Making emergencies predictable
Emergencies are practiced again and again for the strict purposes of developing judgment and muscle memory. The forced landing itself uses the muscle memory of a standard landing. To help with the judgment, of positioning think in terms of the key position.
You’ve chosen a landing site, you head toward it, and you set up to land. But you’re way too high. That means it’s time to spiral over the landing site until you descent to about 1,000 feet above the ground, abeam the touchdown spot on the downwind leg. This is called the key position because it’s where your muscle memory will kick in and you’ll be able to (hopefully) execute a perfect forced landing.
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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