Quiz: Landing Techniques

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While it may be true that any landing you can walk away from is a good landing, there is certainly something to be said about always striving to make better landings. Most experienced pilots would be willing to admit that the perfect landing is much more of an art than a science. Take this quiz on landing techniques to hone your touchdown knowledge in search of consistently smooth and safe landings and see if you can squeak out a perfect score.

1. In preparation for a normal landing, what actions should you accomplish when opposite the point of intended landing on downwind?
1. In preparation for a normal landing, what actions should you accomplish when opposite the point of intended landing on downwind?
Correct! Wrong!
2. Flying any speed other than best glide speed during a power-off approach will result in what?
2. Flying any speed other than best glide speed during a power-off approach will result in what?
Correct! Wrong!
3. On the base leg before turning to final, what action should you take if you appear to be too low?
3. On the base leg before turning to final, what action should you take if you appear to be too low?
Correct! Wrong!
4. The forward slip turns the airplane’s fuselage into the relative wind. How does this affect the airplane aerodynamically?
4. The forward slip turns the airplane’s fuselage into the relative wind. How does this affect the airplane aerodynamically?
Correct! Wrong!
5. When on final approach with a strong headwind your groundspeed will be lower than in a zero wind condition. How will this affect your descent rate?
5. When on final approach with a strong headwind your groundspeed will be lower than in a zero wind condition. How will this affect your descent rate?
Correct! Wrong!
6. What is the proper corrective action if you bounce the airplane during landing?
6. What is the proper corrective action if you bounce the airplane during landing?
Correct! Wrong!
7. Which statement is most accurate regarding the final approach leg?
7. Which statement is most accurate regarding the final approach leg?
Correct! Wrong!
8. On final approach when transitioning from the roundout to the flare:
8. On final approach when transitioning from the roundout to the flare:
Correct! Wrong!
9. What change should be made to the approach speed when making a crosswind landing without flaps in a brisk wind?
9. What change should be made to the approach speed when making a crosswind landing without flaps in a brisk wind?
Correct! Wrong!

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Want to learn more about aviation weather theory? Check out Sporty’s Learn To Fly Course for more in-depth training on this subject.

Sunglasses: what pilots need to know

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Choosing the right sunglasses is crucial for pilots, and not just because we all secretly want to look like Tom Cruise. Given the harsh environment pilots fly in, a good pair of sunglasses is actually a smart investment in one of your most important assets – your vision. Sunglasses make it easier to spot traffic, reduce fatigue, and protect your eyes from long term damage due to solar radiation. They can also provide some protection from debris during a bird strike.

Tom Cruise sunglassesSolar radiation is easily overlooked by pilots, but it can have long-lasting effects. In addition to visible light, Earth is subject to both infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and exposure to UV radiation increases by about  5% for every 1,000 feet of altitude. Excessive exposure to UV light can cause sunburn and skin cancers, but it can also cause serious eye problems like cataracts and macular degeneration. As a result, the American Optometric Association recommends wearing sunglasses that incorporate 99-100% UVA and UVB protection.

Most sunglasses meet that standard, but there is still a nearly endless variety of sunglasses to choose from. While personal preference plays a big role, pilots should consider at least three features when shopping: lens material, tint, and frame.

  • Lens material. Glass and CR-39® plastic lenses have superior optical qualities, while polycarbonate lenses are lighter and more impact resistant. All three types can work for pilots—the tradeoffs are mostly a matter of opinion. Glass is the classic option, but modern polycarbonate lenses can stand up to regular abuse.
  • Tint. The right tint is also mostly personal preference, but it should maximize visibility while minimizing color distortion. Neutral gray tint with 15-30% light transmittance has been popular in aviation for decades, but some newer lenses (like Cloudbase) have a more orange tint that enhances contrast in direct sunlight while still cutting glare.
  • Frames. Almost every pilot wears some type of headset, so the first requirement for aviation sunglasses is that they not interfere with your Bose or Lightspeed. Thinner frames and temples are valued for just this reason, but make sure those thinner and lighter frames are rugged enough to last (we love the Flight Gear Captain’s sunglasses for this reason). Quality materials and customer reviews can tell you a lot about the durability of a pair. Aerobatic pilots should be especially careful to ensure that any sunglasses stay in place during abrupt maneuvers.

Other considerations

  • Shape and size. The classic aviator teardrop shape is no accident: it provides more protection, so you can scan both outside and inside the cockpit. But this is mostly a style question: Ray-ban also offers the iconic Wayfarer style or choose a more tapered style for a modern look if you want to change things up.
  • Built-in readers. If you wear reading glasses, Dual Eyewear offers a line of high quality sunglasses with built-in reading lenses. This is a great 2-in-1 option that avoids the hassle of switching glasses in flight.

A note about polarized sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses are increasingly popular among drivers and boaters, but they are not recommended for pilots. Many cockpit instruments (and many tablets too) have anti-reflective coatings that make the screen turn black when viewed with polarized lenses. This is an unwelcome surprise in flight, so avoid polarized lenses in the airplane.

FAA “from the flight deck” video: phraseology

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Aviation has a unique language designed to ensure effective communication between pilots and controllers. Understanding and using these words and phrases properly is vital for avoiding errors and maintaining safety. For example, “roger” is not a clearance and is not an appropriate response to a yes or no question. It only means that the transmission was received.

In this From the Flight Deck video on phraseology you’ll learn more about what a pilot may hear from a controller and what it really means.

Departing the airport traffic pattern – HD Flight Maneuver Spotlight

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Welcome to the latest edition of the Flight Maneuver Spotlight series. Here we’ll highlight the various maneuvers you’ll practice during your flight training and be expected to demonstrate during your private pilot checkride.

Each maneuver is part of Sporty’s 2024 Learn to Fly Course and includes a narrated video animation, along with step-by-step instructions that include performance standards and common errors. Study them while on the ground or print them for quick reference in the airplane.

These step-by-step instructions are from Sporty’s 2024 Learn to Fly Course, which includes over 15 hours of HD and 4K video demonstrating how to fly each maneuver, along with complete FAA test prep features.

How to fly the perfect chandelle

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A chandelle is a maximum performance, 180° climbing turn that begins from approximately straight-and-level flight and concludes with the airplane in a wings-level, nose-high attitude just above stall speed. The goal of the Commercial pilot maneuver is to gain the most altitude possible for a given bank angle and power setting to help develop positive control techniques at varying airspeeds and attitudes while remaining oriented and coordinated.

The Commercial pilot standards include reaching an airspeed that is just above stall speed at completion with minimum altitude loss during recovery. There should be 180° of heading change ±10° with bank angle not to exceed 30°.

A chandelle is best described in two specific phases: the first 90° of turn and the second 90° of turn. The first 90° of turn is described as constant bank and continuously increasing pitch; and the second 90° as constant pitch and continuously decreasing bank. During the first 90°, the pilot will set the bank angle, increase power, and increase pitch attitude at a rate such that maximum pitch-up occurs at the completion of the first 90°. The maximum pitch-up attitude achieved at the 90° mark is held for the remainder of the maneuver.

chandelle

If the pitch attitude is set too low, the airplane’s airspeed will never decrease to just above stall speed. If the pitch attitude is set too high, the airplane may aerodynamically stall prior to completion of the maneuver. Starting at the 90° point, and while maintaining the pitch attitude set at the end of the first 90°, the pilot begins a slow and coordinated constant rate rollout so as to have the wings level when the airplane is at the 180° point. If the rate of rollout is too rapid or sluggish, the airplane either exceeds the 180° turn or does not complete the turn as the wings come level to the horizon.

Follow these steps to execute the perfect Chandelle:

1. Select an altitude that will allow the maneuver to be performed no lower than 1500 feet AGL. Select a prominent reference point off the wing tip. Clear the area and establish the manufacturer’s recommended entry speed or maneuvering speed (VA) if one is not recommended.

2. Enter a coordinated 30° bank turn in the direction of the reference point. Simultaneously apply power, as appropriate, and smoothly increase the pitch attitude so as to obtain a pitch at the 90° point which, when maintained, will result in the aircraft slowing to just above the power-on stall speed at the completion of the 180° turn. As airspeed decreases during the chandelle, left-turning tendencies will have a greater effect so right rudder pressure is progressively increased to ensure that the airplane remains coordinated.

3. Maintain coordination and a constant 30° bank angle during the first 90° of turn.

4. After passing the 90° point, maintain coordination and begin a slow, constant rollout so as to arrive at the wings level position just as the 180° turn is completed. After the 90° point, the back pressure should be adjusted, as necessary, to maintain a constant pitch attitude until reaching the 180° point. When the airspeed is slowest at completion of the chandelle, right rudder pressure is significant, especially when rolling out from a left chandelle due to left adverse yaw and left-turning tendencies. When rolling out from a right chandelle, the yawing moment is to the right which partially cancels some of the left-turning tendency’s effect.

5. Upon reaching the 180° point, the aircraft should be held momentarily just above stall airspeed with the wings level.

6. Upon completion, maintain the final altitude and accelerate to normal cruise.

Ten airport signs, markings, and lights all pilots should know

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Taxiing at larger airports can add new complexities to your flight, especially when visiting an unfamiliar airport for the first time. Here’s a review of ten airport signs and pavement markings you might encounter during ground operations at a busy airport.

Runway Safety Area with Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS)

Name
Runway Safety Area with Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS)

Purpose

The Runway Safety Area is typically 500 feet wide and extends to a maximum of 1,000 feet beyond each end of the runway. It provides a graded area in the event that an aircraft overruns, undershoots, or veers off the side of the runway. EMAS uses crushable material placed at the end of a runway to stop an aircraft that overruns the runway. The tires of the aircraft sink into the lightweight material and the aircraft is decelerated as it rolls through the material. This is currently installed for 117 runway ends at 69 airports in the United States.

What do these markings indicate?

The yellow chevrons indicate the area is to be used for emergencies only, and not for taxi, takeoff or landing.

Runway Distance Remaining

Name
Runway Distance Remaining

Purpose

Distance remaining signs are located along the sides of runways at 1,000 feet increments. These signs can give a pilot indications that the landing or takeoff is performing as expected or if an abort might be appropriate.

What does this sign indicate?

There are 4,000 feet of remaining runway left from the current position.

Runway Status Lights (RWSL)

Name
Runway Status Lights (RWSL)

Purpose

This fully automated advanced alerting system uses embedded lights in the runway to alert pilots when it is unsafe to enter, cross or takeoff from a runway.

What do these lights indicate?

This is an example of Takeoff Hold Lights, which are red due to an aircraft currently clearing the runway up ahead.

Runway/Taxiway Location Signs

Name
Runway/Taxiway Location Signs

Purpose

Taxiway location signs are black with a yellow border and numerals. They are used to identify taxiways or runways on which the aircraft is located. A yellow sign with a black arrow defines the direction and designation of intersecting taxiways. A red sign with white lettering defines the entrance to a runway or where an aircraft should hold short until receiving an ATC clearance to enter. A red sign with the runway number and APCH indicates an area where ATC may request you to hold short during certain situations.

What do these signs indicate?

You are currently located on Taxiway Juliet. Taxiway Sierra crosses perpendicular in front of you from left to right, and you are nearing the Runway 27 Approach Area holding position (you are only required to hold short of the Approach area if instructed by ATC, even though it uses the same pavement hold short markings that you’d find leading up to an active runway).

ILS Critical Area

Name
ILS Critical Area

Purpose

This sign identifies the ILS critical area boundary. At towered fields, you must hold short of the ILS critical area only when instructed by ATC. At non-towered fields during instrument conditions, remain clear of the critical area until released by ATC.

What does this sign indicate?

You are approaching the ILS critical area.

No Entry Sign

Name
No Entry Sign

Purpose

The no entry sign identifies paved areas where aircraft entry is prohibited.

What does this sign indicate?

Do not enter – the paved surface is the entrance to the airport fire department.

Ground vehicle surface marking

Name
Ground vehicle surface marking

Purpose

White markings are for ground vehicles and are used to define a pathway for operations on or crossing areas that are also intended for aircraft.

What does this sign indicate?

The red “stop” letters on the white painted background instruct ground vehicles to stop at this location.

Non-movement area marking

Name
Non-movement area marking

Purpose

A single sold line next to a single dashed line delineates movement from non-movement areas. The non-movement area begins on the side with the solid line and typically separates areas like FBO ramps and aprons from active taxiways and runways. You can taxi freely in the non-movement area without an ATC clearance. When ready to taxi out of a non-movement area, pull up to the solid line side of the marking and call ATC for a taxi clearance.

What does this marking indicate?

You are taxiing in from the movement area (an active taxiway) to the non-movement area (the FBO ramp)

Runway Holding Position Sign and Marking

Name
Runway Holding Position Sign and Marking

Purpose

These markings identify the locations on a taxiway where aircraft MUST STOP when a clearance has not been issued to proceed onto the runway. Generally, runway holding position markings also identify the boundary of the runway safety area (RSA) for aircraft exiting the runway. An aircraft exiting a runway is not clear of the runway until all parts of the aircraft have crossed the applicable holding position marking.

What does this sign and marking indicate?

You are currently on taxiway Alpha, holding short of the approach end of Runway 27.

Runway Blue Dot

Name

Runway Blue Dot

Purpose

There are several uniquely colored, round markers painted on the runways at Oshkosh (KOSH) during EAA’s Airventure week, which ATC uses to instruct inbound airplanes on which part of the runway to aim for during land.

What does this marking indicate?

You just landed on runway 36L at Oshkosh!

Now is a great time to take our quiz on airport signs and markings.