Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

As the helicopter continued towards the airport, the airspeed began to decrease. The indicated airspeed had fallen below 65 knots and was still decreasing. As the airspeed decayed, the right yaw increased. The helicopter was at treetop height with an indicated airspeed of zero knots when the right yaw ceased.

Torque 76

Torque Indicated Airspeed Tail Knot 76

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 70

Approach AGL Descent Runway 70

Photographic Logbook

JULY 11, 2024

Caught in series of up and down drafts, the autopilot pitched the Warrior aggressively to maintain altitude and the indicated airspeed trended too high in each updraft. I was cleared for the RNAV-28 approach into Sodus and set the avionics appropriately. I normally do this upon hearing, "Cleared for the approach."

Approach 52

Approach Ceiling Weather Runway 52

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

To get the extra lift required for the turns, I had to dive to get extra airspeed so that the plane could turn at that same AOA. Optimum” glide was not the issue here, and a visual AOA indicator would have had no value. That produced a strange traffic pattern with roller coasters at the corners.)

General Aviation 73

General Aviation Pilot Approach Runway 73

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

Under normal circumstances Shmulik would have had sufficient altitude to delay the landing by several minutes: his glider’s minimum descent rate in still air was just 100 fpm. Even a more typical descent rate of 200 fpm would have allowed Shmulik to hold for about 5-7 minutes before he would have had to proceed with the landing.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL Wind Shear Runway 52