As an old naval aviator with many night carrier landings—the ultimate black hole—I could not help but notice there was no reference to using the PAPI on glideslope in Jim Wolper’s February 2023 article, “The Black-Hole Approach.” On the carrier, we had the meatball for a glideslope. Our scan was, meatball, centerline, angle of attack. No flare. Touchdown with an approximate descent rate of 700 fpm.
Of course, with a pitching and rolling deck, you may never see the meatball. Happened to me one night. Two bolters and a trap; never saw the ball. The LSO talked me in.
