Short/Soft landings from the right seat for CFI

DesertNomad

DesertNomad

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DesertNomad
I have about 1,000 total hours and passed the oral part of the CFI checkride a few days ago with a discontinuance due to weather. I'll be taking the flight portion this weekend.

I normally fly a Dakota and 80% of my time is in my plane. For the CFI, I am using an early 60s Cherokee 180 which has the raised bump in the glareshield on the right side and has another GPS doodad mounted on top of that.

This means that it is hard (near impossible) to see out when landing with high pitch-up attitudes especially on short field landings. I have to use peripheral vision but can't really tell when I hit my mark as I can't see the runway in front of me (so can't really tell were I landed in relation to any runway stripe).

If I want to see, I have to land a bit flat which provides less aerodynamic braking right at the touchdown point. While the right seat took 6-8 hours to get used to, the short/soft landings have taken much more time.

Has anyone done the CFI right seat transition in a Cherokee like this and how many hours of practice did it take you?

I am confident I can fly to standards, I just wish I could have more precision because the last several seconds are essentially flying nearly blind. My CFI says my landings when I can't see are some of my best landings. hahaha.
 
MauleSkinner said:
Use a wider mark, or identify something to the side of the runway that you can see.
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I think the first taxiway exit is the only choice, but it is quite a ways down the runway. All the sagebrush looks the same.
 
Turn your head and scan to the right side to see the runway environment.

You are lucky you can see over the glareshield at all. Some airplanes have no forward vis in the landing attitude.
 
Seat cushion?
 
MauleSkinner said:
Pick a lighted runway and/or learn to count runway lights when you’re landing.
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That was going to be one of my suggestions as well. If you haven't already, get some tailwheel time. You'll learn to land somewhat blind, using your peripheral vision.
 
midwestpa24 said:
You'll learn to land somewhat blind, using your peripheral vision.
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The bottom line is acquiring and refining skills that you haven’t really needed before. There’s not an “easy fix” other than more practice.
 
Practice. It's a small cockpit, move your head as necessary to see what you need to see. And boost yourself up if you can't see over the glare shield properly. And don't forget to explain what you're doing, you're demonstrating your ability to teach the maneuver, not just to accomplish it.

good luck!
 
MauleSkinner said:
The bottom line is acquiring and refining skills that you haven’t really needed before. There’s not an “easy fix” other than more practice.
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Yep. It'd be easy in a plane with a normal panel. I am working to get used to it but on some runways there aren't many good markers. I am holding it straight and making good landings. This is more about me judging if I landed 10' short or not.

I'd love to get more tailwheel time - I only have about a dozen hours.
 
Can you fly the Dakota for your checkride?
 
WDD said:
Can you fly the Dakota for your checkride?
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He probably can’t find an instructor with a Dakota rating in his instructor certificate. :rolleyes:

Seems like most instructors will only teach airplanes they’ve been taught.
 
MauleSkinner said:
He probably can’t find an instructor with a Dakota rating in his instructor certificate. :rolleyes:

Seems like most instructors will only teach airplanes they’ve been taught.
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It’s a check ride with a DPE - no instructors involved.
 
WDD said:
It’s a check ride with a DPE - no instructors involved.
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He’s not getting training for the checkride?

As an instructor, I don’t think I’d give training in one with the expectation of a checkride in the other without at least making sure the applicant can do the maneuvers in the checkride airplane.
 
He’s taking the check ride to become a CFI. He did the oral but flying was postponed because of weather.
 
WDD said:
He’s taking the check ride to become a CFI. He did the oral but flying was postponed because of weather.
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Which brings up the other question I had…why is this suddenly a problem after the oral?
 
MauleSkinner said:
Which brings up the other question I had…why is this suddenly a problem after the oral?
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It’s not. I am just looking for more perfection. It’s easy on runways with good side marks, but when it’s only sagebrush or dirt and I can’t see the stripes, it’s a bit of a pain. I flew today with a dozen landings hitting the mark each time, but I had someone in the left seat which has much better visibility and the airport had good runway marks and lights.

I would never instruct in the Dakota and transitioning between them takes a few landings as the site picture is really different.
 
While you would never instruct in a Dakota, would it be a better plane to pass your check ride as you’re used to it? But sounds like you’ve got things figured out.

We need more CFI’s - knock ‘‘em dead this weekend!
 
Nah. The PTT on my Dakota is on the left yoke horn even for the right seat. It is much more comfortable in the 180 except for the wonky high glare shield.

All my right seat time is in the 180 with the exception of a couple in a 172 (for spins and once when the 180 was unavailable), and safety pilot time which doesn’t really count.
 
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