Flight Training - April 2013 - 30

PICK A SPOT
Lights
max 200 feet
apart
1,000 feet

KNOWING THE distance of
various runway signs, lights,
and markings can help you
judge landing position and
performance.

Runway
aiming point
markings
Runway
touchdown
zone markings

500 feet

The gap
70-80 feet
Centerline stripe
120 feet

Threshold markings
Threshold

looking at the runway itself. Until we’re in
ground effect and flaring, we should continue to use whatever specific reference
point we selected. Once we’re in the flare,
we’re looking down the runway, trying to
gauge height and position.
There are several schools of thought as
to what we should be looking at during
the flare. Some say to fixate on the far end
of the runway. Some say to look several
hundred yards ahead. I favor looking a
hundred yards or so ahead (that’s about
two runway lights) and try to glance
at both sides of the runway, switching
focus from one side to the other. It gives
better depth perception and alignment
information.
As for the runway reference point
used—on final, use the numbers. Or the
threshold. Or a distinctive feature, such
as a dip or discoloration, if the runway
does not have normal markings. Whatever it is, we focus on that point during
the approach and, if necessary, adjust
power so that point appears to be neither
moving up the windshield (or appears
to be moving away from us), telling us
that we’re low, nor down the windshield
(appears to be coming toward us) and
we’re going over it. We want to keep it
stationary.
We will not land on that point. The
glidepath will be pointed at it, but we will
land beyond it when the flare and float
carry us down the runway.
30 /

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THE SLIP FOR FINE TUNING. The forward
slip is the best tool in a pilot’s toolbox for
landing on a predetermined spot on the
runway. And, no, slips are not dangerous
(assuming the POH doesn’t prohibit them
with flaps extended). Most landings benefit from a slight adjustment to glidepath,
and the slip provides that. It’s an efficient
altitude eraser and is perfect for correcting glidepaths that are slightly high.
PRECISION OVER THE THRESHOLD. The
speed and height over the threshold determine where the aircraft will touch down.
Almost regardless of the airplane type, if
we come over the threshold at a reasonable height (15 to 20 feet) and on speed
(not fast), we will always touch down 500
to 800 feet down the runway. So, we’ll be
down and rolling when we hit the 1,000foot markers. If we do that every time, we
can count on needing only slight braking to
turn off with no more than 1,500 to 1,800
feet of runway behind us. Most singleengine aircraft only need 500 to 750 feet
of ground roll, so the trick is to avoid being
too fast and floating down the runway.
ADVERSE YAW CHANGES WITH ANGLE
OF ATTACK. A good landing is one where
the airplane is traveling straight, with no
lateral drift, when it touches down. This
is difficult to do if we’re maneuvering in
ground effect with aileron only. Adverse
yaw increases as the airplane slows down—
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Flight Training - April 2013

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