Have you ever felt like you can’t figure out when to flare? Flaring is by far the most challenging part of your landing to master, and it requires a great deal of finesse. However, if your airspeed is in the right range and your glide path is steady, it becomes relatively simple.
To execute a successful flare and landing, there are a couple of key factors you need to have under control as you approach the runway: airspeed and flare height.
Step 1: Mastering Airspeed
Let’s begin with airspeed. Your final approach speed depends on two things: your landing weight and your flap configuration. For most aircraft, you can find the published final approach speed in your Pilot’s Operating Handbook or Airplane Flight Manual. It might be located in Section Five, next to the landing distance information, or in Section Four, within the landing procedures.
Cessna recommends flying at 60-70 knots with full flaps on final, and 61 knots across the threshold for a short field landing distance on the 172. Again, this is the speed required to achieve the POH’s published landing performance. For the SR-22T, Cirrus suggests flying at 80-85 knots with full flaps on final, and at 79 knots as you cross the runway threshold. This is the speed needed to achieve the published short field landing performance.
Remember that these speeds are specified for maximum gross weight. If you are lighter than the maximum gross weight, you should fly at a slightly slower speed. Otherwise, you will be too fast for your weight and your landing will be floaty. If you are lighter than the maximum gross weight and you are still floating down the runway when you flare, continue reducing the airspeed by a few knots each time you cross the threshold until you find the speed that works for you. Even small changes in airspeed can make a big difference.
If your aircraft’s manufacturer doesn’t provide a final approach speed recommendation, the FAA suggests using 1.3 times VS0.
Step 2: Judging the Right Time to Flare
Now that you are at the correct speed for the flare, you need to determine the appropriate altitude to begin raising the aircraft’s nose for the flare and landing. For almost all general aviation aircraft, you should start the flare at about 10 feet above the runway. Unfortunately, 10 feet is not very practical as your altimeter may not be sensitive enough to accurately measure that height.
Fortunately, there is a better way to judge your flare, and this leads us to the video below…
When the Runway Zooms in Size…
Watching the runway expand in your windscreen is the ideal way to judge your flare. As you fly down final, the runway gradually gets larger in your windscreen. However, when you are about 10 feet above the ground, the runway expands at nearly 10 times the previous rate. When you notice the runway “zoom” in your windscreen, it’s time to flare.
So what exactly does the zoom look like? Watch the video below. We have mapped the runway width from short final to touchdown.
The Combination of Airspeed and Altitude for a Perfect Landing
Airspeed and altitude control are the key to great landings. If you fly at the published speed on final approach and start the flare when the runway starts to zoom in your windscreen, you are setting yourself up for a smooth and gentle landing. When you put all these elements together, you will impress both your passengers and yourself.
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