CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 3, Issue 1 - 4

CFI tools

The runway-alignment reﬂex
BY ROD MACHADO
IF YOU'RE USING a ﬂight simulator for student training, you have a powerful tool for teaching what I call the runwayalignment reﬂex. One of the challenges students face involves keeping the airplane properly aligned with the runway during landing. The difﬁculty begins when one wing lifts,

Here’s how to develop a student’s runway-alignment reﬂex. Preset the simulator to be at 500 feet on ﬁnal at approximately three-quarters to one mile from the runway threshold, at approach speed with power set to ﬂight idle. Activate the wind-gust feature to its maximum level, but initially keep the wind aligned with the runway and STUDENTS TYPICALLY APPLY AILERON save these setTO LEVEL THE WINGS BUT OFTEN FAIL tings. Push the button and let TO COMPENSATE FOR ADVERSE YAW the student ﬂy BY USE OF THE RUDDER. the approach to either because of a gust or a student’s inatﬂare height. Then, reset the sim and let tention. Students typically apply aileron to the student practice once again. level the wings but often fail to compenThe student’s objective is to keep the sate for adverse yaw by use of the rudder. nose perfectly aligned with the runway With even light wind gusts on ﬁnal, the through the coordinated use of aileron airplane often ends up ﬂying a serpentine and rudder. If one wing banks, then the rather than a stable approach to the runstudent should use aileron to level the way. If they can’t get the runway picture wings and rudder pressure to keep the stabilized in their windscreens, it should airplane nose straight during the roll. come as no surprise that students have difAll the while the student is maintainﬁculty correctly gauging their height above ing the necessary nose-down attitude the runway for the landing ﬂare. required to maintain the targeted

power-off approach speed. Repeat this training until the student can keep the nose aligned with the runway and the attitude adjusted to maintain approach speed. Unfortunately, the runway-alignment reﬂex often develops as a result of learning to land instead of being a prerequisite for landing practice. Students typically don’t develop this reﬂex in the ﬁrst few hours of basic training in the practice area because they don’t have a relatively close ﬁxed reference (i.e., the runway that expands in their windscreen) by which to measure heading deviation. The simulator is the perfect tool for developing this behavior. Add this technique to your instructor tool kit and help your students learn to land by developing their runwayalignment reﬂex. Rod Machado is a ﬂight instructor, author, educator, and speaker. He has been a pilot since 1970 and a CFI since 1973. Visit his website (www.rodmachado.com).

ASI online

Real Pilot Story: Engine Failure in IMC
the missed approach at Montgomery County Airport in Gaithersburg, Maryland, his Cessna 172 began to shake horribly while the engine started losing power. Engine Failure in IMC, ASI’s latest Real Pilot Story re-enactment, puts you in the co-pilot’s seat to experience Schapiro’s harrowing search for a landing spot before his wounded aircraft could shake itself to pieces. You’ll hear Schapiro’s communications with ATC, and witness the difﬁcult decision-making process that evolved during those precious moments to get the airplane on the ground safely. Schapiro shares lessons learned about the signiﬁcance of declaring an emergency and the importance of clear communication to get the help you need from ATC. A CFII in helicopters and a ﬁxed-wing instrument-rated private pilot, he hopes you’ll heed his advice should you ever encounter a similar emergency. Don’t wait; watch the video now (www.airsafety institute.org/rpsenginefailureIMC). —Machteld Smith

IT WAS A GOOD DAY to practice instrument approaches in actual instrument meteorological conditions. But, as pilot Robert Schapiro ﬂew

4 | www.airsafetyinstitute.org

http://www.rodmachado.com http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/rpsenginefailureIMC http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/rpsenginefailureIMC http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org

CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 3, Issue 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 3, Issue 1