← All explained questions · Supplemental · V — Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers
To minimize ALTITUDE LOSS during a steep turn entry, the pilot should
Choices
reduce power before initiating the bank.
Reducing power loses airspeed and altitude.
✓ smoothly add back-pressure AS the bank is established.correct
Add back-pressure smoothly AS the bank is established (not after) and add power proportional to the bank angle to maintain altitude. Steep turns require simultaneous bank + back-pressure + power. As bank angle increases, vertical lift component decreases (lift × cos(bank)), so back-pressure must increase to maintain altitude. Power compensates for the increased induced drag from higher AoA. Adding back-pressure AFTER the bank is set causes altitude loss before recovery.
reduce back-pressure during the turn.
Less back-pressure causes descent at high bank.
let the airplane descend slightly to gain airspeed.
Diving for speed loses altitude (the thing we're trying to maintain).
Why
Add back-pressure smoothly AS the bank is established (not after) and add power proportional to the bank angle to maintain altitude. Steep turns require simultaneous bank + back-pressure + power. As bank angle increases, vertical lift component decreases (lift × cos(bank)), so back-pressure must increase to maintain altitude. Power compensates for the increased induced drag from higher AoA. Adding back-pressure AFTER the bank is set causes altitude loss before recovery.
FAA source: AFH Ch 9browse the reference library →
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Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question. Reviewed by a panel of three CFIs + AI review.