Soft Field Takeoff and Landing

Soft Field Takeoff Before landing, will you be able

to take off? Complex and high performance

aircraft often have poor handling characteristics

Soft Field Takeoff Damage or extra wear on the

aircraft Debris for winds Birds or animals in wheel wells or

cowling Vandalism

Soft Field Takeoff Walk the taxi route and takeoff

runway Mark soft or wet spots Determine your takeoff abort

point 75% of VR by halfway point on the runway

Soft Field Takeoff Move the aircraft before getting

in for it may have settled into the ground

Soft Field Takeoff Objective - Exhibit your knowledge

of the elements related to a soft field takeoff • Get airborne as soon as possible• Transfer as much weight as possible

to the wings to minimize wheel friction

Soft Field Takeoff Position the flight controls and

flaps for the existing conditions to maximize lift as quickly as possible

Soft Field Takeoff• Verify wind direction• If there is a crosswind use full

aileron deflection at the start of the takeoff roll

• Full back pressure to remove stress from the nosewheel and minimize rolling resistance

Soft Field Takeoff• Visually check the flap setting

Clear the area, taxi onto the takeoff surface at a safe speed, align your airplane and without stopping advance the throttle

Soft Field Takeoff• Before taxing on the runway

clear the traffic pattern and runway

• Check mixture and prop set at high RPM

Soft Field Takeoff• Keep the plane rolling - Mud

may require more power to taxi - Watch your Propeller blast

• Watch for debris being sucked into the propeller

Soft Field Takeoff• After aligning with the runway

apply power smoothly - too quick can cause surging or or overboost of a turbocharged engine

• Applying power too slowly wastes runway

Soft Field Takeoff• Monitor the engine instruments

listening for and indication of power loss or roughness

• Abort if there is any indication of trouble

• Check that the airspeed indicator is alive

Soft Field Takeoff Establish a pitch attitude that

will transfer the weight of the airplane from wheels to wing

Soft Field Takeoff Back pressure should be applied

to establish a positive angle of attack which will reduce weight on the nose wheel and create lift to transfer weight from the the wheels to the wings

Soft Field Takeoff• As speed increases decrease the

back pressure to avoid excessive angle of attack

Remain in ground effect after takeoff while accelerating to VX or VY as required

Soft Field Takeoff• Ground effect should cause the

aircraft to become airborne below stall speed

Soft Field Takeoff• Failure to lower the nose will

cause the aircraft to climb out at too slow an airspeed and the increase in drag could cause the aircraft to settle back to the runway

Soft Field Takeoff• Lowering the nose too much can

cause you to fly back down to the runway

• With the proper level off you will accelerate to VX if there are obstacle present or VY ir there are no obstacles

Soft Field Takeoff Maintain VY =5/-5 kts

Retract the landing gear and flaps after a positive rate of climb or as specified by the manufacturer

Soft Field Takeoff• Before retracting the landing gear

apply the brakes to stop the rotation of the tires

• Follow the POH on retraction of the gear

• Normally the gear will be retracted before the flaps

Soft Field Takeoff• Flaps are normally retracted after you

have established VY and a positive rate of climb

• Raise the flaps in increments if appropriate to avoid sudden loss of lift and settling of the airplane

• Pitch for VY

Soft Field Takeoff Maintain a takeoff power to a safe

maneuvering altitude then set climb power• At 500 reduce power to 25 MP and

2500 RPM• At 300 below TPA reduce power to

23 MP

Soft Field Takeoff Maintain directional control and

proper wind drift correction throughout the takeoff and climb

Complete the appropriate checklist

Common Errors Improper initial positioning of

the flight controls or wing flaps Allowing the airplane to stop on

the takeoff surface prior to initiating takeoff

Improper power application

Common Errors Inappropriate removal of hand

from throttle Poor directional control

Common Errors Improper use of brakes Improper pitch attitude during

liftoff• Dragging tail of aircraft on

ground

Common Errors• Settling back to the runway because of

too high or too low a pitch attitude Failure to establish and maintain

proper climb configuration and airspeed

Drift during climbout

Soft Field Landing Objective - exhibit your

knowledge of the elements related to a soft field landing• Similar to a normal approach but

hold the aircraft off the runway and land with partial power

Soft Field Landing• Gradually transfer the weight of

the aircraft from the wings to the wheels

• Follow the POH

Soft Field Landing Consider the wind conditions,

landing surface and obstructions• Effects of the wind on landing

distance may be significant

Soft Field Landing• If the surface is soft and there is

a crosswind consider the impact of one main wheel touching down before the other

• Be aware of hazards and obstructions

Soft Field Landing• The descent angle may have to be steep

is obstacles are present Select the most suitable touchdown

point• Identify it to the examiner

• After selecting the touchdown point select your aim point

Soft Field Landing• Establish the recommended

approach and landing configuration and adjust pitch and power as required

• Use of flaps will aid touching down at minimum speed

Soft Field Landing• Flaps in low wing aircraft may suffer

damage from mud, stones, or slush thrown up by the wheels

Maintain a stabilized approach and the recommended airspeed with a gust factor applied +5/-5 kts

Soft Field Landing• Use partial power during the

roundout and touchdown

• Do not allow the aircraft to fall through

Soft Field Landing Maintain crosswind correction

and directional control throughout the approach and landing

Touch down softly, with no drift, and with the longitudinal axis aligned with the runway

Soft Field Landing• Maintain some power to assist in

making a soft touchdown

• Hold it off to slow airspeed and establish a nose high pitch attitude

Soft Field Landing• After touchdown maintain back

pressure to keep the nose wheel off the ground

• Maintain full back pressure Maintain after landing proper

position of the flight controls and taxi speed

Soft Field Landing• Maintain full back pressure

• Brakes are usually not needed

• Maintain speed so you do not bog down

• Use power as needed

• Do not taxi too fast

Soft Field Landing• Keep moving until you reach the

parking area Complete the appropriate

checklist

Common Errors Improper use of landing

performance data and limitations Failure to establish approach and

landing configuration at appropriate time or in proper sequence

Common Errors Failure to establish and

maintain a stabilized approach Failure to consider the effect of

wind and landing surface

Common Errors Improper technique in use of

power, wing flaps and trim Inappropriate removal of hand

from throttle Improper technique during

roundout and touchdown

Common Errors Failure to hold back elevator

pressure after touchdown Closing the throttle too soon

after touchdown

Common Errors Poor directional control after

touchdown Improper use of brakes