Removing one word instantly improved my landings
Landing an airplane smoothly is one of the biggest challenges for new pilots. The process requires precise control, a good understanding of energy management, and the ability to react appropriately as the aircraft transitions from flight to touchdown. While many flight instructors teach the standard landing steps—reducing power, rounding out, and flaring—one simple change in terminology made a dramatic difference in my ability to land consistently.
The Word That Changed Everything
The word I removed from my cockpit vocabulary?
Flare!
During training, I followed the three basic steps most students are taught for landing:
Reduce power to idle when crossing the numbers.
Round out as the aircraft enters ground effect.
Flare by raising the nose to the horizon and allowing the main wheels to touch down first.
Despite following these steps, I struggled with ballooning—when the aircraft gains altitude again after an attempted landing. I wasn’t alone; many of my fellow students experienced the same issue. At the time, I didn’t fully understand why this was happening. Now, with more experience, I realize the problem: I was introducing the flare too soon while the aircraft still had excess energy.
Rethinking the Flare
After watching numerous videos and analyzing my own landings, I finally had an epiphany. In small general aviation aircraft, the flare is not a distinct action but a reaction to the aircraft naturally losing speed and descending. When I tried to actively flare, I was increasing drag too early, generating extra lift, and inadvertently causing the aircraft to balloon.
So what was the solution?
Wait!
Rather than rushing to flare, I focused on holding my altitude just a few feet above the ground. By allowing airspeed to bleed off naturally, the aircraft would settle into the landing on its own. The key was resisting the urge to pull the nose up too soon. Instead, I maintained my height above the runway until the aircraft naturally started descending, at which point I gradually applied back pressure to achieve a smooth touchdown.
A Simple Yet Effective Change
To reinforce this concept, I asked my instructor to stop using the word "flare" entirely. Instead, we replaced it with "hold." This simple change in terminology had a profound impact on my landings:
Less Ballooning: I was no longer forcing the flare prematurely.
More Control: Holding altitude until the aircraft naturally settled improved my ability to manage energy.
Smoother Landings: By reacting to the aircraft’s behavior rather than forcing an action, my landings became consistently smoother.
Final Thoughts
For student pilots struggling with landings, small changes can make a big difference. Replacing "flare" with "hold" helped me break the habit of pulling back too soon and allowed me to develop a better feel for energy management during touchdown. If you're facing similar challenges, try shifting your mindset—it might just be the key to unlocking consistently smooth, buttery landings.
Happy flying!
