Pick a field

[taxistaxing]

On my PPL I was taught:

- Slope. If you can see a slope at all from 2,000 it will be steep when you get to low level, so you need to be landing upwards;

- Surface. Ideally not ploughed, also ideally not with long crops which can flip the aircraft on landing. If you have to land on a ploughed field, land along the furrows rather than across them. Very green/yellow fields probably have long crops, whereas 'brown' fields are probably earth or stubble, so a better bet. Most fields will not have long crops in the autumn/winter;

- Size/shape. The bigger the better obviously and preferably wide so that you have a maximum of approach angles;

- Smoke. Look for smoke to determine wind direction at low level and try to land into wind;

- Safety. Look out for obstructions. Most dangerous are obviously wires, but also farm machinary, hay bales, parked tractors etc;

Also make sure you choose one as close as possible to your position as it's easier to lose height on approach than it is to extend the glide.

Finally, I was taught that you should be regularly looking for suitable fields near your track during the cruise as part of a FREDA check, imagining "where would I go if the engine were to quit now".