Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Circuit Introduction: Pre-flight Brief

CASA Recreational Pilot License (Aeroplane) — Lesson 6, Pre-flight Briefing

All text and presenter notes in this briefing are licensed under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0. More info

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Briefing overview and Risk analysis

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

I'M SAFE — Pre-flight Self-Assessment

Circuit Introduction

Complete before every flight. Display this checklist in the briefing room.

Letter Factor Consider
I Illness Don't fly when unwell — degrades learning and all phases of flight
M Medication Does altitude affect it? Why am I taking it — am I unwell?
S Stress Stress occupies short-term memory and processing power
A Alcohol Affects brain function even in small amounts — combined with altitude, it is deadly
F Fatigue Affects motor and mental skills; adequate rest is essential
E Eating Balanced diet and hydration — poor nutrition degrades decision-making

Stress and fatigue reduce the amount of brain power (processing power) that you have available while flying a plane.

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

PAVE — Risk Analysis Framework

Circuit Introduction

Use PAVE to identify hazards before every flight.

Letter Category Key questions
P Pilot I'M SAFE — or am I? Also experience, currency, recent practice?
A Aircraft Airworthy? Fuelled? Weight and balance? Known defects?
V enVironment Weather, wind, terrain, airspace, time of day?
E External Pressure to complete the flight? Passengers? Schedule?

If any PAVE category flags a hazard, assess it before you fly — not after.

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Waypoint 3 — Aerodrome Weather

Circuit Introduction

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Aerodrome weather forecast

Circuit Introduction

Check the TAF and ATIS/AWIS before every flight — not just wind, but all factors that could affect the lesson.

Item What to check
Wind Speed, gusts, crosswind component on the runway in use
Visibility VFR minimum 5 km — lower means a reduced or cancelled lesson
Cloud base Circuit height (~1000 ft AGL) must be clear of cloud with margin
QNH Note for altimeter setting before departure
Trend / TAF Improving or deteriorating — plan for the full lesson duration

If conditions are at or near limits — discuss now, not on the runway.

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Waypoint 4 — Hand-over Technique

Circuit Introduction

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

"I have control" / "You have control"

  • One pilot is always flying the aeroplane.
  • The hand-over uses three calls:
    1. "You have control."
    2. "I have control." (other pilot)
    3. "You have control." (first pilot confirms)
  • Don't release the controls until the third call.

If you're unsure who's flying — say so. There is no penalty.

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Waypoint 5 — Lookout and Clock Code

Circuit Introduction

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Lookout — the clock code

  • Imagine a clock face on the horizon — 12 ahead, 3 right wing, 6 behind, 9 left wing.
  • Scan in segments — don't stare at one spot.
  • Move your eyes, then your head — peripheral vision picks up movement, focused vision identifies it.
  • In the circuit, prioritise scanning ahead and toward the runway.

See and avoid is everyone's responsibility — including the student.

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Waypoint 6 — Today's Flight

Circuit Introduction

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Today's flight — the sequence

  • Taxi to the holding point; complete pre-take-off checks.
  • Take off into wind; climb on the extended centreline to 500 ft AGL.
  • Turn crosswind at 500 ft (or local procedure); continue climb to circuit height.
  • Level off on downwind; complete downwind checks.
  • Turn base; commence descent and configuration changes.
  • Turn final; stabilise the approach by ~500 ft AGL.
  • Land (or touch-and-go if briefed).
  • Repeat — TODO: confirm number of circuits planned.

TODO: confirm the runway in use, the circuit direction, and any NOTAMs affecting today's flight.

Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Today's flight — what I'll demonstrate and what you'll fly

Task C1 C2–C3 C4–C5 C6+
Take-off → downwind I S S S
BUMFISH check I I S S
Base turn + leg I I I S
Approach + landing I I I I
Radio I I I I

I = instructor · S = student

  • Start hands off — tasks grow each circuit.
  • I'll always have my hands ready. If I take over: "I have control."
Circuit Introduction — Pre-flight Brief

Arrival

Circuit Introduction

Short brief immediately before the flight (~0.3 hr). The long briefing (theory parts 1 and 2) has already been completed. Purpose: review risk, confirm essential knowledge, walk the flight sequence, and re-anchor airmanship items that matter most in the circuit — hand-over technique, lookout, and the go-around decision.

Quick refresh on risk analysis, then the two airmanship items that matter most in the circuit (hand-over and lookout), then the flight sequence and a final readiness check.

I'M SAFE is something you can complete at home before even coming to a flight. Some stress is normal, especially when nervous, and will reduce as things become familiar. Flying hungry doesn't help either!

I'M SAFE covers the pilot category in detail; PAVE ensures you also check the aircraft, the environment, and any external pressures. For circuit work, emphasise the V — surface wind, gust factor, crosswind component, and circuit-direction implications.

Click Direct-To to arrive at Aerodrome Weather.

Cover how to read a TAF and ATIS at this aerodrome. Emphasise that the V in PAVE is assessed here — this is the tool that fills in the environment box. For first lessons, also note the BOM website / NAIPS / AVWEATHER as sources students can check themselves before arriving.

Click Direct-To to arrive at Hand-over Technique.

We'll practise this on the ground before we go flying today, and we'll use it every time we swap controls in the aircraft.

Click Direct-To to arrive at Lookout and Clock Code.

TODO: insert clock-code diagram. PHAK Ch 14 (ADM) covers visual scan in detail. Emphasise: empty sky doesn't mean no traffic — scan even when ATC has told you you're number one.

Click Direct-To to arrive at Today's Flight.

For the first circuit lesson, expect the instructor to demonstrate the first circuit and progressively hand over more of each subsequent circuit.

Adjust the starting point based on conditions and student's prior performance. Approach and landing stay with the instructor this session unless the student is clearly ahead of the arc.