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Normal Approach and Landing

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Safely transition from the air to the ground.

Every takeoff requires a landing.

  1. Weight to wheels
  2. Touchdown, energy
  3. Approach, glideslope
  4. Aiming point
  5. Power = Altitude / Pitch = Airspeed
  6. Ground effect
  7. Flare, trading A/S for altitude
  8. Rollout and braking
  9. Wind

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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. 10-20' above runway: Flare, reduce power smoothly
  6. Watch runway end: Peripherals, judge touchdown
  7. Touchdown: Elevator back pressure
  8. Sufficient braking, centerline with feet
  • Crosswinds
  • Windshear
  • Go-arounds
  • On centerline by 500'
  • Stabilized by 300'
  • Tailwinds
  • Steep bank angles
  • Overshooting
  • Stall/spin
  • Not correcting for wind drift
  • Undershooting/overshooting final
  • Steep banks in the traffic pattern
  • Poor coordination
  • Stretching glide
  • Excess airspeed in flare
  • Insufficent airspeed in flare
  • Flaring to early, too late, too fast, too slow
  • Focusing too close in flare
  • No aerodynamic braking
  • Excessive wheel braking
  • Approach +10/-5 knots
  • Touchdown +400'/-0ft (private)

References