Flaps and Approach

The Brakes of the Sky

Flaps change the shape of the wing. When you lower them, the wing makes more lift at slow speeds and also more drag — so you can fly slower and come down more steeply, which is perfect for landing.

Flaps

Panels on the back edge of the wings that swing down. Lowering them lets you fly slowly and descend at a steeper angle.

Flaps in stages

You add flaps a bit at a time: 10 degrees, then 20, then full 30. Each stage adds more drag and a steeper descent.

The white arc

A white band on the airspeed tape that shows the safe speed range for using flaps. Stay inside it when the flaps are down.

Think of flaps as the brakes of the sky. They don't stop you, but they add drag to slow you down and let you come down steeper — exactly what you want when you're lining up to land.

Instructor Setup

Cessna 172 with G1000, set up on a long, straight approach path at a safe altitude, slowed toward approach speed. Plan about 20 minutes. This slice covers flap stages and approach setup only — the actual touchdown is the next lesson.

Session Flow

1. Brief the flaps (3 min). Show the flap switch and the white arc on the airspeed tape. Explain adding flaps in stages.
2. Slow and add flaps 10 (4 min). Slow to about 90 knots, then add 10 degrees of flaps. Have the student notice the airplane slow and the nose change.
3. Flaps 20 (5 min). Add 20 degrees, coach a little back pressure as the nose drops, and settle into a steeper descent.
4. Full flaps and approach speed (6 min). Add full 30 degrees on final and hold about 65 knots. Talk through what a stable approach feels like.
5. Wrap (2 min). Recap the flap stages and the white arc, then preview the next lesson.

Reinforce checking the white arc before adding flaps. The goal is understanding each setting and flying a stable approach.

Debrief

Talk through how each flap stage changed the airplane.

• Added flaps in stages: 10, then 20, then full 30
• Felt the airplane slow down and descend more steeply with each stage
• Held about 65 knots on final approach
• Checked the white arc for the safe flap speed range
• Flew a stable, slow approach path

Next Lesson

Next up is "The Landing" (K18): flying a full visual approach and attempting your first landing, including the flare just before touchdown. Today's stable approach with full flaps is exactly the setup you'll use to land.

Skills You'll Work On

These are the maneuvers and procedures covered in this lesson. Your instructor tracks each one as you progress.

• Use of Flaps, Mixture, Carb Heat
• Descent & Leveling Off
• Approach Planning & Altimeter Setting

Grades reflect what was covered in this lesson, not a certification of pilot competency.

Lesson Plan

Where this fits: Second of three sessions drawn from PPL Lesson 6, "Descending." This slice covers flap stages and approach setup; K16 covered the basic controlled descent and K18 brings everything together for a landing attempt.

Prerequisite

K16 "Coming Down" — the student should be comfortable with a controlled descent.

Materials

C172 G1000 simulator, student checklist card.

Goal for this session

Student adds flaps in stages, respects the white arc, and flies a stable approach at about 65 knots.

Looking Ahead

• K18 — The Landing: flying a visual approach and attempting a landing.
• K19 — Flying Slow: exploring how the airplane handles at minimum speed (Stage 2).