landings

[Icetoocool]

Hi guys as i am new dont be to harsh as this may sound stupid.
How do i know what a decent landing is, i mean i usually land but how do i know when to begin my decent and what speed i should be at.
any help would be great.

[EGNX]

Different aircraft land at different speeds. If your flying big airliners they can land at anywhere between 140 to 180 knots. Smaller aircraft and light pistoned aircraft can land at speeds of around 100 knots down to 40. Usually the aircraft your flying will have some documentation with it or if not im sure you will be able to find usefull information about it on the internet.

However if your new to the sim they I strongly recommend that you do the lessons on landings in the simulator, and then have a practise in light aircraft on your own. You don't really wan't to be jumping into 747's the first time you ever fly in the sim, cause your simply jumping in at the deep end.

Just practise for now perfecting the basics. You shouldn't really be worring about learing to fly the big jets just yet. Take the lessons and you should be advancing upwards in no time.  ;)

[MattNW]

Great advice from EGNX. Another lesson that may help is the one on slow flight. When I was learning to fly my instructor had me practice that before we worked on landings. It gives you a feel for how the airplane flies at low speeds which is almost exactly what you will experience during the approach and landing. It's a little harder in the sim because you don't have the physical sensation but it still helps.

[mjrhealth]

Hi, most runways have a VASI lighting sytem, thats the red and white lights at beggining of threshold. There are two types, one has a red / white light system that basically works by like this. If all the lights are red then you are too low if half are red and half are white then you are on glide slope ( abt 500 FPM for 3deg  glide slope ) if they are all white then you are too high. I normally set my descent rate using the throttle just adjust your speed untill you settle at correct descent rate. The other lighting system consits of all white light in a T. You basically set your descent rate so you only see the horizontal part not the vertical part. Once you have done this a few times you should be able to do a visual approach without the landing aids. Try to get to 2000 ft at 5 miles out that should put you under / below glide slope, ie all lights are red, as soon as you see half / half reduce speed and adjust it to sit on the glide slope. You should aslo check aircraft specs for ladding speeds and gear down , flap down speeds, it makes it so much easier. Only thing to watch for on small planes is that on some when you lower flaps will pull the nose up so you will need to counter with some nose down on the yoke. There are some aiports like London City that has I believe a 6deg glide slope, makes for a challenge.

Hope this helps

[retrovertigo]

Could I jump in on this thread rather than start a new one, and ask for tips when landing on snow? I'm finding it an absolute nightmare on one of the rescue missions. I try to come in as slowly as possible, but you land on sloped ground and as soon as I touch down I slide all over the place and cross my fingers! Any tips most welcome