Professional Pilot

AUGUST 8, 2024

Challenger 604, G-IV Contributing Writer Pilatus PC-12 on approach at ORL. Air traffic control instructions often lead to unstable approaches. The request to make a short approach or maintain a higher-than-normal speed to the final approach fix is the most common reason pilots don’t meet stable approach criteria.

Approach 105

Approach Descent Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) Runway 105

Air Facts

MAY 10, 2024

Perhaps just prior to the start of descent could be the optimum time–certainly completed no later than commencement of approach. Recall that we must remain at or above MDA until we are in a normal position to perform a normal rate of descent to landing. What speed on final approach? What is the runway lighting?

Approach 97

Approach AGL Descent Runway 97

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

I requested a descent from 6,000’ down to 4,000’ and was denied due to traffic. Continued along at 6,000’ I advised ATC that the weather was received and requested the RNAV 24 approach. I was soon cleared to descend to 4,000’ and entered IMC during the descent while I located the approach chart to brief.

Descent 98

Descent Approach Weather AGL 98

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 2, 2024

On final approach, it can be the difference between recovering and crashing. The ACS states that recovery should be completed no lower than 1,500 ft AGL for single-engine aircraft and 3,000 ft AGL for multi-engine aircraft. If the aircraft stalls and you are surprised, you might not be able to recover in time.

Descent 52

Descent Approach AGL Lift 52

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 4, 2023

The approach for the soft-field landing is similar to the normal approach. The major difference between the two is that a degree of power is used throughout the level-off and touchdown for the soft-field landing so as to control the descent rate all the way to touch down.

Approach 52

Approach Ground Effect Final Approach Airplanes 52

Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

At approximately 30-40 feet agl, the spinning stopped and the helicopter appeared to stabilize for a brief moment before continuing a nose-low, forward descent into the grass north of Runway 28. Feather the blades to generate lift from the upward flow of air during the descent (instead of pushing the air downwards in powered flight).

Torque 87

Torque Indicated Airspeed Tail Knot 87

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

He only needed a glide ratio of 14:1 to reach the airfield to arrive at a typical pattern altitude of 1,000 ft AGL. At this point he still had an altitude of 8,275 ft MSL, i.e. 2,739 ft AGL. At this point he was just NW of the runway at an altitude of 8000 ft MSL (2464 AGL). After all, a pattern entry altitude of approx.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL Wind Shear Runway 52