A Flight Sim Enthusiast's Notebook

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Visual Perspective Changes During the Flare

I won’t write out the specific procedures; the materials from the Federal Aviation Administration (<a href=https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/course_content.aspx?cID=34&sID=164&preview=true>FAA) below are easy to understand:

However, regarding how to observe the changes in the visual perspective of the Runway, the explanation by the <a href=http://tieba.baidu.com/p/3970321943?pid=73705731249>Beautiful Pilot is very good, so I have transcribed it here.

During the Roundout, it is generally believed that you should look at the far end of the Runway. This is because, when you focus on the distance, you can see more details, and all the surrounding scenery is "telling you" the sink rate and altitude.

When focusing on the distance, you actually need to pay attention to the area in front of and to the sides of the nose cowling as well. When looking far ahead, there will be a moment when you feel the Runway being “flattened” significantly; at the same time, when you scan the front and sides of the nose cowling, there will be a moment when you feel the Runway expanding significantly. That is when you should perform the Roundout.

Throughout the entire process of the Roundout, you must pay full attention to visual expansion and deformation. You can no longer look at the instruments.

99% of people Roundout too early at the beginning. This is due to millions of years of human evolution… It is the human eye’s instinct to protect you from falling from a high place. Visual deformation creates a sense of fear, and you want to avoid this deformation early… or you deliberately look away. But avoidance is not the solution; you need to utilize it.

Descriptions like the Runway being “flattened” or the Runway “expanding” are quite vivid. Combined with the image above (bottom left, 10 Seconds Prior to Touchdown), it is easier to understand.

End