Some really good tips here.
I’ll put some that I learned during primary training that stuck.
- Airspeed is king. Flying the proper speeds in the pattern or on an approach is paramount. You want to know your aircraft’s speeds for the approach, over the threshold and what speed will give you the minimal amount of energy when the mains touch. Especially important for GA aircraft, but applies to jets, too (where knowing and nailing VREF + whatever additive is very important).
- Perfect patterns lead to perfect landings. (also applies to perfect approaches lead to perfect landings). Try to fly the pattern as perfectly as you can. Know the speeds and altitudes for downwind, base, final. Don’t fly too wide or too tight. The more perfect you make your pattern (or approach), the better position you will be in to make a perfect landing.
- (has been mentioned before)… in GA aircraft, in general, pitch for airspeed, power for altitude. Doesn’t apply as much for jets, but in light, single engine piston, this rule is key.
- Don’t overcorrect. If you have followed the above steps and you are in a good position and on speed on final… don’t mess with it
I have seen too many people continue to jockey the throttle (TLs), apply large inputs to the elevator/alierons… it just messes things up. Oh… Be IN TRIM. Don’t fight the yoke. You should almost be able to fly final with your fingertips. Light control inputs only, please! - As you approach the runway, shift your gaze from the aiming point to farther down the runway. As you get in to ground effect, your gaze should have shifted all the way down the runway. Do not look over the nose! Especially important at night (ask me how I know ).
- Don’t try to land the airplane… let the airplane stop flying. If you try to force the airplane down, you will have a bad day. If you are too fast, the airplane still wants to fly. You need to hold the airplane off the runway until it has lost the energy required for flight. If you do this (while looking far down the runway), and pull the power out at the correct time, holding the airplane off the ground until it just settles on the mains will produce good landings every time. Barreling in at a speed at which the airplane still wants to fly and then forcing it down is the way to either jam the nosegear through the firewall, bounce, porpoise, prop-strike or all four.
- Mentioned before, but - relax. Breathe. Too many people get stressed, tighten up and then end up overcontrolling and/or smashing it down to just get the whole thing over with. Just relax. (I swear your level of energy and mood translates in to how you fly in general, not just the landing phase of the flight).
- Practice. Again, has been mentioned, but bears repeating. It’s a sim! Practice a lot. You aren’t paying for gas or renting the airplane, so you have no excuse
Hope that helps! Sorry, this turned out to be a bit long. Just sort of going through my head trying to remember how it was taught to me a long time ago…