Precautionary landing site procedures
A precautionary landing is a planned landing at a site of doubtful or unknown condition, inspected from the air before committing. Not an emergency forced landing.
Inspection by site (initial inspection set by what is known about the site):
| Site | Condition | Initial inspection | Next steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Familiar aerodrome | Doubtful runway | Use radio advisory service if any. If none: fly normal circuit onto final, then instead of landing fly level beside the runway, as low as safe, to inspect the surface. Repeat passes if unsure | Repeat low passes beside runway. Satisfied: another normal circuit, then land. Not: depart for alternate |
| Unfamiliar aerodrome | No advisory service | Fly overhead at least 500 feet above circuit altitude. Pick runway, circuit direction, other features affecting approach | Descend on inactive side, join normal circuit, make inspection passes as needed. Satisfied: land. Not: depart for alternate |
| Unprepared surface | - | Same as unfamiliar aerodrome, plus if possible a pass well above circuit altitude. Check wind, traffic, obstacles, site layout before descending | Descend on inactive side, join normal circuit, make inspection passes as needed. Satisfied: land. Not: depart for alternate |
| Minimum time | Deteriorating weather, approaching darkness, low fuel, illness on board, engine trouble | Skip the high pass. Inspect while passing overhead on crosswind, from the inactive side parallel to the landing path, on downwind, or on base leg | Abbreviated looks only, but long enough to get information for a safe landing |
Trap: minimum-time procedure is triggered by outside pressure (weather, dark, fuel, illness, mechanical problem), not pilot impatience. Take as long as the information needs; shorten inspection only when forced.
References
- TP 1102 Ex.21, Precautionary Landing: Landing at a Familiar Aerodrome; Landing at an Unfamiliar Aerodrome; Landing on an Unprepared Surface; Landing with Minimum Time for the Inspection