New answers tagged runways
1
As a pilot, switching from my training on a 50 ft runway to landing frequently on a 150 ft wide runway was slightly challenging.
The FAA describes two illusions:
Wide Runway
Looks closer on final and you will tend to float and flare high.
Narrow Runway
Looks farther away on final and you will tend to approach at a higher rate of descent.
3
When landing an airplane you get used to visual reference points to evaluate your position relative to the ground. Optical illusion are therefore quite common.
A narrower-than-usual runway can create an illusion that the aircraft is higher than it actually is, leading to a lower approach. A wider-than-usual runway can create an illusion that the aircraft is ...
3
The issue has always been human perception. Pilots are tasked with trying to make great landings every time. One way they do that is with the peripheral vision. If the runway is too wide, they lose that extra clues on when to roundout and flare. They will most likely flare too early and stall the aircraft too high above the runway. This perceptual clue ...
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