How to Fly a Visual Approach.

How to Fly a Visual Approach.

How to Fly a Visual approach without an electronic glideslope or some sort of VASI is a challenge for some Pilots. It is a procedure that should have been taught early in the learning process, but for what ever reason Pilots have trouble.
Flying an approach visually is really basic and simple. This technique has worked very well for me for 30 yrs and is what I teach my students. It's all about the picture out the window, that simple. You've picked your landing point, so where that point intersects through the windscreen, keep that point at the same spot on the windscreen and you will fly a consistent glidepath all the way down to your landing point. If that spot ( landing point ) starts to raise up, then your getting low. If that spot starts to go below, then your getting high on the glidepath. It's that simple!
If you want to throw some numbers into the equation, times your distance from the end of the runway by 3. ( 5 miles x 3= 1500 feet, 10 miles x 3= 3000 feet. ) This will keep you on a perfect 3 degree glidepath. Now obviously, your ground speed will determine your descent rate. The faster your GS is, the greater your vertical speed down. The spot on the window technique can still be used if your looking at the runway out the side window. Just keep that landing point on the same spot on the window until turning final, transition that spot to the front windscreen and continue to the runway.

I researched this question about How to fly a visual approach and wow, Pilots had some complicated formulas and procedures. Next time you fly an ILS in VFR conditions, take note what the picture out the window is, what's the attitude of the aircraft in relation of the horizon. Then where your landing point is on the windscreen, keep it there and you will always fly a consistent glidepath to any runway, guaranteed!