PLT305: Leading Edge Devices
What code PLT305 covers, why the FAA tests it, and how to study Leading Edge Devices before your checkride.
Recall leading edge devices - types / effect / purpose / operation
What this means for your checkride
Leading edge devices such as slots and slats change the airflow over the front of the wing so it can reach a higher angle of attack before stalling. They raise the maximum lift coefficient, which lowers stall speed and improves low-speed control for takeoff and landing.
High-lift devices change stall speed and handling, so the FAA tests what leading edge devices do and how they differ from trailing edge flaps.
Slots and slats do not simply add drag. They delay the stall by re-energizing the boundary layer, letting the wing fly at a higher angle of attack than it otherwise could.
Where to study it
A code on your test report is an area of deficiency. An authorized instructor must review it with you and endorse that review before you take the practical test, and the examiner may revisit it during the oral. Study it until you can explain it out loud, not just recognize the answer.