Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Practice Exam

What must a student do when performing a power-off stall to maintain a specific heading?

1. Maintain heading +/- 10 degrees

2. Report to ATC

3. Establish climb attitude

4. Enable autopilot

The correct answer is: Maintain heading +/- 10 degrees

Maintaining a specific heading within a tolerance of plus or minus 10 degrees during a power-off stall is crucial for demonstrating control and situational awareness in a stall recovery scenario. The purpose of this exercise is not only to experience the stall but also to manage the aircraft's heading while unloading lift and transitioning into recovery. Achieving this degree of heading control shows that the pilot is adept at using their understanding of the aircraft’s aerodynamics and handling characteristics, which is vital in real-world flying scenarios. It reinforces the importance of maintaining directional control and helps develop habits for safe flying practices by requiring the student to actively manage the aircraft's attitude during critical phases. In contrast, the options that mention reporting to ATC, establishing climb attitude, or enabling autopilot do not apply to the management of heading during a stall. Reporting to ATC might be relevant in certain contexts but does not address the hands-on piloting skills being tested in this scenario. Establishing climb attitude is not appropriate during a power-off stall, as the goal is to bring the aircraft safely out of the stall without climbing until the stall recovery is fully executed. The use of autopilot is also not applicable since pilot training focuses on manual flying skills, especially during critical situations like stalls.