Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

When learning how to land a Piper Seminole, it is crucial to understand the role of each engine in the approach and landing phases. Pilots must be proficient in managing engine power, especially during the approach, where power settings and speed management are critical to a smooth and safe landing.

Descent

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Understanding Crosswind Components Mastering the crosswind landing technique starts with understanding what a crosswind is and how it affects your aircraft during approach and landing. For example, if the wind is blowing directly from the side at 15 knots, the entire 15 knots acts as a crosswind.

Crosswind

Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

We often hear that the key to a great landing is an equally great approach. And lets face it, the key to that flawless approach is often a well-planned descent. The en route instrument approaches, traffic patterns, and terrain are all new. When should we review the approach (IFR) or airport diagram (VFR)?

Descent

Flying Magazine

MAY 17, 2025

Flight Planning A pilot encountered 32-35 knot headwinds at cruise. On final approach, the tower told him to go around. The result was an uneventful approach and landing. Leaks Approaching his destination, the multiengine pilot switched tanks from the auxiliary to the main tanks. The tower told him to go around.

Pilot

Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

The ice finally disappeared altogether as we descended into clear skies and above freezing air on our approach to Kirksville. The general prognosis indicated no icing in the clouds, no turbulence and a quartering headwind from the west resulting in a mere five knots of headwind component. How can this be?

VOR

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 11, 2025

The alert will only sound once every 60 seconds and is automatically disabled if groundspeed is less than 40 knots. Runway Final Approach Alert – Alerts when approaching any runway, based on altitude, vertical speed, track, and when within 4 nm of the runway threshold. AGL after having been above 1,000 ft.

AGL

Fear of Landing

JUNE 27, 2025

They said that they had looked left and right before entering but did not see the Boeing 738 on final approach. The flight crew reduced thrust from 64% to 43% N1 after encountering wind gusts, but the descent rate increased dramatically in the final seconds. The EGPWS “sink rate” warning sounded 2.6

Descent

Air Facts

APRIL 9, 2025

Weve all seen itnow imagine it on short final with Starlink. Its easy to imagine reading the NTSB report about an influencer on YouTube or Instagram who crashed while livestreaming on final approach (Can I land in a 40-knot crosswind? Ride along and find out!). Kids these days, right?

Weather

Fear of Landing

FEBRUARY 21, 2025

Whether or not there were issues with CRM or in the approach, there is no evidence at this time that either pilot had struggled through their training or were anything less than qualified for their positions. The cockpit recordings during the final approach and the flight data on impact are sure to be of particular interest.

Runway

Flying Magazine

JUNE 20, 2025

According to the report and previously acquired ADS-B data, the pilot was attempting an instrument approach in thick fog and flew below the published glideslope. The pilot was in contact with the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control (SOCAL TRACON) controller while at 17,000 ft mean sea level (msl). local time.

Knot

Flying Magazine

JULY 18, 2025

A final thought on autopilot upgrades is the Genesys Aerosystems S-TEC 3100 digital autopilot. It has compatibility with third-party flight displays, envelope protection, and full approach coupling. There’s also automatic low airspeed protection when below VMCA, plus 15 knots indicated. Fusion includes three 14.1-inch

Flight Deck

CFI Academy

MARCH 28, 2025

Why It Matters: This mimics a common accident scenario where a pilot overshoots the final approach centerline and tries to “force” the turn with rudder, leading to a stall/spin. How to Perform: Trim the airplane for a climb or approach speed (e.g., 65 knots in a Cessna 172).

Aileron

Pilot Institute

MARCH 6, 2025

The systematic approach is designed to help pilots approach troublesome situations in a calm and logical manner. Information transmitted via ATIS can include weather information, NOTAMs, available approaches, or active runaways. The FAA prescribes the 5P approach to SRM Plan, Plane, Pilot, Passengers, and Programming.

Pilot

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Detecting them is difficult, which makes final approach and landing especially dangerous. Horizontal wind speeds near the surface can be as fast as 45 knots, resulting in a 90-knot wind shear from headwind to tailwind across the microburst. This can fool anyone easily, and could lead to disaster during approach.

Wind Shear

Plane and Pilot

JULY 1, 2025

After arriving at the destination airstrip the student entered left downwind for Runway 13, resulting in a right quartering tailwind of about 5 knots. The student turned early onto the base leg of the airport traffic pattern, then turned onto final approach, resulting in the airplane being high and fast.

Density Altitude

AV Web

JANUARY 22, 2025

Winds were from 290 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 21 knots. Yet all indications are he succumbed to a simple stall on final approach. On final approach for a third landing and following a Zenith STOL 701 also on final, the accident airplane descended and appeared to be lower than the airplane ahead.

Final Approach

Flying Magazine

JULY 16, 2025

Our training for the instrument ticket focused on flying by reference to instruments, how to shoot approaches, holds, etc. Your approach speed is an essential precursor to a good landing, even—or, perhaps, especially—for an instrument pilot. Thus, high-energy approaches continue to be the norm for the GA pilot.

Approach

Air Facts

JUNE 23, 2025

I turned back and entered the holding pattern over the VOR where the approach to Whiting Field began. As each airplane ahead of me began their approach, I descended in the holding pattern. I checked the course deviation indicator for the straight-in approach—but the needle didn’t make sense. Two pilots landed successfully.

Altimeter

Aerotime

DECEMBER 20, 2024

We will also examine the next most critical phase of our flight, from descent and deceleration to the approach and landing phases, even touching upon what happens when the aircraft arrives safely at the gate. At this point, the use of the aircraft’s flaps becomes critical.

Cabin Crew

Fear of Landing

DECEMBER 13, 2024

On the 25th of November 2024, a Boeing 737-400 crashed on final approach to Vilnius airport with one fatality. With a temperature of 1C and a dew point of -1C, the likelihood of serious structural icing on approach was low. QNH one zero two zero, ILS approach runway one nine, information Uniform.

Runway

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

Left downwind on a blustery day with live weather actually shows a virga burst over the field, with local winds gusting 36 knots, making for some extreme conditions in such a tight canyon. For the final approach, I calculated V REF of about 128 was fought with much shear, with airspeed variances of up to 20 to 30 knots, providing a wild ride.

Crosswind

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Briefing A pre-landing briefing highlights essential points critical to the approach and landing phase. It also allows you to focus on flying during the last stages of the approach and landing. This allows you to configure appropriately and ensures a stabilized approach. Take your ground speed in knots and divide it by two.

Airplanes

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

This is not an instrument procedure, but rather a way to enter the traffic pattern when approaching from the opposite side of the runway. For example, if the pattern is empty, the safest and easiest approach is to enter on the crosswind and turn left, skipping the teardrop and saving time.

Crosswind

Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

The helicopter turned left to return to the airport, travelling at about 85 knots. The indicated airspeed had fallen below 65 knots and was still decreasing. The helicopter was at treetop height with an indicated airspeed of zero knots when the right yaw ceased. The pilot reported two miles out.

Torque

Pilot Institute

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

The ILS approach has revolutionized aviation and the types of weather we can fly in. Including how it became the most reliable approach for pilots in aviation history. The ILS is a type of approach pilots use to land. It is a precision approach aid based on two radio beams. This is most likely thanks to the ILS.

Knot

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

Camera at the Ready We passed from Syracuse, through multiple sectors of Boston Center, and ultimately to Boston Approach once within the boundaries of New Hampshire. The Bear wielded her trusty Nikon like a pro and captured our approach and landing. A target moved across my traffic display at 450 knots (518 miles per hour). "I

Runway

Ask Captain Lim

DECEMBER 11, 2024

Recently, the pilot of a Malaysia Airlines A350 earned praise on social media for expertly handling a demanding final approach in London’s Heathrow Airport during a storm that struck Britain. In contrast, Boeing aircraft often use the wing-low technique, maintaining alignment with the runway throughout the approach and landing.

Crosswind

Photographic Logbook

APRIL 19, 2024

I expected minimal IMC time and the need for an approach appeared beyond remote. The Inevitable Reroute Allentown Approach: "Cherokee Four Eight One, I have an amendment to your routing, advise ready to copy." Right after I saw the city, I was vectored away from it to the northeast and cleared for the approach. Foolish mortal.

Approach

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

As we approached the gate, my phone rang again. The RNAV approach to the 7,000-foot Runway 31 that snakes around from the Runway 4 extended centerline, loops past Citi Field, and rolls out on a tight-in final approach. When you’re already this far down our particular approach, there wasn’t a lot of time for anything.

Runway

Air Facts

OCTOBER 14, 2024

Wind velocity of greater than 20 knots with higher gusts, especially flowing over rough terrain, can lead to an unwelcome flight. Even stable airmass of constant 20 knot winds as it traverses over uneven terrain will cause eddies or burbles, or “potholes in the sky” that will “involuntarily” move the aircraft in its various axes.

Turbulence

Photographic Logbook

JUNE 1, 2024

"Hey, November Four Eight One, I have a question for you," asked the Syracuse Approach controller during a lull. laughed Syracuse Approach before returning to his real job of separating aircraft. Albany Approach and the Cirrus pilot were calling each other on the radio, but neither could hear the other's transmissions.

Runway

Photographic Logbook

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

Even slowed by a 25 knot headwind, the airplane still saved time. We departed Sodus VFR and contacted Rochester Approach for our instrument clearance. I requested the RNAV-5 instrument approach from Albany. After leaving the theater, we stopped for a quick dinner and continued on to the Williamson Sodus Airport.

Instrument Meteorological Conditions

Air Facts

MARCH 26, 2025

The airspeed indicator registered 55 knots, close to the Cessna 172s stall speed. But as I banked into my final approach, my heart sank. I did the worst thing possible and tried to lose altitude by steepening my approach. Several seconds passed as I scanned the sky. I knew I should go-around, but panic gripped me.

Knot

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Key Takeaways Start by setting up your approach correctly to ensure you arrive at the threshold perfectly every time. Perfect the approach phase by managing the aircraft’s energy and using references to improve positioning throughout the pattern. Flying the Approach Haphazard approaches are very likely to lead to haphazard landings.

Descent

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 13, 2024

Everything seems to be going well on approach, and then out of nowhere, you feel the jolt. For most light aircraft, you should aim for a descent rate of 500 feet per minute on the final approach. For example, The Cessna 172 has an approach speed of 65 knots with full flaps. What do you do?

Descent

Chess In the Air

JULY 4, 2022

If we can wait for the threat to pass this is clearly the best approach; especially when the virga is fairly isolated and the clouds are cycling. Rapidly approaching cold fronts (or other fronts, e.g. sea breeze fronts). In certain conditions blowing dust (a “ haboob “) can make an approaching front easily visible.

Wind Shear

Air Facts

APRIL 24, 2024

But, with a frontal system approaching, the conditions were expected to worsen over the hours subsequent to our passing through, including the chance for moderate to severe turbulence. That was the longest, most terrifying final approach—actually the only terrifying final approach—I’ve ever experienced.

Turbulence