We have two main runways, one sealed, 1100m long and a parallel grass one about 400m long. Circuits start on the seal, and eventually when teaching max perf. t/o and ldg, we move them onto the grass. It's a conversion like John Farley said, but I didn't even realise that's what we were (are) doing.
We give them the touchdown markers on the seal as their initial aim point, then they float to about the 1000' markers (C152). PAPIs on one runway and T-VASIS on the other normally show two dots high for the appropriate C152 approach. This keeps their options open, but we demand all three of John Farley's parts before sending them solo. They have to know what to do (even if it means they talk me round a circuit, how does this look? what do I have to do?), they have to be able to do it themselves and then we work on the accuracy and I mean work.
Vigilant Driver
Are the PAPIs or VASIS that you use set for your aircraft type or for a commercial length aeroplane? If the aeroplane they are set for is longer in the fuselage then a standard light trainer (C152 / PA28/38) will be landing much too far in. I agree with the "hold off" part of landing though, "Level off, power off, hold off" seems to work quite well.
grade_3
If we didn't fly single-engine over water, there would be hardly any North Island aeroplanes at Warbirds over Wanaka. We just fly from North Island shore to boat to ferry to boat to boat to South Island shore!
Oh Captain Crash, you've done it now...
I fully agree with you. Except for "When trying to teach landing ..." surely this is meant to be "When teaching landing..."?
editted for speelingg
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Confident, cocky, lazy, dead.
[This message has been edited by chicken6 (edited 23 January 2001).]