The Pre-Maneuver Checklist Every Student Pilot Needs to Know

The Pre-Maneuver Checklist Every Student Pilot Needs to Know

By Jodie C. CFI. 

When you’re training for your private or commercial certificate, consistency and discipline matter just as much as stick-and-rudder skill. One of the most overlooked habits that separates confident, polished student pilots from struggling ones is a solid pre-maneuver checklist. Before every maneuver—steep turns, slow flight, stalls, ground reference maneuvers, anything—you should be mentally running the same flow every time.

Not only does this habit keep you safe and set you up for success in the airplane, but it’s also something examiners watch for very closely. Forgetting your pre-maneuver checklist can cost you major points on a stage check or even result in an unsatisfactory on your checkride. Thankfully, the checklist is simple, effective, and easy to remember with the acronym C.R.A.A.C.C.

Let’s break it down:

Why a Pre-Maneuver Checklist Matters

A pre-maneuver checklist ensures you’re performing every maneuver safely, legally, and to ACS standards. You’re confirming the area is clear, the airplane is stable, and you have all the parameters needed to perform the maneuver properly before you begin.

Skipping this step can lead to:

  • Poorly set-up maneuvers

  • Wide tolerances or altitude busts

  • Startling traffic conflicts

  • Examiner dissatisfaction

  • An avoidable checkride failure

Every maneuver goes smoother when you give yourself a moment to reset, stabilize, and prepare.

C.R.A.A.C.C — The Pre-Maneuver Checklist

1. C — Clearing Turns

Before any maneuver, you must ensure the area is clear of traffic. Performing two 90° turns or one 180° turn allows you to visually check for other aircraft and create predictable movement.

Why it matters:
Traffic avoidance is always priority #1. Examiners expect to see positive collision avoidance, and skipping clearing turns is an automatic red flag.

2. R — Reference

Every maneuver relies on a clear outside visual reference.

Depending on the maneuver, this may be:

  • A road

  • A section line

  • A mountain peak

  • A point on the horizon

  • A ground reference circle

Why it matters:
Reference points help you maintain orientation, control drift, and hold headings or bank angles accurately. Without one, you’re guessing—and examiners can tell.

3. A — Altitude

Set up your maneuver at the proper altitude required by your POH, instructor, or the ACS.

Examples:

  • Steep turns: typically 1500’ AGL or higher

  • Ground reference maneuvers: 600–1000’ AGL

  • Stall entry altitudes must ensure full recovery by at least 1,500' AGL (for training aircraft)

Why it matters:
Maneuvers are designed to be completed within a specific altitude envelope. Starting too high or too low sets you up to bust tolerances.

4. A — Airspeed

Set the correct airspeed. This usually means establishing cruise or maneuvering speed before beginning.

Examples:

  • Steep turns → entry at recommended maneuvering speed

  • Slow flight → begin from a stabilized cruise airspeed

  • Power-off stalls → start from a stabilized descent

Why it matters:
Improper airspeed is one of the top reasons students botch a maneuver early. Stable, trimmed airspeed gives you a consistent baseline.

5. C — Configure

Set the aircraft up as required:

  • Carb heat (if applicable)

  • Flap settings

  • Mixture adjustments

  • Fuel pump

  • Trim

  • Any configuration specific to the maneuver

Why it matters:
Configuration determines the airplane's performance and handling. Incorrect configuration = poor performance and examiner dissatisfaction.

6. C — Call

Verbalize your intentions.

This can include:

  • A quick radio call if you're in a practice area

  • A cockpit callout for situational awareness

  • Verbalizing “Maneuvering: clearing turns complete, altitude ___, airspeed ___, performing steep turn to the left”

Why it matters:
Calling your maneuver out loud reinforces that you’ve completed your checklist and shows professionalism, discipline, and situational awareness—exactly what examiners want.

How C.R.A.A.C.C Can Make or Break Your Checkride

Many students perform the airplane maneuvers well but lose points—or fail outright—because they skip the basics. The Checkride ACS standards put strong emphasis on:

  • Clearing the area

  • Proper setup

  • Maintaining situational awareness

  • Performing checklists and flows

If an examiner sees you dive into a maneuver without preparing, they may mark it as:

  • Failure to maintain safe flight

  • Improper checklist usage

  • Lack of situational awareness

  • Failure to clear the area

Any one of these can be an unsatisfactory.

C.R.A.A.C.C prevents that. It makes your setup smooth, consistent, and safe every single time. The examiner gets confidence in your airmanship—and you get a better, more stable maneuver every time.

Final Thoughts

Your pre-maneuver checklist is the foundation of consistent, safe, and ACS-standard flying. By committing C.R.A.A.C.C to memory and using it religiously, you’ll not only improve your maneuver performance but also greatly increase your chances of passing your stage checks and checkride on the first try.

If you want even more helpful study tools, guides, and pilot resources, check out NorthstarVFR.com—your source for the Pre-Tabbed FAR/AIM, study bundles, and everything you need to train with confidence.

By Jodie C. CFI. 

If you’re a student pilot looking for helpful study tools and flight gear, NorthstarVFR.com is a trusted resource designed with your training in mind. We offer carefully curated pilot supplies and study materials, including our popular Pre-Tabbed FAR/AIM, Oral Exam Guides, kneeboards, logbooks, and more. Everything is selected to help you stay organized, pass your checkrides, and fly with confidence. Check it out and set yourself up for success in the cockpit.

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