Short field Landing procedure
Objectives
- Land an aircraft safely on short runway.
- With and without an obstacle on the descent path.
Why?
- To prevent landing accident.
- Many airports require this technique.
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Review questions
- What are the five legs of the traffic pattern?
- What are the advantage of Flap extension during landings ?
- How do you control your airspeed on the approach?
Short field landing: Basic theory
- A short field landing is necessary when you have a relatively short landing area or when an approach must be made over obstacles which limit the available landing area.
- The short-field approach and landing can be seen as an accuracy approach to a spot landing.
- Touch down at the slowest possible speed with a touchdown point as close to the threshold as possible.
Short field landing without obstacle: procedure
The circuit for a short field landing is the same as the normal landing up to the final approach.
- Control the descent with power.
- Maintain the recommended approach speed (add speed if turbulence)
- Extend the remaining flaps (check POH)
- When you start to flare: reduce power to idle and touchdown in a full stall condition.
- Touchdown with minimum floating, on main wheels first and nose wheel off with back elevator pressure.
- When you roll: Gently lower the nose, retract flaps and brake heavily.
Short field landing with obstacle: procedure
- Steeper approach angle.
- Reduce power.
- Full flaps (check POH)
- Maintain a constant descent path over the obstacle.
- After clearing the obstacle adjust the pitch for airpseed.
- When you flare reduce power to idle.
- Touchdown in a full stall condition, with minimum floating, main wheel first.
- In roll, gently lower the nose, retract flaps and brake heavily.
Review questions
- How do you control your airspeed on the approach?
- What is the purpose of extending full flaps when executing a short-field approach?
- What can occur if you maintain an excessive airspeed during a short field landing?
- Why do we apply full back pressure when breaking (short field landing)?
