Since a good landing comes from a good approach, if you fly the traffic pattern the same way each time, youre most of the way toward perfecting your landings. Try these suggestions for what to do and where to be at each point in the pattern, and youll be consistently gliding over the threshold at the proper speed and altitude. Modify as necessary for conditions, of course, but aim to hit each of these yardsticks in the pattern and youll have eliminated some of the more common problems pilots have with their landings.
1. Enter pattern in level flight, abeam the midpoint of the runway, at the recommended altitude. (1000 feet agl is recommended for most personal airplanes unless established otherwise.) The average piston-powered airplane needs no more than 150 KIAS at this point, and slower can be better, depending.
