STABILIZED APPROACH AND LANDING

(The FAA GA Joint Steering Committee Safety Enhancement Topic of the Month)

Focusing on establishing and maintaining a stabilized approach and landing is a great way to avoid experiencing a loss of control. A stabilized approach is one in which the pilot establishes and maintains a constant angle glide-path towards a predetermined point on the landing runway. It is based on the pilot’s judgment of certain visual clues, and depends on the maintenance of a constant final descent airspeed and configuration.

One area where airmen seem to be experiencing loss of control is while flying in the pattern. This can be exacerbated by the effect of wind during the turn from base to final. Pilots tend to over shoot the extended centre-line and increase bank to realign with the runway. This bank is combined with increased back pressure which is needed to maintain the desired descent rate. The increased bank and back pressure can put the airplane dangerously close to exceeding the critical angle of attack. To prevent this there are a few things we can do.

•          Create your own personalised guidelines for a stabilised approach based on your skill and your aircraft (i.e. approach speeds, wind limits, a predetermined point to be stabilised on final).
•          Take care to note the winds around the airport and consider how they will affect your pattern and approach.
•      Try to get the aircraft properly configured for landing as early in the approach as practical.
•             Try to focus on making only small corrections to get on and stay on finals.
•         Set a point on the approach by which time you should be at a predetermined speed and altitude.
•    If something’s not right, at any time, GO AROUND! There’s no shame in going back up to take another shot at it.

FLY SAFE!