This essay is a confession.  In the mystery that is the perfect landing I believe I have been overlooking one of the most important variables.   The height of the seat!

A recent AOPA Magazine had a short article on the important of adjusting seat vertically and showed a picture of a small cockpit fixture used as a fiducial to make sure the pilot and co-pilot had precisely positioned their seats. 


                                       

It referenced a specific landing accident which was attributed in part to the poor seat position of the pilot flying.

www.mtc.gob.pe/portal/transportes/aereo/aeronauticacivil/alar_tool_kit/pdf/ap_nov93.pdf

 
                        


I did read the article intently but it would not have clicked unless I hadn't then gone flying in one our club '172s. 
Given that it is April 13th in Minnesota and it is STILL SNOWING I haven't done as much aviating as I normal do.  Saturday was a chance to knock off the cobwebs. 

The previous pilot of the 172 was probably shorter and smarter than I am -- and coupled with the slightly lower glareshield  I had an expansive view of the tarmac immediately in front of me.

What a difference!

I fear that in the last years of flying I have gotten in the habit of plopping down in the seat, dutifully adjusting it fore and aft (and doing the Cessna bump and grind check) and blasting off into the clag.  My only goal was to have a good grip on the rudders. 

I don't think I have ever turned the crank, and God knows that flight school seat cusion is long gone!

Perhaps some early experiences in my formative years flying from the aft seat coupled with the instrument fixation -- conditioned me that you didn't need to really see the runway?

The aircraft designer, and the pilot who set up the 172 before me knew this:

The design eye point is located to allow the pilot to see a length of approach or touch-down zone lights which would be covered in three seconds at final approach speed. This represents a distance of approximately 600 – 750 feet along the flight path.


                       

Here is an excellent article (also from AOPA)

http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/inst_reports2.cfm?article=4702

Here is an excellent discussion of the specifics:

http://www.avia141.com/Ch5_overview.htm

While I should write the substance of these on the chalkboard 100 times, rather than plagarize them here I post the links and offer this entry as confession. 

I may not be as dilligent as this F-18 pilot, but as I am sharing my flying steeds with pilots much taller than I am I will now be very deliberate to check the seat height.   In those cases where its not adjustable that old skanky boat cushion might be more important than the 40lb swag bag of gadgets ...



                    

Todd out