landings (off topic)

[Lee Elson]

Sorry for the off topic question, but I suspect there are quite a few
of you that could help me:

I'm looking for good techniques for teaching student pilots how to
handle the final phase of landing. In particular how to get students
to recognize when the airplane (a Cessna 152 or 172) is sinking or
rising during the flare, then take appropriate action with pitch and
possibly power. I find that it is really hard to get them to
anticipate the loss of lift and control effectiveness that occurs as
the airspeed decreases. I don't know whether they don't recognize the
sink or just can't translate the recognition into action. I've tried
things like having them look out the side of the airplane and giving
"auditory" feedback. Not much seems to speed the learning process.

So my question to instructors and instructees is: are there any
special exercises that you are aware of that can help in this
recognition process?

[David Megginson]

Lee Elson wrote:

> So my question to instructors and instructees is: are there any
> special exercises that you are aware of that can help in this
> recognition process?

Have you tried using a grease pencil on the plexiglass?


All the best,


David

[Wizard of Draws]

On 5/10/04 7:07 PM, in article
, "Lee Elson"
> wrote:

>
> So my question to instructors and instructees is: are there any
> special exercises that you are aware of that can help in this
> recognition process?

I've always found that when the quality of my landings begin to deteriorate,
it's because I'm not looking all the way down the runway.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
www.wizardofdraws.com
www.cartoonclipart.com

[Greg Esres]

<<I don't know whether they don't recognize the
sink or just can't translate the recognition into action. >>

Thoughts:

1) A good demo on your part every 5 landings or so.

2) Power off stalls at least teaches the muscles the right motion.
Point out the similarity.

3) Fly down the runway a foot or so off the ground with power to
teach them where the ground is. OK if the mains touch occasionally.

[EDR]

peripheral vision

[Bob Webster]

Lee Elson wrote:
> Sorry for the off topic question, but I suspect there are quite a few
> of you that could help me:
>
> I'm looking for good techniques for teaching student pilots how to
> handle the final phase of landing. In particular how to get students
> to recognize when the airplane (a Cessna 152 or 172) is sinking or
> rising during the flare, then take appropriate action with pitch and
> possibly power. I find that it is really hard to get them to
> anticipate the loss of lift and control effectiveness that occurs as
> the airspeed decreases. I don't know whether they don't recognize the
> sink or just can't translate the recognition into action. I've tried
> things like having them look out the side of the airplane and giving
> "auditory" feedback. Not much seems to speed the learning process.
>
> So my question to instructors and instructees is: are there any
> special exercises that you are aware of that can help in this
> recognition process?

For me, a good landing is like a tennis serve -- it comes and goes. But
the final phase of landing is inevitably easier if you're where you
ought to be at the speed you ought to be when you're 400 feet high
(higher in a heavier plane.)

[Richard Kaplan]

"Lee Elson" > wrote in message
om...

> I'm looking for good techniques for teaching student pilots how to
> handle the final phase of landing. In particular how to get students

Fly down the length of the runway 1 foot off the ground with you at the
controls and with the student simply observing.

Then have the student do the same thing with the student at the controls.

A helpful aid to this is to cover up the airspeed indicator; I find this is
very helpful in teaching landings because many pilots fixate on airspeed
rather than attitude in the flare. Once the AI is covered up, the student
has no choice but to focus on airplane attitude and not be distracted by the
gauges and that often makes all the difference.


--------------------
Richard Kaplan, CFII

www.flyimc.com

[C J Campbell]

You must teach them to look at the far end of the runway.