How to land on a grass airstrip

All,

My goodness, this is great I searched in Google and in my books and I
couldn't find a lot of info on the matter, then I decided to try the
forum and then... bum... 112 posts, I really appreciated all answers,
it makes me think that the subject is not as simple as I though. I have
only 90hours in my log and only 12 hours solo, most of them in a
Diamond katana DV20 and never land in any other surface than asphalt. I
think I'm going to invest in one hour CFI, to get the minimum
knowledge transfer and then try it myself. Thank again for all the
answers.

Clive Rudd Fernandez

john smith wrote:
In article ,
Stefan wrote:

unicate schrieb:

"Improved" at our flight school, and at other flight schools/FBOs at
this municipal airport and two others within a 15 nm radius means PAVED,
period.

I'm not a native English speaker, so what do I know, but if I had
translated that way in my English tests, I sure would have failed.

Little know fact... many US barristers get their undergraduate degree in
English before going on to get their JD.

unicate schrieb:
"Improved" at our flight school, and at other flight schools/FBOs at
this municipal airport and two others within a 15 nm radius means PAVED,
period.

Stefan:
I'm not a native English speaker, so what do I know, but if I had
translated that way in my English tests, I sure would have failed.

I agree with you that "improved" literally would include an actual
airstrip that has been graded and designated for such use; however, I'm
just relaying how the schools and FBOs in this area translate "improved"
in the rental agreement.

"drclive" wrote:
My goodness, this is great I searched in Google and in my books and I
couldn't find a lot of info on the matter, then I decided to try the
forum and then... bum... 112 posts, I really appreciated all answers,
it makes me think that the subject is not as simple as I though. I have
only 90hours in my log and only 12 hours solo, most of them in a
Diamond katana DV20 and never land in any other surface than asphalt. I
think I'm going to invest in one hour CFI, to get the minimum
knowledge transfer and then try it myself. Thank again for all the
answers.

Clive, congrats to you for posting a topic that inspired so many
thought-provoking responses! Please let us know how the grass landing
goes and also what your CFI has to say/advise during the hour. Good luck!

In article . com,
"drclive" wrote:

All,

My goodness, this is great I searched in Google and in my books and I
couldn't find a lot of info on the matter, then I decided to try the
forum and then... bum... 112 posts, I really appreciated all answers,
it makes me think that the subject is not as simple as I though. I have
only 90hours in my log and only 12 hours solo, most of them in a
Diamond katana DV20 and never land in any other surface than asphalt. I
think I'm going to invest in one hour CFI, to get the minimum
knowledge transfer and then try it myself. Thank again for all the
answers.

Clive Rudd Fernandez

Well, as they used to say during the 1960s, "There's nothing like good
grass!" :)

john smith wrote:

The Ohio State University Flight School (Part 141) has such a rule. Yes,
it is insurance related.
The flying club I am in has an insurance stipulation about landing at
unimproved airfields. The local interpretion is that if it is on the
sectional, it is an improved airfield.

That is pretty funny and I like that interpretation. I doubt the
insurance company would buy it though.

Matt

Chris G. wrote:

3) A misconception I had was that you performed EITHER a soft-field
landing OR a short-field landing, but not a COMBINATION of the two.
Realize that if you land at an airstrip that is rough, but hard, you may
want to still use soft-field techniques. If it is short, but soft,
combine short- AND soft- field techniques.

Absolutely. You do what is needed for the circumstances at hand. If a
strip is both short and soft, then you need to use both techniques.
What originally gave you the idea that you shouldn't combine the two
techniques? My primary instructor had me practice the combination often
as many soft fields are also short fields.


Matt

Orval Fairbairn wrote:

In article ,
unicate wrote:


"Dave Stadt" wrote:

Around here the FBOs that rent taildraggers only allow operation on grass.
Grass causes no additional wear and tear and in fact is easier on tires.
We
are talking about turf runways not dirt.

We were talking about the rule at flight schools/FBOs prohibiting
landing rental aircraft on "unimproved" strips -- that encompasses
grass/turf and/or dirt and sand, or anything that's *not paved*. I did
not disagree that grass is easier on tires.



The operative word here is "unimproved." Usually, a dedicated grass
runway is an "improved" runway; therefore, it falls outside the
restriction. Improved runways include turf, pavement -- even graded
dirt, for that matter.

I've never seen anthing close to an official definition for improved or
unimproved. Can you provide a reference? Does each insurance company
define it their own way? When I owned my 182, the insurance company
knew we were based on a grass strip so we had no such restrictions.


Matt

Ross Richardson wrote:

I really hate to admit this to the group, but I actually departed a dew
covered grass strip with the parking brake on. I have a 180 hp C-172
with C/S prop. I didn't even notice it until I landed at my destination
and tires started squeeling. Boy, did I slap that parking break off in a
hurry. changed tires at annual.

I didn't hear a thing.... :-)

Matt

john smith wrote:

In article ,
Stefan wrote:


schrieb:


"Improved" at our flight school, and at other flight schools/FBOs at
this municipal airport and two others within a 15 nm radius means PAVED,
period.

I'm not a native English speaker, so what do I know, but if I had
translated that way in my English tests, I sure would have failed.


Little know fact... many US barristers get their undergraduate degree in
English before going on to get their JD.

What is a barrister? Is that anything like a lawyer or attorney? :-)


Matt

drclive wrote:

All,

My goodness, this is great I searched in Google and in my books and I
couldn't find a lot of info on the matter, then I decided to try the
forum and then... bum... 112 posts, I really appreciated all answers,
it makes me think that the subject is not as simple as I though. I have
only 90hours in my log and only 12 hours solo, most of them in a
Diamond katana DV20 and never land in any other surface than asphalt. I
think I'm going to invest in one hour CFI, to get the minimum
knowledge transfer and then try it myself. Thank again for all the
answers.

Enjoy. Nothing like a well maintained grass strip on a warm summer day!

Just be sure to report back here with your experience.


Matt