Students and instructors vary in their affinity for ground reference maneuvers. Some relish the challenge of attaining consistent precision, particularly in the face of strong or gusty winds. Others never really get comfortable with continuously changing bank angles (or, in the case of eights on pylons, constantly varying pitch) that close to terra firma. But there is a legitimate rationale for cultivating the skill to impose your chosen ground track on the weather rather than letting the vagaries of the breeze dictate where the airplane goes.
Part of the motivation, of course, comes from a phrase common to the airman certification standards and their practical test standards predecessors: “divide attention.” An updated analysis by the AOPA Air Safety Institute found that half of all accidents precipitated by unintended stalls happen in the traffic pattern (including takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds). There’s a lot going on in the pattern, particularly when you’re sharing it with other aircraft, so it’s no surprise those accidents frequently cite distraction as a factor. The ability to simultaneously scan for traffic, talk on the radio, watch for obstructions, and keep the airplane in coordinated flight can be a lifesaver.
Then there’s the necessity of landing. Botched landings continue to cause the greatest number of fixed-wing accidents, especially among students and low-time pilots. A good landing starts with a stable approach: being at the altitude, airspeed, and runway alignment needed to reach the intended touchdown spot at a normal rate of descent. That’s a lot harder to achieve when the downwind leg drifts a mile from the runway when the wind’s from the left but just a quarter-mile out when the wind is from the right. And while the pilot in command has the option to decline, if you choose to do S-turns for spacing from preceding traffic on final, you’ll want to keep them aligned with the extended centerline and the airplane coordinated at a safe angle of attack.
So ground reference maneuvers do have practical value—well, except maybe eights on pylons.
