Basic Aircraft Landing

Note:

We start with the presumption that the environment requires normal landing procedures.  This procedure is executed just after the turn from base leg to final leg.

Note:

You need to avoid “low and/or slow” configurations.

Note:

If the outcome of the landing is at any time unsure, immediately execute the Balked Landing Procedure (Go-Around).

1.

After your shallow bank turn from base to final, immediately assess your position with respect to correct altitude & descent and your position over the extended centerline.

Note:

You need to be able to judge your descent profile from both an aid (e.g. VASI) and the visual appearance of the runway threshold.

2.

Pitch for 65 knots and correct any deviations from optimal descent profile & flight over the extended centerline.

Note:

Remember that if the wind is gusting, add 50% of the gust factor to your approach speed.

3.

Bring flaps to 30^o deployment when if appropriate.  Crab into the wind if appropriate.

Note:

If the wind is gusting, you may want to land with only 20^o of flaps.

4.

Continually cross check airspeed, deviation from the extended centerline and descent profile.

Correct airspeed with pitch (Elevator)

Correct deviation from correct descent profile with power (Throttle)

Correct deviation from the extended centerline with simultaneous Ailerons and Rudder (Coordinated turns)

Note:

If you are correctly controlling the aircraft on the final leg, all corrections will be very small in magnitude.  If you need large corrections, you have let the aircraft get out of hand.  In other words, you’ve done a poor job of controlling the aircraft.

5.

Flare and land as described in “Flying the Pattern”