Judging the approach angle from the runway picture
Base leg: start descent by the angle the runway appears at, not a fixed distance or time.
- Stronger wind = greater angle before starting down (TP 1102 Ex.17).
- Why: stronger wind steepens final approach, so delay descent.
Once descending: judge high or low against the picture. Correct with flaps or power.
On final: hold angle using the perspective phenomenon.
- Runway seen from approach: four-sided shape, wider at near end, equal-length sides converging toward horizon.
- Constant angle: shape stays constant all the way down.
| Angle goes | Runway appears |
|---|---|
| Steeper | Longer and narrower |
| Shallower | Shorter and wider |
- Relationship between the sides stays the same: angle holding constant, touchdown near the threshold.
Trap: treating runway growth as a problem. It should grow closing in; constant shape (side relationship), not size, shows the angle is right.
References
- TP 1102 Ex.17 The Circuit
- TP 1102 Ex.18 Approach and Landing, Flaps and Trim