Landing tips

[BCTAv8r]

Any tips/tricks that could be useful to land? This is what I am having the biggest trouble with so far. Any reference points that can be used besides the runway number? Any tips for the flaring part?

[SRA_kbad]

Keep the rubber side down, and shiny side up

As far as reference points are concerned, it really depends on the r/w. I always pick a point just before where I want to touch down. Sometimes that point is in the dirt, or it might be the last arrow of the displaced threshhold. Its always different.

[surreal1221]

Use the 1000ft markers as your Touchdown point, then focus your aim point 200ft before them (Two center line markings. . .).

Keep your aim point on the same position on your windshield.

Make sure you actually round the airplane out from a descent into straight and level above the runway, and then begin your flare as airspeed bleeds off - trying to protect the nosewheel, and assist in even slowing the airplane down further before touchdown.

[jtsastre]

I tell my students to not look at the ground nearest to you, rather look towards the end of the opposite side of the runway. This will give a better perspective of where the ground is and a better picture for your landing. The ground nearest you is moving too fast to give an accurate picture of depth perception. Another good point is don't fly into the runway directly to the flare. Transition the descent into steps until you're ready to flare. This bleeds off the airspeed and puts the plane in a better attitude to transition to the flare. It's hard to put it in words, it's better to try to show someone while flying.

Jtsastre

[Chris_Ford]

Keep practicing!

Fly the right airspeed, line up on centerline. The "smoothness" will come after that. The first two things are more important.

[LoadMasterC141]

What are you flying?

[taseal]

Originally Posted by jtsastre

I tell my students to not look at the ground nearest to you, rather look towards the end of the opposite side of the runway.

Jtsastre

yeah, i do that, it helps.

[Kevin.Held]

I was having the exact same problem. I felt like I knew what needed to be done but I just couldn't apply it. I asked my instructor to do a landing while I observed and after that, I started nailing them (as good as a student can anyway). One thing I've picked up on is that when you are having difficulty with something, one day it just clicks.

Good Luck!!

[KC Jake]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

Any tips/tricks that could be useful to land? This is what I am having the biggest trouble with so far. Any reference points that can be used besides the runway number? Any tips for the flaring part?

Do it about 400 times.

[Swen]

While working towards my PPL I had problems with my landings. So I went up with another instructor, the owner actually, and let him know what I wanted to work on. He basically taught me a better configuration and approach. Prior to this, my final was never consistent in regards to altitude and airspeed.

Also, regarding the flare, a phrase that worked well for me was to a point, don't let the aircraft land. This helps you bleed off any excess airspeed, while also allowing you to very slowly let the mains come into contact with the runway.

[PGT]

I was told to shift focus down the runway just before the flare and just hold it off.....a few times I did add a tad bit of power after the flare (on a piper) and it always nets a smoother landing.

[blackhawks77]

Just look at the end of the runway and don't let it land. I had this problem too but I overcame it by always looking at the end of the runway and I tell myself "don't let it land".

[LoadMasterC141]

In a 172, I find that approach speed is critical. Too much cushion on the speed equals more float down the runway. So I focus carefully on my speed and flare by using the staring down the runway technique. Just keep pulling slowly back on the elevator..enough so that it arrests descent but does not start a climb. Let the plane land itself with a blissful whistle of the stall horn. If you are having issues with floating, try using less flaps. I almost never used full flaps in the 172.

In the short Hershey-Bar wing Piper arrow I am currently flying, approach speed is so much less of a factor. The plane has a nasty sink rate, but that is actually a plus for normal landings...scary if your engine goes out though! I fly the Arrow with power in all the way to the flare. Usually somewhere between 10 and 13 on the Manifold pressure. There is really no extra float if you are fast. Just pull the power and it drops!

[MidlifeFlyer]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

Any tips/tricks that could be useful to land? This is what I am having the biggest trouble with so far. Any reference points that can be used besides the runway number? Any tips for the flaring part?

See if there's something in one of my landing FAQs that strikes a note. Try this one first:

I'm having trouble with the flare. Any Advice?

[MikeOH58]

As everything, it will come in time with practice.

Best advice I could give you is to remain calm and dont stress over it. If you blow it up in your mind to be a task larger than it is than you are just going to psych yourself out. Tell yourself that you know how to fly this airplane, and you are going to land it.

A lot of people have a misconception that a small GA aircraft has to come in flared and nose high the whole way down, because thats all we see with commercial aircraft. I think thats a big reason people over flare and balloon up again.

Fly the airplane down the runway, and just let it settle. Once you are about 10 feet over the ground and power is idle, just keep the aircraft straight and level and let the airspeed bleed off. It will want to settle down on the the runway, and than all you have to do is SLIGHT back pressure to keep the nose wheel from touching.

As far as visuals, its best to keep your focus down the runway. Use your perephials (sp) to judge height, and keep your focus a thousand yards infront of you.

No one gets it right on the first try, so dont be discouraged. Just keep practicing, remember what you read on here, and what your instructor teaches you, and most importantly, dont psych yourself out.

goodluck.

[MikeOH58]

One more thing...As people above have mentioned, your approach speeds are going to have a lot to do with how you land. Learn what your speeds should be for entering the pattern, downwind, base, final and short final and use them. Trim will be your best friend.

[USMCmech]

One drill I used to do with my students was "slow flight down the runway".

Basicly do your normal pattern all the way to the flare. But, when you flare, ADD just a bit of power. Fly down the runway at 3-5' AGL at about aproach speed, then about midfield add some power and go around.

Repeat without power and you will have nice smooth landings.

[athomeinthesky]

Originally Posted by MikeOH58

dont psych yourself out.

If your having a lot of trouble and are getting frustrated I would suggest to your instructor that you take break from practicing landings non stop (if thats what he has you doing) for a day or two. Sometimes if your getting really frustrated with landings the more you try them the worse they get.

Try not to think about the process of landing so much, if you think about things so mechanically sometimes you mess up. Watch airspeed, set up properly, don't correct for wind too far out, closer to the runway eyes outside periodically checking airspeed, start using the rudder to make sure your lined up straight, when your over the runway look straight down the runway and start to slowly add back pressure. Remember the go around is your friend if its not going as planned. It also might be good if you went up with another instructor to see if he can give you any other advice.

[Soul Brotha']

Time. That is it. Everyone has given great advice about reference points and airspeed control. Listen to that, but remember this is new to you. One day it clicks.

[cfii2007]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

Any tips/tricks that could be useful to land? This is what I am having the biggest trouble with so far. Any reference points that can be used besides the runway number? Any tips for the flaring part?

Yeah....don't crash.

[mojo6911]

1. Hold recommended airspeed with pitch.
2. Level off as you get close to the runway.
3. Look down the runway and use your peripheral vision.
4. As you start to sink, slowly raise the nose, just to keep the airplane level.

Eventually, the airplane won't want to fly, and you keep increasing backpressure, and should land nosewheel up. Obviously, you want to get with your instructor so he/she can show you the proper distance above the runway to level off.

[ctab5060X]

Originally Posted by athomeinthesky

If your having a lot of trouble and are getting frustrated I would suggest to your instructor that you take break from practicing landings non stop (if thats what he has you doing) for a day or two. Sometimes if your getting really frustrated with landings the more you try them the worse they get.

Definitely take a break from doing non stop landings if you are at that stage. You will probably be amazed at the difference getting away from them does for you. My instructor would always get me away from the pattern if he saw my landings consistently deteriorating or if I was just trying too hard.

Originally Posted by Soul Brotha'

Time. That is it. Everyone has given great advice about reference points and airspeed control. Listen to that, but remember this is new to you. One day it clicks.

Sometimes all it takes is time. I got my private in a tailwheel aircraft and had the hardest time doing wheel landings. I tried and I tried... reference points, airspeed, consistent patterns, everything dead on... but I would bounce, skip, or porpoise all over the place...then one afternoon, the lightbulb went off over my head and it just 'clicked'...never had a problem with them after that.

[cfii2007]

Watch this video before you go up again.....your landings will never be the same again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJQVlVHsFF8

[HerkFCC]

I did my first landings ever this past summer in a 172 after my instructor showed me first. I got it down, almost perfectly the first time. This is what he told me;

We were out in the pattern coming out of base turning to final and he told me to start my decent towards the piano keys. Once above the piano keys try to establish a wingspan length above the piano keys while at the same time looking down to the other end of the runway. I forget which flaps I had in but I slowly bled off the power and let her settle, pulled back on the yoke and arrested the flare when it felt right(not too much and not too fast or she'll balloon - go 'round!), stall warning went off and a few seconds made the dogs bark..I was on the ground!

Did that 22 more times that day...by far the most exhilirating thing I have done so far..big fun.

Hope this helps, but this is just what worked for me.

[Murdoughnut]

Pull out a patch of hair down there each time you F up a landing - give it three flights and you'll be able to keep a glass of pinot up on the dash without losing a drop. You're welcome