On final approach to a runway, from whenever the approach is initiated to about 100′ AGL, the aircraft should be flown in coordinated flight, meaning the inclinometer’s ball is in the center. Yes, there are times when a slip to landing can be used to kill excess altitude, but that is probably not the norm in most aircraft, certainly not the Malibu. From 100′ AGL down to touchdown, there is some debate as to how to mentally consider the approach and landing, especially in a crosswind situation.
As I’ve written about in another post, pitch should control the airspeed of an approach, and power should control the approach angle. That leaves us to control the roll and yaw axis. On approach below 100′ AGL, the rudder (yaw axis) controls the longitudinal alignment. As every tailwheel pilot will tell you, the longitudinal axis of the airplane must be aligned with the intended direction of landing, which is almost always synonymous with runway alignment. This goes for the tricycle landing gear airplanes as well. Yet, if any crosswind component exists, the airplane will drift downwind if the longitudinal axis is aligned with the runway and the wings are level. Here’s where the aileron’s come to play.
The ailerons control only lateral drift on an approach to landing. If there is no crosswind then the wings will be level. If any crosswind exists at all, then the wings will definitely not be level at touchdown because the ailerons will be used to control drift. How much aileron is used on landing? Answer: however much is needed to keep the airplane on centerline.
Landings are made quite easy if the controls of the airplane are assigned certain responsibilities. Pitch controls airspeed; power controls approach angle; rudder controls longitudinal alignment; ailerons control drift. They are all interrelated, but if you think about each flight control and let it only control a particular responsibility, then an approach to landing is much easier.
