Originally Posted by
Mr Good Cat
The FCTM tells you exactly how to perform the landing. Why anybody insists on doing it differently, I have no idea, because you aren't covering yourself legally should any issues arise...
The guidance is:
Ensure you are stable at the correct parameters prior to the flare.
Look well ahead of aircraft to assess rate of descent in flare
At about 30 feet apply positive back-pressure (which may be released as necessary but do not apply forward stick) - typically an increment of 4 degrees of pitch
At 20 feet RETARD call reminds you to close thrust levers (as conditions dictate), which are rapidly retarded to be at IDLE detent by touchdown
Be ready to compensate for pitch down moment
Do not float or extend flare for smooth touchdown - fly aircraft on to runway in touchdown zone. Then fly the nosewheel on.
You are not looking for a smooth touchdown, you are looking for a touchdown at the right point on the runway at the right speed. If you get out of this habit, one day you'll forget to do it correctly when you really need it, such as a short wet runway with a stronger than expected tailwind.
Just do what it says in the book and you can't go wrong.
There's a lot of leeway in the FCTM, as there should be. Landing is a feel/judgement manoeuvre, not a robot manoeuvre. Even in what you've written there are words like "about", "as conditions dictate", and "typically". The FCTM provides guidance but does not dictate that you must do A, B, C to land. And that's why you get questions from people asking for other's input on how they have evolved the FCTM's guidance to something that works for them.