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Exercise 12b — Lesson 13

Glide Approach and Landing

Practice the glide (power-off) approach and landing — essential for engine failure scenarios and precision flying.

HASELL-Type Awareness Check

Before commencing the glide approach exercise, complete an awareness check appropriate to the situation. In the traffic pattern, this takes the form of verifying:

  • Height — at normal pattern altitude
  • Airframe — configured for the downwind leg (clean or as appropriate)
  • Security — harnesses secure, loose items stowed
  • Engine — temperatures and pressures in the green, fuel on correct tank
  • Location — confirm the runway environment and traffic
  • Lookout — scan for other traffic, particularly on base and final

Glide Approach from the Pattern

The glide approach is initiated from the downwind leg, abeam the intended touchdown point (the numbers or a selected aiming point):

  1. Abeam the numbers: Apply carburetor heat HOT
  2. Close the throttle smoothly to idle
  3. Establish best glide speed — pitch for the correct attitude and trim
  4. Turn base when the runway is approximately 45 degrees behind the wing (judge by angle)
  5. On base: Assess your height relative to the runway — decide whether flap is needed
  6. Turn final: Align with the runway centerline and assess the approach angle

Key Concept

The base-to-final turn is your last major opportunity to adjust the flight path. If you are too high turning final, you have room to add flap. If you are too low, consider adding power and converting to a go-around.

Use of Flap to Adjust Descent Angle

On base and final, use flap incrementally to manage the descent profile:

Assessment Flap Action Effect
Too high Add one notch of flap Steeper descent, slower approach
Slightly high Hold current flap, reassess Monitor the approach angle
On profile Maintain configuration Continue to the flare
Too low Do not add flap — consider go-around Preserve what glide distance remains

After each flap change, re-trim for the new approach speed and allow the aircraft to stabilize before making further adjustments.

Note

Each aircraft type has a recommended approach speed for each flap setting. Refer to the POH for your aircraft. As a general rule, the approach speed decreases slightly with each increment of flap.

Flare and Touchdown

The flare technique for a glide approach is essentially the same as for a powered approach:

  1. Approaching the threshold: Confirm you are on speed and on profile
  2. At approximately 15-20 feet: Begin the round-out — smoothly raise the nose to reduce the descent rate
  3. Hold off: Continue to ease back on the control column as speed decreases — keep the aircraft flying just above the runway
  4. Touchdown: Main wheels contact the runway first in a slightly nose-up attitude
  5. After touchdown: Lower the nosewheel gently, apply braking as needed

Simulator Practice

Practice the glide approach repeatedly on the Aviator.NYC AATD. Vary the conditions — different wind strengths, different power-off points, and different flap configurations. The goal is to develop consistent judgment of the correct approach profile.

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These lesson plans are provided as supplementary training guidance only. They do not supersede FAA publications, aircraft manufacturer documentation, or your instructor's direction. Always refer to the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, Airplane Flying Handbook, AIM, and applicable POH/AFM as the official sources.