Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area IV, Task B

The Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach and Landing Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with normal approach and landing with emphasis on proper use and coordination of flight controls.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
    0:05
    Part 2, Descent Planning:
    0:10
    Part 3, Descent Performance Calculations:
    0:10
    Part 4, Factors Impacting Approach and Landing Performance:
    0:10
    Part 5, Landing Performance Calculations:
    0:10
    Part 6, Normal Approach & Landing Procedures:
    0:10
    Part 7, Anomalies and Malfunctions:
    0:10
    Part 8, Normal Approach and Landing Risk Management:
    0:10
    Part 9, Guided Scenario(s):
    0:15
    Part 10, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research and present a mishap case study:
    • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap.
    • Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap.
    • Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario.

  • Motivator:

    • Normal aircraft landings are the most basic of all landing procedures/maneuvers.
    • The purpose of this maneuver is to safely execute a landing under normal conditions (i.e., hard surface, minimal wind, plenty of available landing distance).
    • Normal landings are closely related to the performance of flight at minimum controllable airspeeds.
    • While this procedure is for normal landing, assuming the wind is blowing right down the runway, that will almost never be the case.

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Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Materials

Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
  • Part 2, Descent Planning:
    • Introduce crabbing to compensate for winds.
      • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply wind correction, runway alignment, and directional control through approach, touchdown, and rollout. (PA.IV.B.K3)
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of slips to landing to compensate for winds.
  • Part 3, Descent Performance Calculations:
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of pitch angle and its relationship to airspeed and approach-path control.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of vertical speed and its relationship to groundspeed and glidepath.
  • Part 4, Factors Impacting Approach and Landing Performance:
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of winds (airborne into surface) impacts to normal approach and landing performance, including determining wind direction with or without visual indicators. (PA.IV.B.K2; PA.IV.B.R2; PA.IV.B.R2a)
    • Introduce wind shear impacts to normal approach and landing performance.
      • Have the student assess windshear, tailwind, and landing-surface hazards and justify a safer alternative when margins are inadequate. (PA.IV.B.R2b; PA.IV.B.R2c)
    • Introduce wake turbulence considerations during normal approach and landing. (PA.IV.B.R2d)
      • Explain wake generation during landing and have the student plan avoidance using the preceding aircraft's path, touchdown point, and wind.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of outside air temperature and field elevation/density altitude impacts to normal approach and landing performance.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of runway surface condition impacts to normal approach and landing. (PA.IV.B.R2e)
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of runway slope impacts to normal approach and landing.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of gross weight impacts to normal approach and landing.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of flight profile impacts to normal approach and landing.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of tire pressure impacts to normal approach and landing.
  • Part 5, Landing Performance Calculations:
    • Review descent and landing performance reference material.
      • Have the student assess landing performance and select a suitable runway, approach path, and touchdown area using aircraft data, conditions, and personal limits. (PA.IV.B.R1)
    • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain weight & balance performance calculation.
  • Part 6, Normal Approach & Landing Procedures:
    • Identify current LAHSO weather minima and locate published available landing distance before evaluating acceptance; apply pilot eligibility, aircraft performance, and personal limits. (PA.IV.B.R3b)
    • Observe checklists, radio calls, correct landing-surface alignment, traffic/obstruction scanning, and suitable touchdown-point selection for wind and surface conditions. Identify and correct observed deviations to applicable ACS standards; brief safe exercise limits and control-transfer responsibilities. (PA.IV.B.S1; PA.IV.B.S2; PA.IV.B.S3; PA.IV.B.S4; PA.IV.B.S5)
    • Observe manufacturer approach configuration, airspeed, trim, and pitch/power adjustments for a stabilized approach; apply published speed or the ACS fallback with the appropriate gust allowance. Identify and correct observed deviations to applicable ACS standards; brief safe exercise limits and control-transfer responsibilities. (PA.IV.B.S6; PA.IV.B.S7)
    • Observe directional and crosswind control, smooth roundout/touchdown, proper pitch and point accuracy, no side drift, and longitudinal alignment over the landing path. Identify and correct observed deviations to applicable ACS standards; brief safe exercise limits and control-transfer responsibilities. (PA.IV.B.S8; PA.IV.B.S9; PA.IV.B.S10)
    • Observe timely go-around for an unsafe or out-of-tolerance approach and applicable runway-incursion avoidance. Identify and correct observed deviations to applicable ACS standards; brief safe exercise limits and control-transfer responsibilities. (PA.IV.B.S11; PA.IV.B.S12)
    • Use retrieval questioning to have the learner explain taxiing, as required.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of aircraft configuration considerations.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of normal landing procedures.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of multiengine considerations, as appropriate.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of normal landing common errors.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of normal landing lessons and case studies.
    • Introduce rejected landing and go-around considerations. (PA.IV.B.R3)
      • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply go-around planning and LAHSO acceptance or refusal, including available landing distance and pilot eligibility. (PA.IV.B.R3a; PA.IV.B.R3b)
      • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of prebriefed approach and runway-availability criteria, landing expectancy and delayed decisions, and aircraft-specific rejected-landing power, attitude, configuration, and flight-path priorities.
  • Part 7, Anomalies and Malfunctions:
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of aircraft-specific emergency procedures during approach, landing, and go-around.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of rejected landing and go-around decision-making.
  • Part 8, Normal Approach and Landing Risk Management:
    • Introduce collision hazards. (PA.IV.B.R4)
      • Use guided questioning to have the learner explain and apply occupied-runway rejection and unsafe traffic-pattern passing; prioritize control, predictable flight paths, lookout, communication, and separation without creating a second conflict.
    • Introduce low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin and controlled flight into terrain risks. (PA.IV.B.R5)
      • Have the student assess traffic, obstacle, stall/spin, and terrain hazards during the approach and select appropriate risk controls.
    • Introduce distractions, task prioritization, situational awareness, and disorientation. (PA.IV.B.R6)
      • Have the student assess distractions, competing tasks, loss of situational awareness, and disorientation during approach and landing, then justify workload-management actions.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of runway incursion risks.
  • Part 9, Guided Scenario(s):
    • Use the guided scenarios to evaluate approach, landing, and go-around decisions.
  • Part 10, Conclude Lesson:
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons (power-off-stalls) to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Using the aircraft's approved performance data, assess landing distance for the expected weight, elevation, temperature, wind, and surface conditions. Select an approach path and touchdown area with appropriate margins.
  • Vary the wind, runway condition, or available landing distance. Have the student justify continuing, selecting another runway, or diverting.
  • Present an unstable approach or a bounce. Have the student explain the decision to go around and the aircraft-specific control and configuration priorities.
  • Present a landing behind a larger aircraft. Have the student assess its flightpath, touchdown point, and wind before selecting a safe alternative.
  • Present a LAHSO offer. Have the student assess eligibility, available landing distance, and conditions, then justify acceptance or refusal.
  • Introduce traffic, an obstacle concern, or a distracting radio call during the approach. Have the student prioritize aircraft control, maintain situational awareness, and explain when a go-around is appropriate.
  • Discuss aircraft-specific go-around performance and terrain clearance, including multiengine considerations (if applicable).
Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach & Landing Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 3 ACS Elements
Risk Management 6 ACS Elements
Skills 12 ACS Elements
  • PA.IV.B.S1:
    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
  • PA.IV.B.S2:
    Make radio calls as appropriate.
  • PA.IV.B.S3:
    Ensure the airplane is aligned with the correct/assigned runway or landing surface.
  • PA.IV.B.S4:
    Scan the runway or landing surface and adjoining area for traffic and obstructions.
  • PA.IV.B.S5:
    Select and aim for a suitable touchdown point considering the wind, landing surface, and obstructions.
  • PA.IV.B.S7:
    Maintain manufacturer's published approach airspeed or in its absence not more than 1.3 times the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration (VSO), +10/-5 knots with gust factor applied.
  • PA.IV.B.S8:
    Maintain directional control and appropriate crosswind correction throughout the approach and landing.
  • PA.IV.B.S9:
    Make smooth, timely, and correct control application during round out and touchdown.
  • PA.IV.B.S10:
    Touch down at a proper pitch attitude, within 400 feet beyond or on the specified point, with no side drift, and with the airplane's longitudinal axis aligned with and over the runway center/landing path.
  • PA.IV.B.S11:
    Execute a timely go-around if the approach cannot be made within the tolerances specified above or for any other condition that may result in an unsafe approach or landing.
  • PA.IV.B.S12:
    Utilize runway incursion avoidance procedures.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Normal Approach & Landing Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Normal Approach and Landing requires disciplined planning, stabilized energy management, and precise control from the approach through touchdown and rollout.
    • Evaluating wind, runway conditions, obstacles, aircraft performance, and personal limitations helps pilots recognize when an approach remains safe and when a timely go-around is required.
    • Consistent airspeed control, runway alignment, traffic scanning, communication, and checklist discipline integrate aircraft handling with sound operational judgment.
    • Continued practice with Normal Approach and Landing prepares private pilots for changing conditions and increasingly demanding landing scenarios in later training.

  • Closure:

    • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.
    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.