Normal Approach & Landing

Objective

• To develop the student's skill in planning and making a normal landing

Elements

• Use of landing Checklist-BFAVS
• Selection of approach profile
• Use of burner and maneuvering vent
• Stabilize balloon on ground

Equipment

• In-flight maneuver

Instructor’s Actions

• Describe and diagram approach profile of a spot landing, approach over an obstacle, stair step approach and steep approach- describe spot landing as flight along a line to a spot on a field, as in level flight except with constant descent rate
• Pre-flight discussion on minimum altitude requirements if performing level flight over obstacles or stair step approaches
• Pre-flight discussion on appropriate landing spots in congested areas
• Pre-flight discussion on sudden impending power line

Student’s Actions

• Use landing checklist while performing each type of approach profile
• Demonstrate knowledge of minimum altitude requirements, appropriate lands sites, emergency action to take if power lines are suddenly encountered
• Avoid excessive rates of descent on approach and terminate landing in a timely manner, if necessary.

Completion Standards

• Student should explain the elements of a normal landing including the use of a checklist and perform normal landings using the various approach profiles noting the relative merits of each and related safety factors.

Common Student Errors:

The instructor should anticipate the common student errors associated with

1.     Approach to land

• Improper consideration of obstacles in landing area
• Failure to establish an appropriate profile in a stabilized manner
• Failure to abort approach, if necessary, in a timely manner

2.     Normal landing

• Incomplete passenger briefing
• Improper use of vent and burner control- and
• Failure to stabilize balloon on touchdown

3.     Obstruction clearance

• Failure to respond timely to the presence of obstructions
• Poor techniques for avoiding obstructions- and
• Use of improper procedures when collision is imminent

4.     Recovery

• Lack of consideration for minimizing property damage; and
• Incomplete briefing and poor supervision of ground crew

5.     Deflation and packing

• Hazards resulting from failure to follow recommended procedures
• Poor planning, improper technique, or faulty judgment; and
• Incorrect storage procedures

NOTE - Students have some consistent problems with level approaches over an obstacle and into a field beyond.  When the obstacle is a tree row, the student's flight path always takes a dip before the treeline. This situation requires a rapid ascent over the approaching trees and generally the loss of the field beyond as a landing site. Students apparently feel that trees are soft and will cause no ill effect if plowed through. The opposite deviation from the level flight path occurs when the student approaches power lines just before the landing spot. Here the approach always includes an ascent while crossing the power line and again the loss of the field beyond as a landing site.

One way an instructor can stop this subconscious reaction is to predict the outcome of the approach to the student.  The student will recognize the reason for his ability to fly level.  After two or three approaches with this knowledge, the student will be able to control this undesirable action.