PFLs - good and bad practice
Whilst "safety piloting" a fellow syndicate member this morning, we decided to spend some time flying PFLs - since I'm a great fan of regular practice and he admitted to being badly out of currency. This concentrated the mind for a while and it would be fair to say that we were both glad that the engine hadn't actually stopped on one or two of them, but we got to the point of both being quite happy about the best way to fly it in that particular aeroplane, and went home for tea and medals.
But, this concentrated the mind somewhat. I am personally quite happy about my approach to PFLs, which in simplistic terms is:-
(1) Establish best glide-angle speed and pick a field that I can reach, if the wind is strong, ideally into wind, if it isn't (or not clear) ideally up a gentle slope.
(2) Pick an aiming point that gives me enough landing distance before I run out of field, and preferably well into the field (the old 1/3 rule works quite well).
(3) Imagine a runway starting at that aiming point, set myself up as efficiently as possible (a) ideally downwind, (b) if absolutely necessary on base, or (c) if I was very low, in which case I was flying field to field anyway, on finals.
(4) Fly a constant aspect approach - that is with a continuous slope angle to my aiming point as I turn reasonably gently, tightening or slackening the turn for drift and misjudgement.
(5) At 100-200ft ( a bit higher if a really big field), roll wings level, establish approach speed, and set up to land. If too high, sideslip, dive or S-turn the excess off, depending upon preference and type - but always aim to err on being slightly too high.
(Then, of-course, going around only once I'm absolutely certain I'll make it, which personally I take at around 50ft.)
But my approach is not the only approach I've ever seen. For example, one very experienced FI I flew with once insisted upon rectangular circuits, as I'd fly at a civil airfield - which to me is totally wrong since once established on base the ability to correct misjudgement is very poor. Another approach I've seen is to set up close to finals then lose a lot of height with continuous S-turns, not something I'm at-all fond of, since it's very hard in most aeroplanes to accurately monitor height and position relative to the aiming point that way.
So, am I right or wrong in my prejudices here? Does anybody agree or disagree with me? Is there another way I've not mentioned? Instructors - how do you teach PFLs, and how low do you take them?
G