One thing is sure about flying. No matter where you are, what you are flying, or what the circumstances are, your flight will always end with a landing.
Many pilots agree that the quality and comfort of your landing depends entirely on how you fly the approach.
By improving your skills in flying approaches, and knowing the techniques for handling all kinds of landing conditions, you will be a safer and better pilot. Your passengers (and/or cargo) will benefit from a smoother touchdown, and the aircraft will receive less wear and tear.
The FAA is pleased to provide you this course, designed to help improve your knowledge and skills in this area.
This course is based on content in the FAA’s “Airplane Flying Handbook”. It is an ABRIDGED version of the Chapter 8, "Approaches and Landings" within that book.
THIS ONLINE COURSE IS OFFERED AS INFORMATION ONLY. It is NOT a substitute for authorized flight training. You must take proper training from qualified instructors prior to operating an aircraft.
1. NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING - PART ONE
Important!
Base Leg
Final Approach
Use of Flaps
Estimating Height and Movement
2. NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING - PART TWO
Roundout (Flare)
Touchdown
After-Landing Roll
Stabilized Approach Concept
Intentional Slips
3. GO-AROUNDS (REJECTED LANDINGS)
Power
Attitude
Configuration
4. GROUND EFFECT
5. WINDS ON APPROACH & LANDING
Crosswind Approach and Landing
Crosswind Final Approach
Crosswind Roundout (Flare)
Crosswind Touchdown
Crosswind After-Landing Roll
Maximum Safe Crosswind Velocities
Turbulent Air Approach and Landing
6. APPROACH & LANDING STRATEGIES FOR DIFFERENT AIRFIELD TYPES
Short-Field Approach and Landing
Soft-Field Approach and Landing
7. POWER-OFF APPROACHES
Introduction
Safety Considerations
General
Straight-In Gliding Approach
90° Power-Off Approach
180° Power-Off Approach
8. FAULTY APPROACHES
Low Final Approach
High Final Approach
Slow Final Approach
Use of Power
High Roundout
Late or Rapid Roundout
Floating During Roundout
Ballooning During Roundout
9. LANDING PROBLEMS
Bouncing During Touchdown
Porpoising
Wheelbarrowing
Hard Landing
Touchdown in a Drift or Crab
Ground Loop
Wing Rising after Touchdown
10. HYDROPLANING
Dynamic Hydroplaning
Reverted Rubber Hydroplaning
Viscous Hydroplaning
Avoiding Hydroplaning
To receive appropriate course credit for this course you must:
- Have an account on FAASafety.gov
- Be logged into that account
- Be enrolled in the course
- You must visit each chapter of the course, using the navigation bars at the top or bottom of each screen, and complete all the course material found on each.
NOTE: Some links may take you to other sites or open windows on top of the course window. You will need to return to this course on FAASafety.gov to complete the exam. This might be as simple as closing all the additional windows. However, you may find it necessary to return to FAASafety.gov, log in again, and then "continue" the course from the Course List.
- Upon completion of the review section the
button will turn blue 
indicating you are ready to start the examination. Upon successful completion of the exam you are given the appropriate course credit automatically.
