1. Airspeed is King

Landings are mandatory, but going around is always an option. A stable approach starts with consistent airspeeds:

• Downwind: 90 knots
• Base: 80 knots
• Final: 70 knots, continuing to slow across the fence

Remember: pitch is for airspeed, power is for altitude. Airspeed is king, but altitude is a close second, you can always trade altitude for airspeed, but not the other way around. 

2. Eye Placement Matters

Have you ever felt like the ground “snuck up” on you? That usually means you were looking too close in front of the airplane. Instead, take your eyes 300-500 feet down the runway, or even toward the treeline. 

• Use central vision to track the centerline
• Use peripheral vision to judge height above the runway

This wider perspective helps smooth out your round out and keeps you from being surprised at touchdown.

3. Transition, Don’t Flare

Forget the word “flare”. Big jets flare, but smaller GA aircraft like a Cessna 172 or Cherokee 140 don’t the same way, they transition.

• Transition from a nose-down approach into ground effect
• Hold the airplane off in a slow-flight attitude
• Let airspeed bleed off and touch down on the mains, followed by the nose wheel

Thinking “flare” often leads pilots to yank back excessively, pitching up too high and losing sight of the runway. Think “transition” instead. 

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