Thread: landing

I think I have about 20 or so hrs now and i cant seem to get the landing part. I have no problem with my approach ,but when I get about 8-10 feet from touch down i just dont feel the confident. I think I have probably 10 take offs and landings so far. When I took lessons in a 152 about 15 years ago I didnt remember it being this hard (the landing part). Im wondering what is average solo time for this plane?

I can't tell you what the average solo time is in the CTSW. However, 20 hours and only 10 takeoffs and landings seems off to me. That's a lot of air work. I had 17 hours and 54 landings, at the time I soloed a 152. The only similarity between a CT and a 152 is that they both have two seats. Don't rush it, and don't worry about how much time you think it should take, or how you compare to others. It will come together.

Hi Robert,

I instruct in a CTsw in Arizona, most of my students have 12-18 hours when they solo. Can you narrow down what part of the landing is giving you the most trouble? Is it the sight picture/alignment, the flare and pitch control? What flap setting are you using primarily and approach speed? Hopefully with a little info we can help you out some and get you over the hurdle.

Regards
Eric Swisher
Copper City Aviation Services

Your right I did not realize how many landings. I asked my instructor and he said between 30-40.

I think sight picture alignment. I have keep telling myself dont look at the runway ,but look half way down the runway. Im using 15 degrees flaps.....55-60 for speed.

Well your not alone, it seems to be one of the more difficult tasks in the CT getting it on the ground straight. Next time you go fly do a couple low approaches with 15 deg flap keeping between 2600-3000rpm. As you fly down the runway try to put the centerline between your feet. Next find the left ridge in the instrument panel, its the ridge formed at the top of the panel as it drops from the center panel to the left panel about an inch. This ridge runs down the instrument panel to the windscreen. Once you have that ridge line identified use your feet to make the centerline parallel to that ridgeline. The ridgeline will look to be about four inches right because of where you ar sitting so it makes the nose look like it is way right of center, but trust me its straight. Look to the end of the runway as you level off for your low approach that way you have a nice long line to keep parallel and you will also be able to identify small changes in altitude. As you do these low approaches with 2600-3000rpm you will find yourself touching the ground eventually if your patient with it and smooth on the pitch.

Hope that helps, and dont worry they dont need to be perfect just safe. If it doesn't feel right or look right, go around and try it again!

Regards
Eric Swisher
Copper City Aviation Services

Here we go again with landing advice. We'll probably soon have pages of advice but I know this helped me when I was learning a couple of years ago. I'm a low hour pilot so maybe a rookie's advice to another rookie might help? Eric's advice to get down low maybe 5 to 10 feet off the runway and fly the runway - maybe without touching down the first few times - is good. This even works if you fly with a CFI and he/she works the throttle and you just fly the plane. Find a nice long runway on a low wind day and just stabilize things and visualize the line up with the runway and add power as required to hold you off the runway. If you're lined up and it feels right, cut back on power and let the plane sink to the runway. Don't worry about landing but just flying and stabilizing. If it doesn't feel right, full power and do a go 'round (this is what is so nice about the CT, having power at any flap setting to do this). Don't know about others but 55kts is a "magic speed" for me and carrying a little bit of power, maybe 2800 rpm, during the landing is a suggestion that I got from other posters here and this is good too. In a few hours, things will just "pop" and you'll get control of things. You'll look back on this and be amused that it seemed so difficult.

Originally Posted by robert7777

I think I have about 20 or so hrs now and i cant seem to get the landing part. I have no problem with my approach ,but when I get about 8-10 feet from touch down i just dont feel the confident. I think I have probably 10 take offs and landings so far. When I took lessons in a 152 about 15 years ago I didnt remember it being this hard (the landing part). Im wondering what is average solo time for this plane?

I am still a student and have about 30 hours. It took me about 15hrs to solo because of the landings. I also started learning on a Cherokee which I think makes it harder since with the CT you actually have to be a little agressive with the rudder. Since last fall I only have a handfull of hours because of weather and was happy that I was able to just get it on the ground my first 2 flights of the spring. I just checked my log book and I had about 70 landings before I flew solo. I am now fighting with mastering xwind landings. I almost had a big oops last week as the wind swung around 180 degrees and I was landing with quartering tail wind. I tell ya when then wing came up it nearly scared the poop out of me. I wish the CT I fly was able to recieve AWOS. I started this learning adventure with a buddy, who stuck with the cherokee and he will be taking his checkride in next week or 2 where as I still have to do a cross country. I know it stinks when you feel your not learning fast enough and already past the required hours for sport pilot. Especially since I was sold this as a less expensive, quicker way to fly. Just be patient is all I can say and hope your money lasts longer than your patience. When your ready, your ready....

I learned on my 2006 CTSW and I think that makes things easier. I was able to solo in 7.5 hours and we initially focused on landing using zero flaps. The airplane lands much easier in this configuration for beginners and is more stable in minor crosswind conditions. Try that if you are having issues with round out and soft touch downs as your window of opportunity to get it right is bigger than at 15 degrees and way bigger than 30. Use an approach speed of about 65 knots for zero flaps. Once you get zero flap landings down it is an easier transition to 15 which is my normal landing configuration. 30 degree landings are different and you must be ready to use a bit of power during round out and touch down. I have 600 landings now in the CT, practice does make it all come together so keep at it.

BSEAGER..

I agree 100%... I spent about $1000.00 in lessons to my first CFI who would only let me do full flap, power off landings... I never felt comfortable.. After lots of hours I was able to solo and after reading on this forum the advise of Roger Lee and others, I tried the no flap, 15% flap, add some power landings... It all started to come together... My normal landing now is 15%, 2600-2800 rpm.... adjustments are of course needed as conditions change... I have this forum to thank for not wasting any more money trying to learn how to land.....the wrong way...
Brian