Landing from the Right Seat

R

Revolutionist

New Member
Advice on how to land from the right seat? Seems like I always end up far right of centerline! How do I keep it ON the centerline? As if I were flying from the left?
 
The first landings I did from the right seat were during my CFI training. I had the same issues. For me the easiest was letting my instructor take a few landings (and I was able to talk him through them at the same time learning how to instruct) to get the sight picture down. For me it was all learning the new sight picture. A few landings by my CFI from the left really helped me on the right.
 
Practice? I actually have found flying from the right seat to be more natural (after getting over the different sight picture), because I can use my right hand.....used to flying with stick in the right, throttle in left.
 
Revolutionist said:
Advice on how to land from the right seat? Seems like I always end up far right of centerline! How do I keep it ON the centerline? As if I were flying from the left?
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It seems from some of your posts that you're working up the ratings ladder. If I'm incorrect on this, I apologize.

The most basic answer is to butt the stripes under your butt, just like you do from the other seat.

The most simple issues can seem the most difficult to perform some times, so don't worry about it.

Just like you learned from the left seat, go do your airwork from the right seat. That is mainly to teach your right hand how to fly, as you're used to flying with the left and throttle with the right. Go out, do some slow flight, some lateral slips and some forward slips.

Once you can track and do all that OK, go back and do some approaches. If they're not lining up quite right, just fly down the length of the runway trying to maintain centerline.

Then land after you feel comfortable with that.

It happens to all of us. I have a buggaboo of a time when I first hop in a seat, even if it's in cruise, until the muscle memory does the side-to-side flip flop.
 
You're right of centerline because you're trying to land as if you're still in the other seat. Try lining up on final with the extended centerline running directly underneath your seat. That way, even if you land with the centerline right under your seat, you'll still be within a foot of center.
 
:yeahthat:

It's all about the sight picture. When I fly 172s and PA28s from the left seat, it looks like the runway centerline lines up with my right knee if I were to extend it into the cockpit. When I fly from the right, the picture is reversed. The runway centerline lines up with my left knee. Like was already mentioned, have your instructor land and reference the centerline to something on the cowling or in the cockpit that you can see in your periphery as you still want to be looking towards the horizon during the flare and touchdown.
 
Mike H said:
You're right of centerline because you're trying to land as if you're still in the other seat. Try lining up on final with the extended centerline running directly underneath your seat. That way, even if you land with the centerline right under your seat, you'll still be within a foot of center.
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Exactly how I got used to it!
 
As Polar pointed out, just make a few low approaches over the centerline and don't land the airplane. Get used to the sight picture while flying the length of the runway a foot or two above. Don't worry about landing it until you have that sight picture down.
 
I recently started CFI and I can agree with what everybody else is saying. Just practice, practice and practice. I am starting to get more comfortable with the right seat, but I think it just takes some time to get used to.
 
I had a CFI in college that asked if I was familiar with a Friday night landing strip? Think perverted. Then every landing "plan" your approach right in the middle and feel it down softly. Still works 4000+ hours later...
 
Put the centerline under your butt. As for landing straight, get your CFI to show you a few while you really, really look at what straight looks like from the right seat.
 
Right seat vs left.......you're a few feet difference. Why is this so difficult?
 
MikeD said:
Right seat vs left.......you're a few feet difference. Why is this so difficult?
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don't worry about him, he probably has heat stroke...LOL:rotfl:

I look out the center of the airplane when I am taxiing and make sure that I am centerline, then when I line up to take off, I check...then I look at what that looks like from whichever seat I'm in and use that reference.
 
kiloalpha said:
Muscle memory... I suppose it comes naturally to dual rated pilots such as yourself though.
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Fair point. Esp since landing/flying from the right seat is more "intuitive" for me, having been in fighters for a long time and helos now.........throttle/stick are in the "correct" positions.

But thats just the flying and actual controlling part, which I can see. As far as lineup problem goes and the landing perspective, its only a few feet difference than what one is used to. That's not that difficult.
 
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