Where to teach touchdown
Every landing in the PPL should be at a predetermined physical point on the runway. The landing should be graded on how close the airplane touchdown point was both laterally and along the runway as well as the aircraft touching down in the proper attitude. Early in PPL training I use the thousand foot runway marker as the declared touchdown point and with a power on ( eg 1300 ish RPM) flaps down approach. A bit of power makes the approach a bit shallower which helps the student make the transition from approach flight path to the flare.
As skill and confidence is gained it is time to mix it up with power off, no flap, power on flying the PAPI's, long straight in, tight circuits etc etc. The important thing IMO, is that the student always has a point on the runway in their mind which is where the airplane should touch down not just flaring at a some random point and holding off until the airplane touches when it feels like it.
As skill and confidence is gained it is time to mix it up with power off, no flap, power on flying the PAPI's, long straight in, tight circuits etc etc. The important thing IMO, is that the student always has a point on the runway in their mind which is where the airplane should touch down not just flaring at a some random point and holding off until the airplane touches when it feels like it.
