Rolling Gs?

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 01:12 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Many flight instructors and examiners reportedly lack understanding of "rolling Gs" and their dangers, a critical safety concern highlighted by a fatal accident and common risky maneuvers, for which *Aviation Safety* has provided educational resources.
A common misunderstanding exists regarding the FAA's recommended non-towered airport traffic pattern entry, which involves a right turn after crossing the field, seemingly conflicting with FARs requiring left turns in Class G/E airspace.
This recommended traffic pattern entry is compliant with regulations because the initial right turn is performed *outside* the established traffic pattern, before joining the standard left downwind leg.

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I’m writing to ask if Aviation Safety has ever done an article on the dangers of rolling Gs? During a recent DPE/CFI video conference, one CFI queried why do we still teach Lazy 8s and Chandelles and why are they still a requirement in the Commercial-Airplane Aircraft Certification Standards? I popped in and said because of the dangers of rolling Gs…and then there were crickets among the other DPEs and CFIs—no one knew what I was talking about. I felt like a dinosaur.

I mentioned the recent YouTube video of a Mexican accident where a pilot of a Piper Pawnee tore his wings off during a “gender reveal” flight that went tragically wrong. But still no one knew the term rolling Gs.