Precautionary Landing, Basics
Chapter 17.1
Decision Making for a Precautionary Landing
Technical problems, such as obvious or suspected damage to the engine or other essential parts of the aircraft, an unforeseen and rapid weather deterioration, nightfall or a loss of orientation may lead to the decision to make a precautionary landing.
In the past, the unwarranted fear of the consequences of such a decision often led pilots to continue under conditions that continuously worsened, ending in a serious accident.
Decision Making for a Precautionary Landing
Deciding to do a precautionary landing should not be postponed until the worsening of the situation, such as the additional risk posed by new landing difficulties. Such risks may include:
- FUEL SHORTAGE, STARVATION
- forced landing in inappropriate terrain
- landing under precarious visibility and light conditions
Passengers must be informed in advance of the intention to do a precautionary landing. If this is to take place outside an aerodrome, the same preparations must be made as for a forced landing.
Precautionary Landing at an Aerodrome
The landing decision must take into account the PERFORMANCE of the aircraft when landing. These criteria are:
- sufficient length of the landing surface for the current landing mass
- landing surface load limit
- deteriorating weather conditions (crosswind, ice or puddles etc.)
Safety considerations will have priority over operational aspects.
Without RTF contact with an air traffic control unit or AFIS, it will be necessary to count on light and visual signals from the ground (table in the VFR-GUIDE).
Landing Outside an Aerodrome (in a Field)
If it is no longer possible to reach an aerodrome safely, you have to start looking for suitable terrain to perform a precautionary landing. The criteria for choosing the terrain are the same as for a forced landing after engine failure (Chapter 16).
Unlike a forced landing after an engine failure, during the precautionary landing you can always interrupt the procedure, repeat it, or look for another place if the landing is risky.