How do we align the papi lights?

I know it has to be 2 red and 2 white. But it’s hard to balance it. how can we do

As soon as you have two white / two red you are at the correct height. Now you need to maintain the correct glidepath.

Using instrument references you could maintain a vertical speed equal to groundspeed x 5 (e.g. 100 kts = 500 ft/min) and then adjust to maybe 300 ft/min when becoming low or 700 ft/min when high. This is the technique you would normally use when transitioning from IMC into VMC, slowly transfer your attention more and more towards outside references as you come closer.

Outside you should be focussing on the aiming point markers (the two large blocks abeam the PAPI), you could try flying one approach only focussing on the aiming point markers and nothing else. You will see that you will automatically end up where you are focussing on. When focussing on the markers you will quickly see if you are overshooting or undershooting i.e. when undershooting the markers move up on the windshield, when overshooting they will move down and eventually disappear under the nose.

With some practise you’ll be able to fly 2/2 all the way down to the aiming point markers. The PAPI, just like an ILS glideslope becomes more sensitive when you get closer so it becomes much harder to follow. Following the ILS glideslope or PAPI you will cross the threshold at 50 ft, over the markers you will start the flare and touchdown after.

In the picture below you can see the aiming point markers (big white blocks) aligned with the PAPI lights. This should be the focal point until starting the flare, upon starting the flare, shift your focus to the end of the runway, this will enable you to judge your height, rate of descent and any deviations from the centerline way more accurately. When following an ILS glideslope or PAPI you will end up at the two white blocks, touchdown will happen after those two large white blocks, within the touchdown zone.

image

Those landing challenges might let you think you should touch on the markers, this is not correct. You should follow a 3 degree path towards the markers, cross the threshold at 50 ft, start the flare and then land after. Only big airliners actually touch on the markers as the cockpit is far ahead of the main landing gear. In other words, when the flare is started with the cockpit approaching the markers, after a short flare the main gear will touch on the markers.

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i think i will approach with ils and exit AP and land simply

You could, but you won’t learn much from it. It might give you a sense of what a normal approach should look like. Otherwise its just a lot of practise. Easiest way is to really focus on the aiming point markers and nothing else, you will be able to see immediately if you are flying straight towards it or under / overshooting.

There was a discussion before about landing techniques in the forum and I decided to check what I am actually looking at and focussing on during landing, this happens subconsciously after so many years, I thought I might have adopted some techniques or habits I wasn’t aware off.

I found that after flying for 12 years of flying professionally. I’m still doing exactly as I was taught in flight school. On final approach crosschecking between speed and aiming point, far out or in less then ideal visibility maybe a crosscheck with vertical speed. Then focussing towards the end of the runway upon starting the flare. I have been an instructor before so maybe it became hardcoded :joy:.

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It used to be hard for me too. However, since I have been using VR it is so easy.

Thank you so much for thinking so well. Will I have to learn a lot from here? I also want to learn to read charts

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This is exactly why real pilots practice approaches almost endlessly in the real world. It’s a skill that must be continuously sharpened. Once you know how to trim out the plane for the approach, use the throttle to adjust your position within the PAPI beams. If you have three-four reds, gently increase throttle instead of pulling back on the controls. When you’re at final approach speed, pulling back without more throttle can easily slow you down to the point of stalling.

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Please watch,
"(Rod Machado) ",Evaluating Your Glidepath With Runway Geometry - YouTube

"(Fly8MA) ", Airport PAPI Lights | How They Work - YouTube

I wrote a how-to guide on proper approach and landing. It also describes the mentioning pitch = speed, power = path method. this method is a little out dated though, its also not transferable onto larger aircraft.

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