One of the most effective, and often overlooked, landing tips is practicing slow flight down the runway. By holding your wheels just inches above the pavement, you experience the same sloppy controls and heavy rudder work you’ll feel in the final moments before touchdown. This exercise builds confidence in your sight picture, helps you fine-tune your control inputs, and transforms shaky landings into smooth, safe arrivals.
A CFI’s Secret to Helping Struggling Students
Early in his flight instructing career, Jason Schappert worked with students who other instructors thought “would never solo”. His go-to training method? Slow flight down the runway. By flying just about stall speed and maintaining precise control, these learners quickly built the skills and awareness needed to solo, and later become private pilots.
If you’ve ever struggled with staying on centerline or timing your transition to landing, this technique is a true game-changer.
How to Practice Slow Flight Down the Runway Safely
To exercise yourself, follow these steps:
- Choose the longest runway available for safety and practice time.
- Fly a normal landing approach, but instead of flaring, add a touch of power and hold the wheels just above the runway.
- Focus on rudder control, as ailerons will feel less effective in this regime.
- Keep your eyes down the runway, not on the nose.
- Use smooth adjustments of pitch and power to hold level just above stall speed.
This simple but powerful drill will sharpen your landings, strengthen your control skills, and give you the confidence to handle real-world conditions.
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