Pick your own glideslope reference
When coming down final approach in preparation to land, it’s important to know where on the runway you’ll touch down. Visual approach tools such as VASIs and PAPIs help with this, but a great way to nail your landing spot is to create your reference point. The actual point doesn’t matter, so long as it is easily defined. Painted runway markings make great reference points. As you’re flying down final, note where in your windshield you see the mark. If the mark moves from that point, you’re off the glideslope. If it’s going down in the windshield you’ll be too high, and if it’s going up, you’ll land short. But remember that even if you keep the reference point steady, you’ll land beyond the aiming point.
AOPA Flight Training staff
AOPA Flight Training Staff editors are experienced pilots and flight instructors dedicated to supporting student pilots, pilots, and flight instructors in lifelong learning.
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