PlasticPilot.net

Each time I fly with an instructor for the first time, I can tell in advance what he will say: “too slow in final turn, and landing left on center line”. These are two recurrent problems I have to fight against each time I fly. I don’t know exactly where it comes from, but I have some ideas…

The speed is probably because I learned to fly on a short runway, so too much speed on final was not good. My problem with centerline could have its roots in some fear to make corrections too close to ground.

I’m not trying to justify it, any deviation beyond the width of one wheel is too much. Even after 759 landings, I have to keep concentrated till the end each time if I don’t want it to end like on the pictures above.

Doing the same mistakes repeatedly result from flaws in my flying technique. I know the theory, I know how to correct and compensate, I simply need to apply all of it. These deviation are not major problem, but I continue to fight them. Why ? It would be so easy to simply think “not perfect but in the limits” and forget it.

Leaving such flaws develop and increase over time can lead to serious risks. Moreover approaching left of centerline when the wind comes from the right-hand side can end up in a runway excursion. Not exaclty fun. How to avoid it, improve, and finally solve these problems ? Two words: fly circuits !

I know flying circuits sounds boring - because it is boring. Do you think you will solve recurrent landing problems by flying cross-country ? No way. If flying circuits only is not motivating enough, consider a cross-country leg, and fly a couple of circuits at destination. Your passengers will be so excited about flying that they won’t mind the extra flight time.

If you don’t know why maintaining precise flying skills is important… well… why flying ?