Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

4 Answers

Clearing Turns

Asked by: 4246 views Commercial Pilot, General Aviation, Private Pilot

When I was doing my PPL, my instructor told me to clear the left wing first and then to the right.

Is there any reason that we must do the clearing turns to the left first or it is done either direction first?

 

 

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

4 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Jul 31, 2016

    There is no regulation concerning clearing turns.

    However, stop and think a minute.

    The right of way rules in 91.113 state that when overtaking another aircraft, the passing aircraft shall pass the overtaken aircraft on the right. If you make your first turn to the right during clearing turns, you might be turning into the path of an overtaking aircraft. That is why I always suggested that the first turn be made to the left.

    +5 Votes Thumb up 5 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. Mark Kolber on Aug 01, 2016

    I always thought it was simply because the pilot was sitting on the left so had the best view in that direction – looked out the window and not through the cockpit, past seats, passengers, and other obstructions. Just more natural.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Kris Kortokrax on Aug 01, 2016

    Unless you are flying a helicopter with the PIC seat on the right side, or a tandem seating aircraft.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  4. sr22captain on Aug 03, 2016

    Kris – that was a great answer. I’d never thought about why the clearing turns should be to the left first. I caused me to go back and review right-of-way rules. Thank you.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.