Ah, landing. It’s what learning to fly is all about, isn’t it? It’s often what causes the most consternation as well. Secrets abound about how to grease the wheels (or floats) onto the surface. Although the flare through touchdown demands excellent hand-eye-foot coordination, the process hinges on our ability to quickly and accurately interpret what we’re seeing.
It’s important to distinguish between looking and seeing as well. Looking refers to the direction our eyes are pointed; seeing refers to the ability to perceive what’s happening around us. Whether landing a Gulfstream or Champ, Cessna or Cirrus, Stearman or even a Pitts, it’s important to look straight ahead. What you want to see, however, is a panoramic view of the landing environment as if peering through a fisheye lens: be aware of what’s streaming to your eyes over the nose of the airplane as well as what’s streaming in peripherally.
