Air Facts

APRIL 14, 2025

Two More Concept Failures One recent general aviation fad that did not catch on, fortunately, was the continuous turn from downwind to final approach. There are many factors in play, but the short version is that a continuous turn to final is just a conventional traffic pattern with a really short base leg.

Final Approach

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

Approach speeds typically range from 80 to 90 knots depending on weight and flap settings, while full flaps are often used to provide the necessary lift during landing. The aircrafts landing gear is retractable, which must be extended during the final approach. The final approach is a delicate balance of power, pitch, and speed.

Descent

Northstar VFR

MARCH 23, 2025

As the plane descends toward the runway on final approach, it may encounter various scenarios where a safe landing cannot be assured. As soon as the pilot realizes this, they must abort the landing and climb back to traffic pattern altitude and attempt the approach and landing again.

Pilot

Pilot's Life Blog

JUNE 18, 2025

Weather Conditions: Sudden changes in weather, such as wind shear, gusts, or rapidly decreasing visibility, can make landing unsafe. Pilots must be ready to initiate a go-around if the conditions deteriorate below safe limits during final approach. How is a go-around procedure performed step by step?

Air Traffic Control

Pilot Institute

JUNE 26, 2024

A go-around is a maneuver performed to abort or reject a landing on the final approach or once the aircraft has already touched down. Weather Go-arounds due to weather occur due to wind shear caused by gusting winds or microbursts. When an aircraft encounters horizontal wind shear, it could be blown off centerline.

Wind Shear