Teaching and Learning Flying - Private Pilot, Single-Engine Airplane

Short-Field Approach and Landing

Short-field approach and landing is a maximum performance operation in which precise, positive control of rate of descent and airspeed produce an approach that will clear any obstacles, result in little or no floating during roundout, and permit the airplane to be stopped in the shortest possible distance

• How to determine landing performance and limitations
  • POH, Section 5, Landing Distance, Short Field, Table (TR182) or
  • Landing Ground Roll and Landing Distance Over 50-Foot Barrier Figures (Tomahawk)
  • Add a safety factor (50-100%)
• Barriers and other hazards which should be considered
  • Watch for other traffic
  • Scan area obstacles or barriers
    • Trees
    • Power lines
• Selection of touchdown and go-around points
  • Select a touchdown aim point that allows obstacle clearance and landing as close as safely possible past runway threshold
  • Choose certain points where continue approach or go-around decision will be made (eg.: 100 feet AGL, over obstacle, just before roundout)
• After touchdown: may be safest to leave flaps extended though flaps may be retracted for maximum brake effectiveness if necessary

• Private Pilot PTS, XI D
  • Explain elements, including airspeed, configuration, and related safety factors
  • Consider obstructions, landing surface, and wind conditions
  • Select a suitable touchdown point
  • Establish short-field approach and landing configuration, airspeed, and descent angle
  • Maintain control of descent rate and recommended airspeed, +/- 5 knots, along the extended runway centerline
  • Touch down at or within 200 feet beyond a specified point, with minimum float, no appreciable drift, and the airplane longitudinal axis aligned with the runway centerline
  • Maintain directional control during the after-landing roll
  • Apply braking and controls, as necessary, to stop in the shortest distance consistent with safety
• Commercial Pilot PTS, IX C, adds
  • Explain elements of maximum performance approach and landing
  • Maintain stabilized descent angle, precise control of descent rate, and recommended airspeed with gust correction applied, +/- 5 knots
  • Maintain precise ground track on final
  • Recognize and promptly correct deviations during approach and landing
  • Make smooth, timely, and precise control application during transition from approach to landing roundout (flare)
  • Touch down smoothly beyond and within 100 feet of a specified point, with no drift, and with the airplane's longitudinal axis aligned with the runway centerline
  • Apply smooth braking, as necessary, to stop in the shortest distance consistent with safety Complete the after-landing checklist in a timely manner

• To develop the student's knowledge and skill in planning and performing safe short-field approaches and landings to meet the appropriate practical test standards
• To develop the student's skill in achieving precise, positive control of rate of descent and airspeed to produce an approach that will clear any obstacles, result in little or no floating during roundout, and permit the airplane to be stopped in the shortest possible distance

• Discuss elements of the short-field approach and landing
• How to determine landing performance and limitations
• Demonstrate a short-field approach and landing
• Configuration and trim
  • Before-landing check
    Same as normal landing
  • TR182 short-field landing checklist
    1. 75+5 KIAS flaps up
    2. Flaps - FULL < 95 KIAS
    3. 66 KIAS
    4. Trim - adjust
    5. Power - reduce to IDLE as obstacle cleared
    6. Touchdown - main wheels first
    7. Brakes - heavy
    8. Flaps - retract for maximum brake effectiveness (if necessary)
    • Summary: full flaps, 66 KIAS approach, power off landing
  • Trim to relieve control pressures to maintain 66 KIAS (67 KIAS, Tomahawk) with full flaps
• Proper use of pitch and power to maintain desired approach angle
  • Final should generally be started from an altitude at least 500 feet above and close enough to touchdown so that approach is relatively steep
  • With gear and full flaps extended, simultaneously adjust power and pitch to establish and maintain proper descent angle and airspeed
  • Coordinated combination of pitch and power adjustments is usually required
  • If too high and descent angle too shallow, reduce power and lower pitch to increase rate of descent
  • If obstacle clearance uncertain (too low or descent angle too steep), increase power and raise pitch to decrease rate of descent
  • Avoid excessively slow airspeed
• Barriers and other hazards which should be considered
• Effect of wind
  • POH, Section 5, Landing Figures, Table:
    • Tomahawk: Wind component part of figures
    • TR182:
      • Decrease landing distance 10% for each 9 kts headwind
      • For tailwinds up to 10 kts, increase landing distance by 10% for each 2 kts
  • In gusty air, add no more than one-half the gust factor to final approach speed
• Selection of touchdown and go-around points
• A stabilized approach at the recommended airspeed to the selected touchdown point
  • Stabilized approach is key to accurate short-field spot landing
  • Make slight power and pitch changes to maintain airspeed and descent angle
• Coordination of flight controls
• A precise ground track
  • On final, ground track should be along extended runway centerline
  • In crosswind, use wing-low method of drift correction
• Timing, judgment, and control technique during roundout and touchdown
  • Final approach is steep and slow (closer to stall speed), so initiation of roundout must be judged accurately to avoid flying into the ground or stalling
  • Correct approach speed should result in proper touchdown with a minimum of floating
  • Touchdown should occur at minimum controllable airspeed at a pitch attitude that would produce a power-off stall
• Directional control after touchdown
  • After touchdown, hold nose up as long as elevators remain effective (aerodynamic braking)
  • Use rudder, then steerable nosewheel, for directional control
• Use of brakes
  • Aerodynamic braking first
  • Tomahawk POH:
    • Hold nosewheel off as long as possible.
    • Then gently lower nose and apply brakes.
    • For short-field landings, braking is most effective when flaps are raised and back pressure is applied to the control wheel, putting most of the weight on the main wheels.
  • When three wheels on runway, brakes should be applied evenly and firmly to minimize the landing roll
  • May be safest to leave flaps extended though flaps may be retracted for maximum brake effectiveness if necessary
• Use of checklist
  Repeat GUMP on final
• Coach student practice
• Critique student performance

• Improper use of landing performance data and limitations
  • POH, Section 5, Landing Distance Table and Figures
  • Add a safety factor
  • Do not attempt a landing beyond airplane or pilot capabilities
• Failure to establish approach and landing configuration at appropriate time or in proper sequence
  Use checklist
• Failure to establish and maintain a stabilized approach
  Make small changes to maintain airspeed and descent angle
• Improper technique in use of power, wing flaps, and trim
  • Power + pitch for airspeed and descent angle
  • Full flaps
  • Trim to relieve control pressures to stabilize approach
• Inappropriate removal of hand from throttle
• Improper technique during roundout and touchdown
  See Normal and Crosswind Approach and Landing Lesson Plan
• Poor directional control after touchdown
• Improper use of brakes

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