or "uncouple".  Ideally, "Upset, uncouple."
• If you're a crew (or not) it's very powerful to audibly announce that you are "upset".
• If you're on automation (autopilot), you should uncouple (disengage) any automation.
• "Push"
• This is the most important step.  Unload the aircraft to reduce the AOA.
• "Roll"
• Get your wings level to maximize lift.
• "Thrust"
• Analyze your power state and adjust appropriately.  What does that mean?  Well, if you have plenty of energy, you don't need more power.  If you're in a low energy state, you will need power.  You can use Vx as a dividing line.  I.e., if you're below Vx, you very likely need more power.  If you're above Vx, you probably don't need more energy.
• "Stabilize".  This is not technically part of the UPRT acronym, but it's a great way to verbalize (and do) the last things(s) required to stabilize the aircraft.  Is it on a good flightpath?  Is your energy state where you want it?  Are you safe?

Syllabus

• Spin card (knee board size)
• Loss of power during climb-out.
• Climb/fly at Vx, then kill the power (engine failure). Objective: best glide.
• Stall/spin during turn to crosswind.
• 45 degree turn, idle, full back stick, full opposite rudder.
• Stall/spin during approach to landing.
• Pick a ground reference (runway) and zero flaps
• Simulate an overshoot
• Reduce power to idle
• Turn left, rudder to fix, left rudder, pull stick/yoke to slow down
• Stall/spin during low-level operations
• Reduce power, initiate 45 degree turn, stick/yoke back to maintain altitude
• When close to stall, stick/yoke full back, full opposite rudder 

More information about UPRT...

• Aerobatic Schools Directory (IAC.org)
• Aircraft Wake Turbulence, AC 90-23G.
• Airplane Flying Handbook, CH5, FAA-H-8083-3C.
• Airplane Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (SAFE article)
• Effects of Startle on Pilots During Critical Events (Griffith U)
• GA “Extended Envelope Training” (SAFE blog)
• Guidelines for Pilots Seeking All-Attitude Training.
• Stall and Spin Awareness Training, AC61-67C.
• Stall Prevention and Recovery Training, AC 120-109A.
• Surprise yourself for more proficient flying.
• Surviving Startle; More Training!
• The ‘Spin Doctor’ and the art of the spin.
• Training: LOC-I Prevention, How Airlines Train to Prevent Upsets (AOPA)
• Upset Prevention and Recovery Training, AC 120-111.
• Unusual Attitude Recoveries
• Video by Warren Vanderburgh
• Videos
• Warren Vanderburgh

- FIG -