Plane and Pilot

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

And lets face it, the key to that flawless approach is often a well-planned descent. In the airline world, descent planning and execution receives a lot of attention. Like so much of aviation, there are several ways to skin this descent cat. Planning the Descent So, when is a good time to start planning the descent ?

Descent 57

Descent Approach Final Approach Turbulence 57

Aerotime

NOVEMBER 22, 2024

In the case of certain passengers, a flight may represent the first time they have ever been onboard an airplane, generating feelings of excitement and trepidation in equal measure about what may lie ahead. One of the first items on before taxi checklists is to set the take-off flaps well before the aircraft approaches the runway.

Cabin Crew 262

Cabin Crew Runway Clearance Knot 262

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 31, 2024

Have you ever thought about landing an airplane without using flaps? Think about these scenarios: maybe the flaps stop working, or youre flying an older airplane that doesnt even have them. The flaps on an aircraft are used for controlled descents with slower airspeed during the approach and landing. Increased stopping distance.

Pilot 52

Pilot Drag Descent Approach 52

Ask a Flight Instructor

JANUARY 26, 2025

I typically arrive over the airfield/intended landing point 3,000 AGL then fly a 360 degree steep descent to a short final. I believe the civilian equivalent is the 360 degree power-off landing once required of commercial pilot candidates, and described in previous editions of the Airplane Flying Handbook. left descending spiral, 3.

AGL 52

AGL Descent Runway Pilot 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

These would guide them when they couldn’t see anything outside their airplane. Lateral guidance tells you to go left or right to align yourself with the runway. Heres how you decide: If you can see the runway (or certain lights or markers for the runway) when you reach the DH, you can keep going and land.

Approach 52

Approach Pilot Descent Airplanes 52

One Mile at a Time

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

While we had a pretty short taxi to the runway, there was then a queue for takeoff. We were cleared for takeoff on runway 8R at 9:25PM. LATAM 787 map enroute to Santiago LATAM 787 map enroute to Santiago I’m not a great airplane sleeper , so that was about as good as airplane sleep gets for me!

Approach 113

Approach Descent Runway Airplanes 113

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 11, 2025

These alerts include runway proximity, traffic, cabin altitude, destination weather, terrain, airspace and TFRs, carbon monoxide and more. AGL (or when AGL is unknown), the descent rate exceeds 4,000 ft. AGL and the descent rate exceeds 3,000 ft. AGL, the descent rate is between 3000 ft. per minute. When at 2,500 ft.

AGL 52

AGL Runway Groundspeed Descent 52

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 22, 2025

The descent profile. Airport information, such as the length of the runway and the approach lighting pattern. FAA charts also add an airport diagram section showing the runway layout and lighting information. Airport/Runway Information Box This section first provides basic information about the approach. Approach minima.

Approach 52

Approach Descent Runway Final Approach 52

AV Web

NOVEMBER 7, 2024

Catalina Airport, which operates from 0800 to 1700, has a single runway (4/22) but no runway lighting, and night operations are prohibited. The aircraft took off at around 2004 from Runway 22, in dark conditions. The plane continued a slight descent, followed by a right turn, before the data ended about 0.6

Pilot 98

Pilot Runway Descent Airplanes 98

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Landing an airplane can be one of the most nerve-wracking tasks for a student pilot. Getting an airplane to fly is easy. But landing it safely on the runway is a skill. Brief that you will use the right rudder to align the aircraft straight with the runway and the left aileron to counteract drift.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Runway 52

Flight Training Central

MAY 28, 2024

The numbers 4 and 22 on the approach ends of the runway indicate that the runway is orientated approximately 004° and 022° true. If the wind is as shown by the landing direction indicator, the pilot should land on Runway 9 and expect a crosswind from the right. Runway 31 directly into the wind. 040° and 220° true.

Crosswind 98

Crosswind Runway Clearance Air Traffic Control 98

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 27, 2025

1) High Roundout Sometimes when the airplane appears to temporarily stop moving downward, the roundout has been made too rapidly and the airplane is flying level, too high above the runway. This would result in the airplane stalling and dropping hard onto the runway.

Airplanes 89

Airplanes Runway Accelerated Stall Lift 89

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 17, 2024

These systems are designed to help you stay on the correct glide path as you approach the runway. The Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) is a Visual Glide Slope Indicator (VGSI) placed near a runway to help you land safely. Two-Bar VASI As the name suggests, the two-bar VASI uses two sets of lights placed alongside the runway.

Runway 98

Runway Approach Threshold Clearance 98

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 10, 2025

The electronic E6B is equally useful when in the airplane, to help determine actual winds aloft, true airspeed, fuel burn, and descent planning. Find the crosswind component for Runway 36 if the reported wind direction is 320 at 12 knots. 926 175 167 Correct! knots Correct! knots Correct!

Flight Plan 52

Flight Plan True Airspeed Flight Computer Groundspeed 52

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 27, 2024

Well, for sure the training of pilots in swept-wing jets has improved dramatically, and the aircraft, runway environment, and approach aids have all made significant leaps forward. Some pilots soar like eagles to a smooth touchdown, and others settle to the runway like wounded turkeys. So, what happened? No pressure.

Stability 93

Stability Approach Runway Pilot 93

One Mile at a Time

APRIL 2, 2025

View pushing back Vienna Airport View taxiing Vienna Airport We had a very short taxi to runway 16, where wed be departing from, and we rocketed off at 10:45AM. About 10 minutes later, the seatbelt sign was turned on, and we started our gradual descent for Washington.

Approach 86

Approach Descent Airline Airlines 86

Air Facts

MAY 10, 2024

A perfectly good airplane with everything operating as expected. 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.

Approach 97

Approach AGL Descent Runway 97

Fear of Landing

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Runway 14, a 4,202 foot runway , was in use. The pilot is not to descend below these altitudes until they can see the runway lights. The controller confirmed a descent to 3,000 feet, the minimum safe altitude for BEGKA. View of GPS track when viewed from landing runway (NTSB) At about 1.25 At waypoint JOXOX, 2.3

Approach 97

Approach Runway Air Traffic Control Descent 97

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

The mechanic flew the airplane he’d flown back as well. I was hoping for one of the PA-18s, but the only airplane available was the PA-12. I called Lawson Tower and was cleared for taxi and mid-runway takeoff on Runway 15. I was still in a pretty rapid descent. I was in a controlled descent.

Descent 96

Descent Lift Runway Cockpit 96

Flying Magazine

MAY 15, 2024

It can also be dangerous when the learner drops the airplane to fly the checklist or radio, so practice in the ATD is often a good way to learn procedures, as the ATD is a CFI-controlled environment. To get the most out of the scenario, the learner should use the same procedures in the airplane. It’s an ATD.

Crosswind 105

Crosswind Airplanes VOR Runway 105

iPad Pilot News

JANUARY 7, 2025

For example, ForeFlight presents both visual pop-up and aural alerts for runway proximity, traffic, cabin altitude, destination weather, terrain, TFRs, final approach runway, low altitude, traffic conflicts and more. Not configuring engine-out glide performance for your airplane. Using the app-auto update feature.

Pilot 98

Pilot Airplanes Descent Cockpit 98

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

The many analyses and videos on these topics have been done in what can best be described as laboratory conditions—carefully selected ideal conditions of pilot, airplane, and environment. The instructor was able to complete the turn, but the airplane overshot the runway.

Gross Weight 98

Gross Weight Runway Airplanes Pilot 98

Photographic Logbook

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

Over the last three years, The Bear has expressed great interest in visiting Alton Bay, the only FAA-authorized ice runway in the continental United States. A very brief 2022 season for the ice runway eliminated opportunities to return that year. The Bear was furious that she missed out. The Bear and me flying to Alton Bay!

Runway 89

Runway Knot Weather Turbulence 89

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 13, 2024

The wheels touch down too hard, and before you know it, the airplane is bouncing right back into the air. Key Takeaways Bounced landings can result from excessive speed, improper flare, or high descent rates. The excess speed causes the aircraft to bounce on the runway surface. What do you do?

Descent 52

Descent Runway Rudder Pilot 52

One Mile at a Time

JANUARY 24, 2025

At 11PM we started our quick taxi, and by 11:15PM we were cleared for takeoff on runway 22R. Its not often you can get a dirty martini on an airplane, though thats absolutely possible at the Emirates A380 bar. Ive gotta say, it was a filling breakfast, and the omelet was quite a bit better than most airplane omelets that Ive had.

Jet 121

Jet Tail Runway Cabin Crew 121

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

If you’re on a non-precision or precision approach, understanding MDA (Minimum Descent Altitude) and DA (Decision Altitude) is incredibly important. The main difference: MDA involves leveling off, while DA involves deciding during descent. Pilots use special paths called IFR approaches to help them line up with the runway.

Altimeter 52

Altimeter Descent Approach Runway 52

Photographic Logbook

JUNE 1, 2024

Tom and Ed with their airplanes at the fuel farm at Sodus. In my case, I reached a midfield left downwind simultaneously with another Cherokee on a right midfield downwind for the same strip of pavement, runway 2. You see the other airplane, right?" I acknowledged and noted that I had the Cherokee in sight.

Runway 88

Runway Approach Airplanes Turbulence 88

AV Web

JANUARY 8, 2025

Also see the sidebar on the opposite page for a real-world example involving the editor-in-chiefs airplane. One of my more unexpected diversions occurred on a beautiful day where an unlucky gear collapse shut down an airports single runway for far longer than my reserve fuel load. It is worth considering the destination airport itself.

Payload 105

Payload Airplanes Approach Descent 105

iPad Pilot News

DECEMBER 17, 2024

Both apps have all the features and capabilities to feel right at home in the cockpit of a student pilot learning to fly, while simultaneously meeting the needs of professional pilots flying turbine airplanes. And the performance planning feature will warn you if computed takeoff or landing distances exceed available runway lengths.

Pilot 105

Pilot Weather Flight Plan Approach 105

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 24, 2025

We taxied for around 10 minutes, and then had a roughly five minute wait at the departure runway. In the end, we were cleared for takeoff at 8:20PM, from runway 8R. At 9:50AM we began our descent, and 15 minutes later, the seatbelt sign was turned on. At 7:55PM we began our pushback, and 10 minutes after that, we began our taxi.

Approach 88

Approach Runway Airline Airlines 88

Cranky Flier

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

If you need a break — which we did — there’s a restaurant in the museum with a great view of the runway at Friedrichschafen Airport (FDH). We began our descent as we approached the airport. All-in, we spent two hours here, but I could have done much longer and paid much closer attention.

Flight Deck 162

Flight Deck Descent Runway Approach 162

Inflight Pilot Training

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

In addition to learning about the aircraft itself, you will also review airport procedures, runway markings, and basic safety guidelines. For a deeper understanding of stall behavior and recovery techniques, the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook provides an excellent resource.

Approach 52

Approach Aileron Visual Flight Rules Rudder 52

AV Web

JULY 21, 2024

It had a new smell but not an entirely new airplane fragrance, if you catch my drift. It was hard to get up early, but doing what my airline called “Early Birds” had these advantages: • The airplane was always there. The approach lights beckoned, followed by runway and taxiway lights.

Cockpit 98

Cockpit Descent Approach Airplanes 98

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Learn to use aircraft references to establish a stable descent rate and pitch, ending up in a smooth roundout and flare. You can only begin improving the touchdown if you’ve mastered positioning your aircraft above the runway threshold correctly. 60 x 5 = 300 feet per minute is your recommended descent rate. Flying at 60 knots?

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

One Mile at a Time

MARCH 6, 2025

Then at 5:50PM we began our taxi, and within 15 minutes, we were cleared for takeoff on runway 27L. Cathay Pacific 777 Aria Suite business class map Cathay Pacific 777 Aria Suite business class map Im a horrible airplane sleeper, so the fact that I got roughly six hours of sleep is a testament to how comfortable the bed is.

Airlines 94

Airlines Airline Runway Airplanes 94

Pilot's Life Blog

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

Aerodynamic Differences Fixed-Wing Aircraft (Airplanes) Airplanes , or fixed-wing aircraft, generate lift through their stationary wings as they move forward. Control Mechanisms Airplane Controls In airplanes, pilots manage flight using three primary controls: the ailerons, elevator, and rudder.

Torque 52

Torque Lift Airplanes Stability 52

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 23, 2025

It had been over 15 years since I was last in a small airplane, and to say I was excited is quite the understatement. Once we were ready, we started up, and the instructor radioed the tower before taxiing to the runway. Taxiing procedures: Moving the aircraft to the runway involves steering with your feet using the rudder pedals.

Rudder 98

Rudder Descent Pilot Runway 98