Aiming point

FlyBoyJae

FlyBoyJae

New Member
I am just a little confused.

Observing the aiming point and the touch down zone on precision approach runways, I notice that aiming point comes after the touch down zone.

This is quite contrary to what I was taught; that your aiming point should be before the touch down zone. For instance, I normally aim for the numbers, cut off power to idle over the aiming point then round out/flare land over the aiming point. during short field landing, i was taught to pick an aiming point before the numbers so that i can touch down on the numbers. it worked just fine.
but why is it that on AIM, aiming point comes after the touchdown zone?

I am confused.

help.
 
Just a little confused. The terminolgy for the "aiming point" runway marking is being used in a slightly different way than you are using it for landing.

When you use an "aiming point" as part of your landing training, you are choosing a location that you aim your airplane at that, if you have managed your airspeed and descent rate properly, will result in you touching down where you want. They don't have a mark for that on the runway. The reasons are pretty obvious. Assuming that you want to touch down 200' after the runway threshold, the "aiming point" for a 150 coming in at 60 kts will be in an entirely different place that the "aiming point" for a jet coming in at 130, won't it? Even in your 152, assuming you want to land on the same spot, your aiming point will be different depending on the amount of headwind you have, no?

The aiming point =marking= on a runway is intended to give the pilot a target on which to touch down, not to aim the nose of the airplane, flare and then possibly float beyond the other end of the runway. Remember that the runway markings, especially those on precision runways, are there to tell the pilot where she is in low visibility conditions.

The touchdown zone markings (plural) are markings that define an area - give the pilot information about where he is with relation to the approach end and the midpoint of the runway. Even the type of markings change as you get closer to the middle, so the pilot in low visibility can make the go-around decision if he goes too far.

So, the relative placement has a reason. You want to touch down on the "aiming point marking" which is =within-= the touchdown zone.

Go back and read the whole AIM explanation again and see if it makes mores sense.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top