I find base leg the most important leg, get the base right and the final will be set up for you.
So, abeam the threshold on downwind,
reduce pwr,
hold altitued,
flaps to 20' once in the white arc,
70kts, trim. (we're in a nice 500'/min descent)
Now we turn base with 20 degrees of flap at 70kts. We can now assess our distance from the rwy. Maintain 70kts ALL thru the base leg allows us to be at that magic 600' before we turn final.
Example - If we are low mid base, add pwr to reduce the RoD, then we turn final at the correct height.
Now we turn on final still with 20 deg. flap at 70kts. We can add more flap as req.
This method gives us
all the base leg to assess our options to set up for final, this reduces the workload (on the base leg) of more flap and airspeed changes & trimming, our objective here is to be perfectly set up for the turn on to final.
Now on final we are in a perfect approach pos'n, giving us the best chance to bring it home safely.
Works for me
