As more and more pilots get their training at large, controlled airports with long, flat, paved runways, fewer new pilots have much, if any, real-world experience dealing with sloping runways. Even some seasoned pilots experience problems at a new airport with a runway of a different size or slope than what they’re used to.
One major potential issue on approach to a sloping runway has to do with visual illusions that can make it seem like you’re too high or too low. A downsloping runway can give you the impression you are lower than you really are. As a result, when flying an approach to a downsloping runway it can seem like you’re undershooting, even if you are on the proper glidepath.
