LAND AN AIRPLANE with this easy trick | Aiming Points for Perfect Landings

[@watchmetry]

This is one of those tricks that only military or commercial aviators would know. Great Video!

[@DanWeecks]

Thank you!

[@evry1sfriend619]

this isn't a trick. this is basic instruction that everyone receives.

[@tte.av.juanjavieralcazarve6255]

​@@evry1sfriend619not everyone, not all instructors know how to explain this.

[@Klaas196365]

This technique works perfectly. You also become more focused on your power settings. It's more natural. It is also in line with the first editions of the FAA flying handbook.

[@jakew9887]

Great presentation. Thanks

[@jorgeprieto5770]

I tried this technique and it improved my landings, making them more consistent and smoother. I also noticed that the dot lines up with the horizon while flying straight and level. Anybody that used the dot notice this as well?

[@Jamesxyz234]

awesome! thank you! (the two stripes before the aiming point are the point to the start round out, I often struggle with round out / flare too high, making a longer distance landing)

[@paulcrooks7032]

Best explanation

[@AwSOMEKGAMES]

Wow this is a really good tip, thanks

[@briankallmeyer2643]

Adjust pitch or power? Will we be chasing air speed using pitch to adjust glide path?

[@DanWeecks]

Consult a flight instructor for specifics, but generally in the reverse region of command; pitch for airspeed, power for altitude.

[@Tony-ew1mx]

While I agree with what you are trying to show your students re the principle of the aim point, I don't think drawing random dots, or as I have seen movable clear plastic dots, on the windshield is good technique and I feel it becomes a bit of a crutch. Over the years I have given this some thought and believe that a good explanation would revolve around eye height and where it intersects the windscreen and how that relates to aim point. I liken it to the a rear sight and foresight on a rifle. Most GA aircraft have fixed height seating which means you have to cater for the 5 foot pilot as well as the 6 foot 6 inch pilot. Where is the aim point now? At the end of the day it's about the pictures - aim point, aspect, airspeed - driving your eyes down to the runway threshold in good position to land. It's also good that pilots understand the pictures especially when it comes to flapless and AoA approaches where aircraft attitude becomes the imperative and where you touch down becomes more of a judgement exercise. Please don't view this as a criticism or a point of contention it's just a discussion point as I'm sure you're a great and thoughtful instructor. Cheers

[@rustyclam238]

In the early 80s I had a private CFI who was always worried about altitude. He taught me to come in high And then flare at the Last moment. This technique is called the Sarajevo approach. It’s quite scary but it saved my butt many times.

[@Kyle-ip5sm]

Why would you push the nose down when the dot is to high? Wouldn't you pull the nose up, hence slowing it down and steepening the angle of glide?

[@DanWeecks]

Pitch/power go hand in hand. As you pitch down, you'd be adjusting power accordingly to maintain a target airspeed, and similarly if you pitch up. This is a technique I've used with students to teach them to follow a constant angle and land on a target spot, which we only do after they've learned the pitch/power relationship.

[@Kyle-ip5sm]

@@DanWeecksI understand now, awesome vid thank you for this

[@DanWeecks]

@@Kyle-ip5sm You're welcome!

[@carpenterfamily6198]

Is there a way to put a mark on the windshield in XPlane ?

[@DanWeecks]

I'm not sure, but you might be able to design a custom skin. The easiest option is the good ol' FPS no scope trick from the early 2000s... sharpie a dot on some tape and stick it to the middle of your monitor.

[@TridentCapital]

A good tip in theory, but in the flight video, it looks like that dot is all over the place and pretty useless as an aiming device. Maybe it looks different from the cockpit?

[@DanWeecks]

When it's turbulent or windy the dot is going to move, it's just there as a point of reference. Do your best to lock it in until you have the sight picture, and it'll still be helpful.

[@TridentCapital]

@@DanWeecks Thanks. I will give it a try with my CFI this week and comment on how it went.

[@DanWeecks]

@@TridentCapital How'd it work out?

[@TridentCapital]

@@DanWeecks It actually works. It really helped me especially with my short field landings. I was eventually able to get to the point where I didn't need the dot - I could just eyeball my aiming point to know if I was where I needed to be. Had a bit of a delay in my training thanks to some medical certificate hiccups, but my PPL checkride is next week.

[@PaulCrooks]

Make sense

[@PaulCrooks-i7h]

Aiming pt don't work 3 miles out on a straight vin landing

[@DanWeecks]

If it's a visual approach and stabilized on a constant glide path it will