Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Practice Exam

How should a student manage their approach airspeed during a soft field landing?

1. Use minimum approach airspeed

2. Maintain the maximum performance approach airspeed

3. Speed should vary with wind conditions

4. Only focus on vertical speed

The correct answer is: Maintain the maximum performance approach airspeed

During a soft field landing, managing approach airspeed is crucial for ensuring a safe and controlled descent. The ideal practice is to maintain the maximum performance approach airspeed. This airspeed allows the aircraft to have optimal lift and control characteristics, which are essential when landing on a soft surface. Using the maximum performance approach airspeed ensures that the aircraft can achieve the best glide ratio and maintain a margin above stall speed, which is critical when transitioning from the approach to touchdown. This speed also helps manage the aircraft's energy and allows for better control inputs as the aircraft settles onto the soft surface, reducing the risk of sinking too quickly and potentially damaging the aircraft or getting stuck. While minimum approach airspeed may seem like a viable option for some scenarios, it can lead to a lack of control and an increased risk of stalling, particularly in soft field conditions where margins for error are smaller. Additionally, varying speed with wind conditions might introduce operational complexity that takes away from the primary need for stability and control during the landing phase. Focusing solely on vertical speed neglects horizontal control and overall situational awareness which are equally important when managing a soft field landing.