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