Expert: Malcolm Dickinson - 12/16/2004

Question
Hi Malcolm,

I'm a student pilot learning to fly the Cessna 182 and was curious as to the setup for an approach.  When I am downwind travelling at 110-120KIAS, when do you pull the power back.  I was always told to do so in the turn when in the Cessna 172 but I was told to do it earlier in the 182.

Do you pull the power back first then flap or the other way around and which sequence do you do it in??

Thanks

Ben

Answer
Your instructor will be able to tell you approximately how much power to take off and when... I don't have any specific place in the pattern in mind, but I would guess that you'd want to start slowing down at midfield downwind.

I would suggest a limit of 100 knots in the pattern... begin reducing speed at midfield downwind, lower first notch of flaps when you are "abeam the numbers," and probably about 15 or 16 inches of maniforld pressure from there on in.

Experiment to find the exact amount of power that will give you the descent you need from abeam-the-numbers without having to make much adjustments.

In the high performance airplanes, it's easy to put the flaps down while the airspeed is faster than the white arc.  Be sure you understand whether the white arc applies to all flaps or just the second and third notches.

best,
Malcolm