Techniques for Nailing a Short Runway Touchdown
Short field landings, a crucial skill for pilots, involve performing a landing on a runway with an obstacle at the end. This article outlines the four key phases of a short field landing, as recommended by the FAA and reinforced by pilot training materials.
Approach to Landing
A successful short field landing begins with a stabilized approach. Fly a controlled descent, maintaining your airspeed precisely at or just above the recommended approach speed (usually the flaps landing speed). A wider traffic pattern than usual is recommended to give yourself extra time to configure the aircraft and stabilize the approach. Your goal is to be on the correct glide path and airspeed well before reaching the runway threshold.
Clearing the Obstacle
Maintaining a stabilized approach is crucial for safely clearing the obstacle at the runway threshold. Typically assumed to be about 50 feet tall or as observed, the climb or descent angle must be managed carefully to avoid floating or excessive descent rates. A steeper glide path may be necessary to clear the obstacle, ensuring you maintain control and sufficient airspeed to avoid stalling.
Touchdown
Aim to touch down at the exact intended spot on the runway—usually the very beginning—to maximize runway length for roll out. Precision is critical to avoid floating beyond the desired touchdown zone. Use pitch and power adjustments to flare smoothly and control the touchdown, ensuring the aircraft lands firmly and does not bounce or float down the runway.
Rollout
After touchdown, immediately deploy full aerodynamic drag devices (flaps) and apply maximum effective braking to minimize rollout distance. Keep the aircraft aligned on the centerline, using rudder and nosewheel steering. Use the entire length of available runway to stop well before the obstacle and runway end.
Throughout the maneuver, precise control of airspeed and descent angle is paramount to landing safely on a short runway with an obstacle at the end. Practice is key to avoiding common problems such as too much airspeed on final, excessive descent rate, an unstabilized approach, over-braking on rollout, and setting the nosewheel down hard.
For those seeking to improve their short field landing skills, the Boldmethod offers real-world flying tips and information directly to your inbox, every week. The Boldmethod online course, "Mastering Takeoffs and Landings", is also available for less than the cost of a flight lesson, offering lifetime access to tools that increase confidence and consistency in landings.
Remember, a stabilized approach is the foundation of a successful short field landing. Practice makes perfect, so fly, learn, and land safely!
[1] Airplane Flying Handbook [2] FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge [5] AOPA Air Safety Institute - Short Field Landings
- The first phase of a short field landing, as recommended by the FAA, is a stabilized approach, where pilots keep their airspeed precisely at or just above the recommended approach speed and fly a controlled descent.
- A wider traffic pattern is recommended during a short field landing to give pilots extra time to configure the aircraft and stabilize the approach, aiming to be on the correct glide path and airspeed well before reaching the runway threshold.
- Maintaining a stabilized approach is crucial for safely clearing the obstacle at the runway threshold, and pilots must manage the climb or descent angle carefully to avoid floating or excessive descent rates.
- Upon touchdown, pilots should aim to touch down at the exact intended spot on the runway, usually the very beginning, to maximize runway length for rollout.
- After touchdown, pilots should immediately deploy full aerodynamic drag devices (flaps) and apply maximum effective braking to minimize rollout distance, while keeping the aircraft aligned on the centerline.
- Precise control of airspeed and descent angle is paramount during a short field landing to avoid common problems such as too much airspeed on final, excessive descent rate, an unstabilized approach, over-braking on rollout, and setting the nosewheel down hard.
- For those seeking to improve their short field landing skills, the Boldmethod offers real-world flying tips and information directly to their inbox, and their online course "Mastering Takeoffs and Landings" is available for less than the cost of a flight lesson.
- The airplane industry emphasizes the importance of practice for short field landings, as it is a crucial skill for pilots to perform a landing on a runway with an obstacle at the end safely, with the assistance of materials like the Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, and AOPA Air Safety Institute - Short Field Landings.
