Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Practice Exam

During "eights on pylons," what is expected if the reference line appears to move ahead of the pylon?

1. Increase altitude

2. Decrease airspeed

3. Bank more steeply

4. Maintain the same flight path

The correct answer is: Increase altitude

When flying "eights on pylons," the objective is to maintain a consistent visual reference to the pylon while flying around it in a figure-eight pattern. If the reference line appears to move ahead of the pylon, this indicates that the aircraft is likely flying too high or too fast in relation to the pylon’s position. In this scenario, increasing altitude would not address the situation, rather the pilot should decrease altitude to correct the flight path. This correction allows the aircraft to reestablish a proper relationship with the pylon. By lowering altitude, the pilot can ensure that the aircraft stays in a better position to maintain the desired visual reference with the pylon. Maintaining the same flight path would not address the issue, as it would allow the pylon to move ahead even more. Banking more steeply could lead to either an excessive turn radius or an uncoordinated turn, which also would not correct the visual reference problem. Therefore, effectively managing altitude is crucial to maintaining the appropriate relation with the pylon during the maneuver. In summary, if the reference line moves ahead of the pylon, adjusting altitude—specifically, increasing altitude—is the correct action that would help re-align the aircraft with the pylon and complete