Clearing turns are one of the first things a DPE will watch during a checkride — and one of the most misunderstood fundamentals in flight training. Most student pilots know to do a turn left and a turn right before a maneuver. Far fewer understand the purpose behind them, the technique that makes them effective, or exactly what the ACS checkride standards require. This lesson takes you inside the cockpit of a Cessna 172 over northwest Atlanta where Coach Jamie walks student pilot Kat through clearing turns the right way — from setup to execution to checkride readiness.
Why Clearing Turns Matter: See and Avoid Is Rule Number One
Clearing turns exist because of one foundational principle — see and avoid. As a pilot you can see in front of you, to the left, and to the right. What you cannot easily see is directly behind you. Before slowing down or entering any maneuver, clearing turns give you the chance to scan the full traffic environment around your aircraft and make yourself visible to other pilots in the area. That is not just good airmanship — it is what the ACS checkride standards require.
The Right Technique: 90 Degrees Left, 90 Degrees Right
The most effective clearing turn sequence is a 90-degree turn to the left followed by a 90-degree turn to the right — or vice versa — returning to your original heading after both turns are complete. Coach Jamie begins with a left turn for a specific reason. If traffic is following closely behind, they can deviate to the right in accordance with right-of-way rules. Starting with a left turn gives that traffic the clearest and safest path away from your aircraft.
High Wing vs. Low Wing: Adjust Your Technique
Aircraft type matters when executing clearing turns. In a high-wing aircraft like the Cessna 172, raising the wing before beginning the turn opens up the widest possible view of the airspace around you. In a low-wing aircraft the technique adjusts accordingly. Understanding how your specific aircraft affects your sight picture during clearing turns is part of flying them correctly — and part of demonstrating sound airmanship to a DPE during a checkride.
Maintain Altitude and Look Outside
During clearing turns the priority is looking outside — not managing the instruments. Coach Jamie emphasizes maintaining cruise speed and focusing the scan outside the cockpit throughout both turns. Altitude should be held as steadily as possible, but the primary goal is visual traffic clearing. When student pilot Kat demonstrates her clearing turns, a brief altitude deviation becomes a teaching moment — back pressure during the turn requires active management, especially while keeping eyes outside.
Clearing Turns at Cruise Speed — Not Slow Flight Speed
One of the most common mistakes student pilots make with clearing turns is treating them like the beginning of a maneuver. Clearing turns are not part of the maneuver itself — they happen before it. Coach Jamie demonstrates them at normal cruise speed with no premature configuration changes. Slowing down before clearing turns defeats part of their purpose. You want to clear the area at the speed you are currently flying, then transition into the maneuver setup afterward.
The Pre-Maneuver Checklist
Before executing clearing turns Coach Jamie runs through a pre-maneuver checklist. This includes verifying the correct altitude, enriching the mixture if needed, and confirming all lights are on — including the Wigwag lights on the Cessna 172 used in this lesson. The goal is maximum visibility and full aircraft readiness before the maneuver begins. Running that checklist before clearing turns — not after — is the sequence a DPE will want to see on checkride day.
What Kat Learned: Putting It in Simple Terms
After completing her clearing turns student pilot Kat summarizes the purpose clearly. Before starting any maneuver that changes airspeed or direction, clearing turns confirm that the airspace ahead, to the sides, and behind the aircraft is clear of traffic. If an aircraft were following closely and you suddenly slowed into slow flight, that traffic would close the distance rapidly. Clearing turns give that traffic a heads up — and give you the situational awareness you need before reducing speed.
ACS Checkride Standards for Clearing Turns
The Airman Certification Standards do not define a rigid numerical standard for clearing turns the way they do for altitude or airspeed tolerances. What the ACS does require is that clearing turns are performed before beginning any maneuver, that they demonstrate meaningful traffic scanning, and that they reflect the see-and-avoid principle in a way that shows sound pilot judgment. A DPE will be watching not just that you do them — but how you do them and whether you understand why.
Clearing Turns Quick Reference
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Run pre-maneuver checklist | Confirm aircraft readiness before clearing |
| 2 | Raise wing if high-wing aircraft | Maximize visual scan coverage |
| 3 | Begin 90-degree left turn at cruise speed | Clear traffic behind and to the left |
| 4 | Pause and scan at 90-degree point | Confirm no traffic visible |
| 5 | Complete 90-degree right turn | Clear traffic to the right |
| 6 | Return to original heading | Confirm area is clear before maneuver |
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