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Normal Approach and Landing

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Transition safely from air to ground.

Every takeoff requires a landing.

  1. Weight on wheels
  2. Touchdown energy
  3. Approach and glideslope
  4. Aiming point
  5. Power controls altitude, pitch controls airspeed
  6. Ground effect
  7. Flare: trade airspeed for altitude
  8. Rollout and braking
  9. Wind correction

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  • Traffic pattern diagram
  1. Pre-landing checklist (GUMPS)
  2. Abeam touchdown: 12" MP, 90 knots, 10° flaps
  3. Base: 20° flaps, 75 knots
  4. Final: 40° flaps, 70 knots, stable approach
  5. At 10–20' above runway: Flare, reduce power smoothly
  6. Watch runway end with peripheral vision, judge touchdown
  7. Touchdown: Hold elevator back pressure
  8. Apply brakes as needed, maintain centerline
  • Crosswinds
  • Windshear
  • Go-arounds
  • On centerline by 500'
  • Stabilized by 300'
  • Tailwinds
  • Steep bank angles
  • Overshooting
  • Stall/spin
  • Not correcting for wind drift
  • Undershooting or overshooting final
  • Steep banks in the pattern
  • Poor coordination
  • Stretching the glide
  • Excess airspeed in flare
  • Insufficient airspeed in flare
  • Flaring too early, too late, too fast, or too slow
  • Focusing too close during flare
  • Not using aerodynamic braking
  • Excessive wheel braking
  • Approach speed: +10/-5 knots
  • Touchdown: +400'/–0 ft (private)

References