Landing Obsession

Landings, the bane of the private pilots existence and the point in time where every commercial flight receives a seal of approval, or not, from the passengers. It's the single maneuver that can magically erase a prior ruined hold or botched approach from students memory. It's the icing on the cake to every flight and something that any, and most pilots, will boast too

So what makes a good landing? Or better yet, what characteristics through out a landing lead to a "greaser"? I'm not admitting to being the brightest crayon in the box, but it's been my experience that there's always a few traits that stand out before I see a student put the airplane down like a champ

First, they require flexibility. The pilot needs to be able to adapt to any and all changing conditions with fluid control inputs as to always maintain a "stable approach". This should never be in question

Second, center line. It's there for a reason. Although I believe the statistics say only 9% of pilots can maintain within six inches of center line on a consistent basis, you should always be close. I tell students to "keep the center line between their legs". Besides, if your not using center line how are you, in any way, effectively using rudder? Hopefully your not looking at the ball still, yikes!

Third, dissipation of energy. I tell everyone to think of a landing as a controlled stall, because it is. A superior landing is going to require the pilot manage every bit of energy leading to ground effect. Too much leads to the "roller coaster", as I like to call it. Hands raised as you ride the waves of a ballooning airplane. And the opposite leads to a nice and sturdy touchdown where you all crawl out of the plane with chipped teeth and sore tailbones

Lastly, finishing the landing. It seems that when those mains touchdown somewhere in the vicinity of center line, a sigh of relief overcomes most pilots who then immediately let go of the controls. Your not done! Hold that nose wheel off until your completely out of elevator authority and let the nose wheel touchdown ON IT'S OWN

Let's be honest, at the end of the day a good landing is any that you walk away from and, as the owner of a flight school, one that the plane gets to fly again after. I remember in my grandpa's bathroom a plaque that said "...flying is the second greatest thrill known to man, landing is the first". Maybe it is, and maybe that's why we'll continue to be intrigued by such