By Tom Turner

Each of the FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS) for a certificate or rating provide precise performance requirements for successful completion of the practical test—the checkride. The PTS for the Commercial Pilot-Airplane certificate include a number of maneuvers unique to this pilot certificate: Chandelles, Lazy Eights, Eights on Pylons, Steep Spirals and Power-off 180-degree Accuracy Approach and Landings. Collectively these are often called "the commercial maneuvers."

It’s easy to see these "commercial maneuvers" as a bunch of tricks—a series of hoops to jump through to earn the Commercial certificate. If you take the time, however, to consider what skills are necessary to fly each maneuver to its prescribed standard, you’ll find that…