I'm a young pilot just learning to land and doing many touch & goes.?

Question

When I'm about 2 meters off the ground, how do I know that I'm low enough to pull back on the stick to "stall" at the safe touch down height?

Answer 1

Actually, YOU don't land the aircraft-----it does it all by itself! For the aircraft to land, the speed must reduce to stall speed for the configuration that you are in (flaps, attitude, etc). Stay in your glide until you are very near the ground. Slowly reduce power and keep your hand on the throttle. Power should be at idle now. Then, keep reducing speed by increasing pitch (pulling back on the yoke) verrrrrrryyy slowwwwwly. Not enough to cause the aircraft to flare or climb but enough to slowwly reduce speed. Try your best to keep the airplane flying just off the ground----don't let it land---keep pulling on that yoke, sloooowwwwly, don't let it touch the ground, keeep pullling------keep pulling--- try to keep it in the air---keeep pulling ------keep pullll---------OOPs, you just landed. Do you get the idea, Slow the bird down and it will land itself. You can't force one on the ground. You are trying to run out of flying speed and altitude all at the same time. Starting your landing 'pull' or flare at 2 meters altitude should not be a problem. How do you know if you are low enough? Just glance out the side window down at the runway. If you are having trouble with this, ask your instructor to spend a little more time with you in this area. I'm sure he/she will be glad to do so. Hope this helps. Happy Flying. (Disclaimer---I am not a flight instructor and nobody should try this without permission from their flight instructor)

Answer 2

Don't worry, you are not alone, believe me- I battled with the exact problem when I was a student pilot. But with time, it came right.

All pilots fly differently,a nd by no means am I saying I'm an expert, but this is what I would suggest:

Just keep practicing, and you will get the height right. It's important to use peripheral vision , and not to focus directly ahead only- "look" at objects near the runway like bushes, etc or the windsock to judge your height.
If you flare a little high, and your aircraft is approaching a stall, use your vision to judge sink rate, and add a slight bit of power to arrest the sink.
Another thing to get nailed is your speed- it solves many problems-a good approach leads to a good (or at least a half decent) landing

And remember, you are a student pilot- you are learning!! So don't worry if you take time to land properly, it's all part of it. Ask your instructor for help and advice too- that is what they are there for!

Good luck, and remember: Every take-off is optional, but every landing is compulsory :)

Answer 3

Almost everyone goes through this landing issue of flare height - learning to land - issue in training.
1) The height judgement over the runway It comes with practice----tons of practice---and looking down the runway.

2) Patience and judgement in the flare. subtle adjustments , pulling back steady and gentle at stall speed....and feeling the bottom fall out. If you are too high, you will feel the sinking feeling and get the bounce. Your instructor will not let you hurt yourself or the plane. In fact most planes are far tougher than you think.

3)Did I mention practice. This is truly the key. Do not fret...it will come along sooner or later. The more you beat up on yourself the longer it will take.

4) pratice landings......lots of them.......

5) Practice some more landings.

6) if still and issue join the navy...they do not care if you slam the plane onto the deck and give you a wire to stop you out of the good of their hearts....controlled crash at it's best.

Answer 4

I think the real key to solving this little problem is changing your focal point. As you are coming in to land, you are focusing on your touch down spot on the runway. When you are getting to your flare, you need to shift your focal point to the far end of the runway. If you continue to focus short range you will not be able to judge your hight and will blow your flare.

Greasing a landing is one of the more technically challenging elements of flying. Like others have said, practice is the key. Pay attention to where you are looking throughout the landing and this may help you a bit.

Answer 5

2 meters will not show on your altimeter and in case you have already touched 2 meters, it is just the question of stalling it there and then. a 2 mt bump will not even register as a big bump!

I am assuming that you are flying a cessna or equivalent small aircraft. You already know the answer as your instructed must have told you to develop that instinct!!

As it is not possible to get a clear visual of the ground owing to the uplifted chin of the aircraft, you will just have to use visual cues.

Answer 6

i fly a piper. its all by instinct. are u saying that when u land u are stalling so u hit the ground.....thats stange. all u need to do is cut back on the engine and glide in. dont stall...and two meters is a big stall hight.

Answer 7

Follow your instinct and you will manage.... don`t look staight ahead only. you must look a little in the left side (about 15 degrees)... to see the ground comming.
the right altitude to stall is about 0.5 m at most.
FEEL THE AIRPLANE....and remember: Practice makes perfect!

Answer 8

Here's my idea:
Just as you take off, glance outside to the left a bit and you will see the runway & your airplane exactly as they should appear just as you touch down when landing.

......and keep practicing.......