Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 27, 2024

Back in the early days of jet airliners, pilots long experienced in more forgiving two- and four-engine, piston-powered prop planes found themselves running out of airspeed, altitude, and ideas on the final approach to landing. Several of these unstabilized approaches resulted in major aircraft damage or worse.

Stability 89

Stability Approach Runway Pilot 89

Air Facts

MAY 14, 2025

At pattern altitude, I leveled off, and our airspeed stabilized at 300 KIAS. Add half the gust factor to final approach and touchdown speeds. I started the final turn and made the standard radio call: Talon 30, base, gear-check, touch-and-go. Rolling wings-level on final, the jet slowed to our approach speed of 160.

AGL 52

AGL Crosswind Final Approach Threshold 52

Air Facts

MAY 7, 2025

With our diminished flight controllability and heavy ice load, we received vectors to swing out over Long Island Sound and turn carefully to approach straight in from the south on the north/south runway. They had moved to their strategic waiting position close to the landing runway threshold.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control VOR Runway Distance Measuring Equipment 52

Air Facts

MAY 5, 2025

The ice was simultaneously adding weight while destroying the shape of the wing and stabilizer air foils. At about one mile from the final approach fix, I put the Cessna into a high-speed dive towards the minimum descent altitude of 400 feet AGL. We were about 1/2 mile from the threshold. But then I heard my mental alarm.

VOR 52

VOR Weather Approach Runway 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

It also allows you to focus on flying during the last stages of the approach and landing. Descent Point Nominate a descent point that will give you a constant 3° profile to the threshold. This allows you to configure appropriately and ensures a stabilized approach. Final Approach The last turn will be from base to final.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Crosswind 52

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. The easiest way to achieve this is by flying a stabilized approach.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 13, 2024

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. Stabilized Approach Ideally, the goal should be to achieve a stabilized condition with a constant rate of descent.

Descent 52

Descent Runway Rudder Pilot 52