Letters

One of the tips on landing stood out from the rest, not because it was better, but because it was completely contrary to all of the others (“10 Expert Tips on Landing,” September 2010 Flight Training). Over the numbers Arlynn McMahon recommends shifting your focus to “the far end of the runway—the horizon.” Any pilot attempting this technique at night or in poor visibility conditions will immediately realize how useless it is because there is nothing on which to focus.

In complete contrast, the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook guideline for focusing [when landing] includes, “When the pilot focuses too far ahead, accuracy in judging the closeness of the ground is lost and the consequent reaction will be too slow since there will not appear to be a necessity for action.”

So instead of being helpful, it seems from the FAA’s comments that the tip from McMahon would actually cause the pilot to have bad judgment in performing the landing—exactly where most problems occur.

Warren Webb Jr.
Cromwell, Connecticut

Arlynn McMahon responds: This technique works at night and in low visibility. During landing, the pilot’s horizon is more likely the trees at the end of the runway or the end of the lighted runway itself rather than where the sky meets the ground. 

Regarding the Airplane Flying Handbook, I guess we will have to split hairs on how far is “too far” ahead. Once the pilot is over the runway and beginning the flare, looking down a perhaps 5,000-foot runway is not “too far” in my opinion.

No two landings are alike. That’s why making consistently good landings is a challenge. A good instructor inspires a new pilot to make a thousand tiny control inputs while continuously reevaluating the situation based on a visual reference. 

To answer your question, “What would you have done?” (“Flight Lesson: The Wind Wins,” September 2010 Flight Training), I would not have taken off on this “...hour-long sightseeing adventure.” I have no instructor.

Marilyn Waldeck
Knoxville, Tennessee

High profiles

I just had to comment on your recent pilot profiles of well-known celebrities in Flight Training magazine.

Flight Training has always been an invaluable tool in my aviation “toolbox” and it is an inspiration to read about the aviation experience of people the likes of Kurt Russell, Zach Braff, Alton Brown, and Harrison Ford. Not only are these individuals well known to multiple generations of pilots and pilots in training, but reading about why they fly and the personal challenges they faced during training—and still face today—lets us all know that we are in good company and not alone in experiencing the same issues ourselves.

As a newly minted pilot whose learning has officially begun, I can readily relate to their stories and know, like them, I can successfully tackle the challenges ahead of me as I look to improve upon my training. Keep the profiles coming and thanks for making the challenges seem normal to all of us.

Lee Barnhill
Washington, D.C.