final approach technique: pitch vs power
Gentlemen,
I have a very basic question regarding teaching the final approach technique.
When I learned to fly I was taught to keep the airspeed constant and the aircraft in trim and correct the sink-rate with power. If you are getting high - reduce power, if you are getting low - add power.
This was called "power for altitude, pitch for speed".
I am now in the process of refreshing/converting my FAA CFI to JAA FI(A) and I was just a bit surprised to learn about the "point and power" technique, from a very respectful flying school, stating basically the opposite: you control your altitude with pitch and then control your speed with power.
Well, since all of us landed so far using either of these two techniques, it is obviously they both work.
However, can somebody explain to me the advantage of constantly varying your airspeed during the final approach?
Is it only because some students might otherwise have problems judging their touchdown point?
Kind regards,
SC