Technique: Heading home

You’ve flown five steep turns, 10 different stalls, and a smattering of slow flight and ground reference maneuvers. Your instructor signals that the lesson requirements are complete and says, “OK, time to go back.” Often we take a deep breath and relax, thinking the hard stuff is over. But preparing to enter the airport environment is an important skill that shouldn’t be overlooked. This is a guide on how to do it well.