A pilot’s most fundamental and important responsibility is to maintain aircraft control. Initial flight training thus provides skills to operate an airplane in a safe manner, generally within normal “expected” environments, with the addition of some instruction in upset and stall situations.

This chapter discussed the elements of basic airplane control, with emphasis on AOA. It offered a discussion of circumstances and scenarios that can lead to LOC-I, including stalls and airplane upsets. It discussed the importance of developing proficiency in slow flight, stalls, and stall recoveries, spin awareness and recovery, upset prevention and recovery, and spiral dive recovery.

Pilots need to understand that primary training cannot cover all possible contingencies that an airplane or pilot may encounter. They should seek recurrent/additional training for their normal areas of operation and seek appropriate training that develops their aeronautical skill set beyond the requirements for initial certification.

For additional considerations on performing some of these maneuvers in multiengine airplanes and turbojet-powered airplanes, refer to Chapters 12 and 15, respectively.

Additional advisory circular (AC) guidance is available at www.faa.gov:

1. AC 61-67 (as revised), Stall and Spin Awareness Training; 2. AC 120-109 (as revised), Stall Prevention and Recovery Training; and 3. AC 120-111 (as revised), Upset Prevention and Recovery Training.