Short Field Landing Teaching Outline!

Developed By: !
Ricardo Marmol & Francisco Symonds, CFI Applicants!

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Why:The short-field landing technique should be used to land at an airfield

which has a short runway, or a small landing ground, or where the approach to
land must be made over significant obstacles.!

Explanation: Short-field approaches and landings require the use of

procedures for approaches and landings at fields with a relatively short landing
area or where an approach is made over obstacles that limit the available
landing area.!

Objectives: The student should develop knowledge of the elements related to

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a short-field approach and landing. The student will understand the procedures
involved and will have the ability to properly execute them as prescribed in the
necessary PTS.!

Key Elements:!
A. Precision!

To land within a short-field or a confined area, the pilot must have

precise, positive control of the rate of descent and airspeed to
produce an approach that will clear any obstacles, result in little or
no floating during the roundout, and permit the airplane to be
stopped in the shortest possible distance.!
A coordinated combination of both pitch and power adjustments is
required during the approach!

B. Approach!

A stabilized approach is essential!

These procedures generally involve the use of full flaps, and the
final approach started from an altitude of at least 500 feet higher
than the touchdown area.!
A wider than normal pattern should be used so that the airplane can
be properly configured and trimmed!
In the absence of the manufacturers recommended approach
speed, a speed of not more than 1.3 VSO should be used!
After flaps have been extended, the pilot should simultaneously
adjust the power and the pitch attitude to establish and maintain the
proper descent angle and airspeed!

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C. Touchdown!
Touchdown should occur at the minimum controllable airspeed with
the airplane in approximately the pitch attitude that will result in a
power-off stall when the throttle is closed.!
Upon touchdown, the airplane should be held in this positive pitch
attitude as long as the elevators remain effective. This will provide
aerodynamic braking to assist in deceleration.!
The airplane should be stopped within the shortest possible
distance consistent with safety and controllability.!

D. Procedure: !
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1.!

Carb On On Downwind !

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Carb Off !

3.!

Flaps Full !

4.!

Airspeed 60 knots IAS !

5.!

Power Gradually reduce to idle during flare !

6.!

Touchdown On main wheels !

7.!

After touchdown Lower main wheels to runway !

8.!

Flaps Retract !
*Have students determine obstacle clearance by actual outside
reference to nearby obstacles, NOT by reference to the altimeter. !

9.!

Brake Apply full back elevator while braking

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 PTS requirements Private Pilot: !

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1. Exhibits satisfactory knowledge of the elements related to a short-field

(confined area ASES) approach and landing.!
2. Adequately surveys the intended landing area (ASES).!
3. Considers the wind conditions, landing surface,!
obstructions, and selects the most suitable touchdown!
point.!
4. Establishes the recommended approach and landing!
configuration and airspeed; adjusts pitch attitude and power!
as required.!
5. Maintains a stabilized approach and recommended!
approach airspeed, or in its absence not more than 1.3 VSO,!
+10/-5 knots, with wind gust factor applied.!
6. Makes smooth, timely, and correct control application!
during the round out and touchdown.!
7. Selects the proper landing path, contacts the water at the!
minimum safe airspeed with the proper pitch attitude for the!
surface conditions (ASES).!
8. Touches down smoothly at minimum control airspeed!
(ASEL).!
9. Touches down within the available runway or water landing!
area, at or within 200 feet beyond a specified point, with no side drift,
minimum float, and with the airplanes longitudinal axis aligned with and
over the runway center/landing path.!
10. Maintains crosswind correction and directional control throughout the
approach and landing sequence.!
11. Applies brakes (ASEL), or elevator control (ASES), as necessary, to
stop in the shortest distance consistent with safety.!
12. Utilizes after landing runway incursion avoidance procedures.!
13. Completes appropriate checklist.!

 PTS requirements Commercial Pilot:!

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1. Exhibits satisfactory knowledge of the elements related to a short-field

(confined area ASES) approach and landing.!
2. Adequately surveys the intended landing area (ASES).!
3. Considers the wind conditions, landing surface, obstructions, and
selects the most suitable touchdown!
point.!
4. Establishes the recommended approach and landing!
configuration and airspeed; adjusts pitch attitude and!
power.!
5. Maintains a stabilized approach and recommended!
approach airspeed, or in its absence, not more than 1.3!
VSO, 5 knots, with wind gust factor applied.!
6. Makes smooth, timely, and correct control application!
during the round out and touchdown.!
7. Selects the proper landing path, contacts the water at the!
minimum safe airspeed with the proper pitch attitude for the!
surface conditions (ASES).!
8. Touches down smoothly at minimum control airspeed!
(ASEL).!
9. Touches down within the available runway or water landing!
area, at or within 100 feet beyond a specified point, with no side drift,
minimum float, and with the airplanes longitudinal axis aligned with and
over the runway center/landing path.!
10. Maintains crosswind correction and directional control throughout the
approach and landing sequence.!
11. Applies brakes (ASEL), or elevator control (ASES), as necessary, to
stop in the shortest distance consistent with safety.!
12. Utilizes after landing runway incursion avoidance procedures.!
13. Completes appropriate checklist.!

 Common Errors:!

Failure to allow enough room on final to set up the approach, necessitating

an overly steep approach and high sink rate.!

Unstabilized approach.!
Undue delay in initiating glidepath corrections.!
Too low an airspeed on final resulting in inability to flare properly and landing
hard.!
Too high an airspeed resulting in floating on roundout.!
Prematurely reducing power to idle on roundout resulting in hard landing.!
Touchdown with excessive airspeed.!
Excessive and/or unnecessary braking after touchdown.!
Failure to maintain directional control.