How to land on a grass airstrip

drclive wrote:

Can anybody point out a good bibliography or article that describes the
differences in landing on a grass airstrip for the first time, tips and
advices? Thanks

What sort of differences? Landing on grass isn't much different than
hard surface unless the grass is very tall, very wet, or hiding mud. :-)

A well-maintained grass runway is a pleasure to use. Quieter and softer
than asphalt and much cooler in the hot summer sun. You may have
slightly longer take-off rolls, but the difference isn't huge barring
what I mentioned above.


Matt

Depends on the grass. Grass strips vary from putting green smooth to
plane riping holes, rocks and logs. Examine grass beforehand.

On 17 Jun 2006 11:43:34 -0700, Doug wrote:

Depends on the grass. Grass strips vary from putting green smooth to
plane riping holes, rocks and logs. Examine grass beforehand.

*smile*

How does one do this from pattern altitude at an airport they have never
been to?

Allen

In article ,
A Lieberman wrote:


How does one do this from pattern altitude at an airport they have never
been to?


With a low, slow pass a little to one side so you can see the landing
area. Quite a common practice for those who land on other than prepared
surfaces.

I fly at about 20 feet, just to the side of the runway and
look it over. I do the same with water landings, looking
for rocks, logs and even alligators.

I had an Air Force tanker pilot come to me for a CFI rating.
He had never been on grass and in fact couldn't find an
airport that did not have radar vectors and navaids on the
field. We did a lot of grass strips and pilotage to get him
up to speed. He did the SEL add-on in a few days and took
his CFI check with the feds the next day. A very good pilot
and fast learner, but the USAF doesn't teach T-38/KC 135
pilots to find grass strips in the middle of a world of
grass. The US Army and USMC do a better job at that task.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

"A Lieberman" wrote in message
...
| On 17 Jun 2006 11:43:34 -0700, Doug wrote:
|
| Depends on the grass. Grass strips vary from putting
green smooth to
| plane riping holes, rocks and logs. Examine grass
beforehand.
|
| *smile*
|
| How does one do this from pattern altitude at an airport
they have never
| been to?
|
| Allen

Jim Macklin wrote:

I fly at about 20 feet, just to the side of the runway and
look it over. I do the same with water landings, looking
for rocks, logs and even alligators.

I had an Air Force tanker pilot come to me for a CFI rating.
He had never been on grass and in fact couldn't find an
airport that did not have radar vectors and navaids on the
field. We did a lot of grass strips and pilotage to get him
up to speed. He did the SEL add-on in a few days and took
his CFI check with the feds the next day. A very good pilot
and fast learner, but the USAF doesn't teach T-38/KC 135
pilots to find grass strips in the middle of a world of
grass. The US Army and USMC do a better job at that task.

No wonder the rescue operation in Iran was botched so many years ago.
This is truly scary that a military pilot has no training in landing in
unimproved areas. Wow.

Matt

Doug wrote:

Depends on the grass. Grass strips vary from putting green smooth to
plane riping holes, rocks and logs. Examine grass beforehand.


Funny, I've never seen a grass landing strip that had rocks and logs.
If you are landing off-airport that is certainly a possibly, but the
subject clearly says airstrip, just random field out in the middle of
nowhere.


Matt

Vandals tip headstones over in cemeteries and sometimes
visit grass strips for similar reasons. If the airport
isn't attended, a low and slow look-see is a good idea. If
attended, a telephone call can alert you to any new issues,
such as a prairie dog colony.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
| Doug wrote:
|
| Depends on the grass. Grass strips vary from putting
green smooth to
| plane riping holes, rocks and logs. Examine grass
beforehand.
|
|
| Funny, I've never seen a grass landing strip that had
rocks and logs.
| If you are landing off-airport that is certainly a
possibly, but the
| subject clearly says airstrip, just random field out in
the middle of
| nowhere.
|
|
| Matt

Jim Macklin wrote:

Vandals tip headstones over in cemeteries and sometimes
visit grass strips for similar reasons. If the airport
isn't attended, a low and slow look-see is a good idea. If
attended, a telephone call can alert you to any new issues,
such as a prairie dog colony.

I've never seen a headstone on a grass airstrip. :-) I'll take your
word for it, however.

Matt

They are out there. I have seen some pretty funky conditions on "grass"
strips. Mud, and obstacles. But like I said, it all depends. If it's
smooth grass, just land line on asphalt. If it is bumpy, land as slow
as possible. If it is muddy come in with power and do your best soft
field technique. My home base grass strip has "moguls".

Matt Whiting wrote:
Funny, I've never seen a grass landing strip that had rocks and logs.
If you are landing off-airport that is certainly a possibly, but the
subject clearly says airstrip, just random field out in the middle of
nowhere.


Matt