### Introduction This is a big one! Now that you've learned to control your speed, altitude, and configuration in the pattern, the next step is learning to land. Landing well requires a lot of practice, and even the most experienced pilot takes pride in a landing that is gentle and smooth. Passengers clap for good reason! As you take on this challenge, remember to view the quality of your landings on a continuum. You'll achieve landings that are **safe** before landings that are **smooth**. Just work to make every landing as good as you can, and quality will improve over time. Crosswinds add an additional challenge. At first we'll learn "normal" landings, and in later lessons we'll learn some additional variations including short-field landings, soft-field landings, and no-flap landings. **Pre-Lesson Reading/Homework:** [[~ PPL Pre-Lesson Reading]] **Builds On:** [[PPL2.1 Slow Flight and Power-Off Stalls]], [[PPL3.1 Flying the Traffic Pattern and Go-Arounds]] **Schedule:** Ground 1.5 hr, Flight 1.5 hr Multiple flights to practice as necessary ### Lesson Elements 1. Goal of landing: Smoothly transfer weight from wings to wheels 2. Intro to determining landing performance and limitations ([[POH]] Chapter 5)^[Calculations completed in [[PPL4.4 Aircraft Performance and Weight+Balance|PPL4.4]]] 3. Other Safety Concerns: Awareness of traffic, obstructions, hazards, wake turbulence -- all factors which may require a go-around 1. Collision Avoidance 1. Clearing Procedures 1. Clearing Turns 2. Avoid descending into traffic patterns 3. Several more good suggestions in [[PHAK Ch14]] 2. [[Scanning for Traffic]] 1. 10° at a time 2. Key points in pattern 3. [[FAR 91.113 Right-of-Way Rules]] 4. [[Runway Incursion]] (covered in [[PPL1.5 Towered Airport Operations|PPL1.5]]) 5. Awareness of other operations, such as parachuting 2. [[Wake Turbulence]] from helicopters and heavy aircraft 3. [[Wind Shear]] avoidance 4. [[Gust Factor]] for final approach speed 4. Importance of Stabilized Approach to landing 1. [[Aiming point]] 2. ![[Runway Shape in Stabilized Approach.jpeg]] 3. [[White Over White, Red Over White, Red Over Red]] 5. In the Pattern 1. Downwind leg 1. Awareness of traffic 2. Power setting, configuration, airspeed for downwind 3. Complete pre-landing checklist ([[POH]], [[GUMPS]]) 4. Cross-wind correction if necessary 5. Downwind abeam-the-numbers, start descent (traffic permitting) 2. Base leg 1. Turn base at 45° to approach end of runway 2. Adjust configuration (flaps, speed, trim) 3. Evaluate altitude, distance, wind. Correct as necessary 3. Final approach 1. Coordinate turn to roll-out on runway centerline, establish cross-wind correction as needed ![[Crabbed Approach.jpeg]] 2. Set flaps, trim for final approach speed 3. [[Pitch for Airspeed, Power for Altitude]] (use [[VGSI|visual glideslope indicator]] if available). One hand on stick/yoke, other on throttle 4. Maintain runway centerline 5. Transition to sideslip^[Some pilots prefer to transition a couple hundred feet [[AGL]] to have more time establishing the correct bank angle.] ![[Sideslip Approach.jpeg]] 6. Fly to [[aiming point]] ![[Stabilized Approach.jpeg]] 7. > [!tip] Look at aiming point to judge approach 4. Roundout 1. Judge speed and altitude to short final 2. Use ailerons to maintain centerline, rudder to keep nose pointing down the runway, parallel to centerline (this is a [[Sideslip Approach.jpeg|Sideslip]]) 3. Use sideslip to avoid drifting on touchdown ![[Drifting on Touchdown.jpeg]] 4. Usually start flare about one wing-span above runway (entering [[Ground Effect]]) 1. [[Rod Machado]] has a helpful video on this called ["The Runway Expansion Effect"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JfoZERqM7Q) 5. Smooth power reduction and pitch increase to level off just above runway at idle power 6. ![[Well Executed Roundout.jpeg]] 7. Yoke should only ever come backwards. If brought back too quickly, just freeze the pitch where it is or go around. (Don't try to push the nose back down!) 8. > [!tip] Look at midpoint of runway to help roundout at correct altitude 9. > [!tip] Use peripheral vision to judge descent rate 5. Flare/Touchdown^[Great article breaking this down from [[AOPA]] here: [Landing With Flair](https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/june/flight-training-magazine/landing-with-flair)] 1. Fly level above the runway while increasing back pressure until reaching the landing attitude 2. After reaching landing attitude, let the runway come up to the airplane 3. Hold off with increasing back pressure to touch down in full-stall attitude 4. > [!tip] Look at end of runway to help fly level over runway 6. Rollout 1. Maintain centerline with rudder 2. Deflect ailerons into the wind, gradually increasing to full deflection at taxi speed 3. Gentle braking 4. This section feels more like flying than taxiing, since the rudder is still so effective 7. Taxi 1. Exit runway, completely beyond hold-short lines 2. Stop and complete after-landing checklist 3. Contact ground frequency (unless staying with tower) 6. Landing Issues to Avoid 1. Multiple bounces may be a sign of [[Porpoising.jpeg|Porpoising]], go-around and don't let this develop! 7. Common Errors 1. Getting "behind the airplane", missing radio calls, missing traffic, etc. 2. Forgetting checklists 3. Non-stabilized approach 4. Flaring too high or too low, bouncing, ballooning 5. Poor directional control or drifting off centerline 6. Excessive braking! > [!maneuver]- 3D Visualizer: Normal Landing > <iframe src="https://maneuvers.cfijack.com/?embed&m=normal-landing" width="100%" height="520" style="border:0;border-radius:12px"></iframe> > [!maneuver]- 3D Visualizer: Crosswind Landing > <iframe src="https://maneuvers.cfijack.com/?embed&m=crosswind-landing" width="100%" height="520" style="border:0;border-radius:12px"></iframe> ### Completion Standards Learner must become proficient at flying stabilized approaches to landing, with smooth control application and safe touchdown and rollout in first third of runway length, with proper control application relative to crosswind. > [!success]- Tolerances (Partial) from [[Private Pilot ACS|ACS]] > Land within 400' of specified point; parallel, on centerline, nose up, no drift ### Resources - [[Private Pilot ACS]] Section IV.B - [[AFM]]/[[POH]] ### Required Homework - [ ] Read [[FAA P-8740-40 Wind Shear]] - [ ] Steady progress on ground school ### Recommended Homework - [ ] Chair fly landings *Return to [[~ PPL Lesson Plan Outline|Table of Contents]]^*