Aim to centerline by landing
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In something as little as a C152 why does it matter? If you put yourself on the centerline and the nose wheel is 6 inches to the right of it why does it matter? I'd be more concerned with landing straight and on any reasonable part of the runway, but maybe I'm just sloppy. 
If you're landing on a tight farm strip chances are there won't be a centerline, and in the future if you are flying something where it really matters (A380), you'll probably have a more experienced guy sitting next to you that you can ask until you get it down perfectly.
If you're landing on a tight farm strip chances are there won't be a centerline, and in the future if you are flying something where it really matters (A380), you'll probably have a more experienced guy sitting next to you that you can ask until you get it down perfectly.
Last edited by The500man; 6th Jun 2012 at 17:00.
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How far is too far? 1/3? 1/2? Given the tolerances for altitude holding and maintaining correct heading in the PPL, is it surprising that there is no guidance for how far you can be from the centreline on touchdown? I suspect it's because everybody gets close enough. 
As long as your wing tips are within the runway (not including big jumbos that are wider than the runway) that should be considered okay if a good landing is one you can walk away from. Obviously the closer the better but why worry about even a few feet?
Taxiing on the centreline of a taxiway is probably more important wouldn't you say? Some taxiways are very narrow.
As long as your wing tips are within the runway (not including big jumbos that are wider than the runway) that should be considered okay if a good landing is one you can walk away from. Obviously the closer the better but why worry about even a few feet?
Taxiing on the centreline of a taxiway is probably more important wouldn't you say? Some taxiways are very narrow.
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As long as they straddle the line with the main gear. I usually leave them alone.
And taking the piss usually works better than nagging.
"Are you lined up on the center line or the edge lights?"
"Ok don't aim for the center line try and put your RH main wheel on it" (if they always land to the right hand side).
"I have told you that the
runway doens't work like a road haven't I?"
"you know we don't get a discount for only using half the width don't you"
" you need now to land on the other side to even the runway wear up, I think that side is sinking a bit after your last three"
And taking the piss usually works better than nagging.
"Are you lined up on the center line or the edge lights?"
"Ok don't aim for the center line try and put your RH main wheel on it" (if they always land to the right hand side).
"I have told you that the
runway doens't work like a road haven't I?""you know we don't get a discount for only using half the width don't you"
" you need now to land on the other side to even the runway wear up, I think that side is sinking a bit after your last three"
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Its quite common for pilots to favour one side of the line.
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Smoother on the controls and thats also quite common for crab to the flare and "kick" off the drift. Everything is a bit to dynamic for most and you basically unstablising the aircraft in the last two feet off the deck.
I personally wouldn't fly the whole approach crossed controls but usually do it just before the flare.
I personally wouldn't fly the whole approach crossed controls but usually do it just before the flare.
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Ever noticed that your error band is proportional to the width of the runway?
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Agree with much said on here... Shaggy's post particularly helpful... you shouldn't be lining up with the centreline on landing but as you turn final and then track it all the way down...
Good landings come from accurately flown circuits/approaches and not at the last 30 feet...
Good luck, Mike
Good landings come from accurately flown circuits/approaches and not at the last 30 feet...
Good luck, Mike
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Surely we are talking about offsetting drift and being able to sense winds and the wind speed /direction changes?
The first place to practice this is away from the ground getting used to flying a fixed line.
GPS can be a help here especially if you have an OBS where you can set the extended centreline to an airfield runway magnetic course.
You can then practice flying the magenta centreline from 25 miles out all the way in.
Failing this a line on the map and visual points.
But really its about reading winds and being able to compensate for them whether close to the ground or in the air.
Its about commanding your aircraft and not being a semi passenger.
Its about accurate flying!
You taxi on the taxiway yellow lines not to the left or right so why land left or right of the centreline to me that is shoddy flying.
There is one situation where you may elect to fly say the right side of the centreline and that could be in very strong crosswinds where you may elect to give yourself more room for error if the winds are very gusty and you are challenged but even that may be frowned on by many.
If you cannot get this right in the early days of flying how can you ever expect to fly an accurate ILS in the future?
Pace
The first place to practice this is away from the ground getting used to flying a fixed line.
GPS can be a help here especially if you have an OBS where you can set the extended centreline to an airfield runway magnetic course.
You can then practice flying the magenta centreline from 25 miles out all the way in.
Failing this a line on the map and visual points.
But really its about reading winds and being able to compensate for them whether close to the ground or in the air.
Its about commanding your aircraft and not being a semi passenger.
Its about accurate flying!
You taxi on the taxiway yellow lines not to the left or right so why land left or right of the centreline to me that is shoddy flying.
There is one situation where you may elect to fly say the right side of the centreline and that could be in very strong crosswinds where you may elect to give yourself more room for error if the winds are very gusty and you are challenged but even that may be frowned on by many.
If you cannot get this right in the early days of flying how can you ever expect to fly an accurate ILS in the future?
Pace
Last edited by Pace; 7th Jun 2012 at 08:39.
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The O.P stated:
But I thought I am aiming on center line. What is going on?
Some thoughts:
Are you flying to the Threshold at an angle or are you trying to get early onto the extended centreline?
Look at the first video clip of Worldpilot. Can you see that initially he is NOT on the centreline?
Are you freezing-up on the rudder pedals and your instructor is gently reminding you to use rudder too?
Personally I have no problem with a small rudder input to move over and thus keeping wings level and runway aspect the same without upsetting the applecart with only input of ailerons.
But I thought I am aiming on center line. What is going on?
Some thoughts:
Are you flying to the Threshold at an angle or are you trying to get early onto the extended centreline?
Look at the first video clip of Worldpilot. Can you see that initially he is NOT on the centreline?
Are you freezing-up on the rudder pedals and your instructor is gently reminding you to use rudder too?
Personally I have no problem with a small rudder input to move over and thus keeping wings level and runway aspect the same without upsetting the applecart with only input of ailerons.
Last edited by FOUR REDS; 7th Jun 2012 at 08:56.
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I think the OPs problem is he is trying to account for not sitting on the aircrafts centerline and aiming to put the centerline down his right leg.
I was told to line up and put myself dead on the centerline. If you do this and then ask your instructor at a mile out if he is dead on the centerline, I bet he says he is.
If you are crabbing in and then switching to wing down near the ground, you are far better off using slight aileron to hold the centerline then trying to use rudder, because you want to make sure you land straight. Straight off centerline is better than crooked on it.
I was also told if I landed to one side, it was better to stay there and track straight with the runway. Trying to recover the centerline is more than likely going to end up with you doing something like piperboy84 described; zig-zagging across the centerline.
I was told to line up and put myself dead on the centerline. If you do this and then ask your instructor at a mile out if he is dead on the centerline, I bet he says he is.
If you are crabbing in and then switching to wing down near the ground, you are far better off using slight aileron to hold the centerline then trying to use rudder, because you want to make sure you land straight. Straight off centerline is better than crooked on it.
I was also told if I landed to one side, it was better to stay there and track straight with the runway. Trying to recover the centerline is more than likely going to end up with you doing something like piperboy84 described; zig-zagging across the centerline.
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I land to the left 95% of the time. I can land on the centreline if I really think about it but it just feels natural to me to land slightly left. I also tend to taxi on the left side of the taxiway..........
I've thought about this and I think it's because I've driven on the left for the last 40 years, I feel like I'm driving down the 'middle of the road' if I'm on the centreline. Just doesn't feel right.
I might add that my home airfield has a runway and taxiways you could probably take off from widthways. If I'm landing/taxiing at a small grass strip then the amount of 'leftness' is proportional to the width of the runway, so it might just be 6 inches or so on a narrow strip, but it's still there. I've talked about this to one of our club members who is also a very experienced airline pilot and he said don't worry about it, a surprising amount of airline pilots don't land on the centreline.
Did that yesterday after taking a young lady for a trip, landed slightly left as usual but perfectly straight and decided to get on the centreline for a bit of show. Finished up zigzagging down the middle like a drunk tramp.
I've thought about this and I think it's because I've driven on the left for the last 40 years, I feel like I'm driving down the 'middle of the road' if I'm on the centreline. Just doesn't feel right.
I might add that my home airfield has a runway and taxiways you could probably take off from widthways. If I'm landing/taxiing at a small grass strip then the amount of 'leftness' is proportional to the width of the runway, so it might just be 6 inches or so on a narrow strip, but it's still there. I've talked about this to one of our club members who is also a very experienced airline pilot and he said don't worry about it, a surprising amount of airline pilots don't land on the centreline.
I was also told if I landed to one side, it was better to stay there and track straight with the runway. Trying to recover the centerline is more than likely going to end up with you doing something like piperboy84 described; zig-zagging across the centerline.
Last edited by thing; 7th Jun 2012 at 11:12.
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Thing
Not so important if you are taxiing a light aircraft but when you get to fly large wingspan aircraft staying on the centreline on the taxiway tends to keep you clear from hitting things also not going off course and up the wrong taxiway at bigger airports.
Landing is the same as its more critical if your aircraft fills a biiger portion of the runway
Pace
Not so important if you are taxiing a light aircraft but when you get to fly large wingspan aircraft staying on the centreline on the taxiway tends to keep you clear from hitting things
also not going off course and up the wrong taxiway at bigger airports.Landing is the same as its more critical if your aircraft fills a biiger portion of the runway
Pace
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The chances of me flying anything that big are er...fairly slim. By landing left I don't mean I land in the gutter by the way, just a bit left, you probably wouldn't notice if I hadn't mentioned it. Anyway, I pay the bloody landing fees to use all of the runway, I'm just exercising my rights as a paying customer...