The Landing

The Last Few Seconds

A good landing is really a good approach that keeps going. You arrive at the runway at the right speed, with full flaps, coming down steadily — then you trade that last bit of speed for a soft touchdown.

Stable approach

Arriving at the runway at the right speed (about 65 knots) and a steady descent, lined up with the centerline.

Aiming point

The spot near the start of the runway you fly toward — usually the painted numbers.

The flare

A gentle pull back on the yoke just before touchdown that slows the descent so the wheels kiss the runway softly.

Pilots have a special word for a perfectly soft landing: a "greaser." It's so smooth that the passengers don't even feel the wheels touch the ground. Don't worry if yours bounces a little at first — even airline pilots needed plenty of practice to make greasers!

Instructor Setup

Cessna 172 with G1000, positioned on final approach, full flaps, about 65 knots, lined up with the runway. Plan about 20 minutes. This slice is the approach, flare, and touchdown attempt — be ready to take the controls and assist on the flare.

Session Flow

1. Brief the landing (3 min). Walk through stable approach, aiming point, look-to-the-far-end, and the flare.
2. Fly the approach (5 min). Student holds 65 knots and the centerline, aiming for the numbers. Coach small corrections.
3. Teach the look (3 min). As the runway nears, have the student shift their eyes to the far end of the runway, not straight down.
4. The flare and touchdown (6 min). Guide a gentle pull back just before touchdown; assist as needed. Keep it straight with rudder after the wheels touch.
5. Repeat and wrap (3 min). Run another approach if time allows, then debrief.

Keep your hands close on the flare. The goal is a stable approach and a touchdown attempt, not a perfect greaser.

Debrief

Talk through the approach and how the flare felt — bounces and all are normal.

• Flew a stable approach at about 65 knots with full flaps
• Aimed for the runway numbers
• Looked at the far end of the runway near touchdown
• Attempted the flare with a gentle pull back
• Used rudder to keep the airplane straight after touchdown

Next Lesson

Next up is "Flying Slow" (K19), the start of Stage 2: exploring how the airplane handles when you fly at its slowest speeds. Everything you learned about approaches and flaps today connects directly to slow flight.

Skills You'll Work On

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

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

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

Lesson Plan

Where this fits: Third of three sessions drawn from PPL Lesson 6, "Descending," and the final lesson of Stage 1. This slice brings the approach together into a landing attempt; K16 covered the controlled descent and K17 covered flaps and approach setup.

Prerequisite

K17 "Flaps and Approach" — the student should fly a stable, slow approach with full flaps.

Materials

C172 G1000 simulator, student checklist card.

Goal for this session

Student flies a visual approach and attempts a landing with a guided flare and a straight rollout.

Looking Ahead

• K19 — Flying Slow: handling the airplane at minimum controllable airspeed (Stage 2).
• K20 — On the Edge: recognizing the buffet and stall warning.