Short Approach

The Pilot/Controllers' Glossary defines "Make Short Approach" as a request that the pilot make abbreviated downwind and final legs; turning base leg anywhere between half normal (45° behind the wing) to as close as inside the runway threshold.

San Diego Flight Instructor Garry Wing, of Fly The Wing Flight Training, takes you through the Short Approach on 27R & 27L at Gillespie Field in this 5-minute in-flight maneuver video..

[ReveDePiloteACBB]

Thanks Garry. Keep producing those helpful videos!

[mikepee]

You are great Gary Thank you for all the help the video give us.

[davidsullivan]

Just did a checkride for the single engine add on for my commercial license the other day, and did something similar to what you did for the 2 short approaches that I did at Niagara Falls, NY (KIAG). Of course, I was doing power-off 180’s, which leads to the moral of my story in that it’s a good idea (in my opinion) to ask for a short approach at a towered airport like KIAG if attempting the aforementioned power off 180. With that said, your videos were indeed a help in me passing my checkride. Thank you for putting them out there, and keep them coming. Take care and Happy Flying!

[Treetop]

Thanks, Garry.

This video helps explain the "behavior" of a Super Decathlon in the pattern at my local airfield (KSQL).  I noticed that when turning base and final that the aircraft was uncoordinated, almost flying sideways, lol.  At the time I thought he was doing it just for fun.  Turns out he was doing exactly what you demonstrated in this video; slipping (big time) the aircraft to dump altitude without gaining too much speed.  He was doing short approaches in a tight pattern, turning base as soon as he was abeam of the threshold.

[MarkSmith-jspu]

I used to ask for short approaches a lot at Kansas City Downtown airport, (Charlie Wheeler). I had a great instructor and I learned skills that made be a better pilot

[RamoLasiaf]

Excellent. Loved short approachs. You need nerves of steel and a heart made of stone to execute one. It was compulsory for military pilots. Nice video. Thanks

[emergencylowmaneuvering]

Good pilots like short approaches. I used to do them on twins too. Pipers and Twin Commanders. My boss liked them.

[GalenCop]

Thanks for the video, Gary! I'll try this with my instructor...

[timypaul]

Thank you for this video, I'm working on my short approach to solo next week

[CFITOMAHAWK]

In the 70's we used to call a short approach only if you stopped the turn low over the runway. We had twins doing real low and short approaches, Airshow style.

[robertlee]

Great job Garry .

I would just caution, inexperienced pilots from attempting this maneuver >>>

Because

of the stall / spin >>>

Potential danger.

[lw]

I tried a short approach with my Cub at a new rural runway today. I had tree lines left and right, a very narrow strip
and power lines at the approach end. Wind was calm during approach but over the runway a gust of wind blew me off course. I fought it will all my abilities but to no avail. The wind overwhelmed the Cub and she ended up in a tree. No injuries. I was able to walk away - after I picked my remote control Cub from the tree about 4 feet off the ground. I was testing a potential flying spot on a one lane road near where I live. I will pass on this one.

[CindyKauffman-jiuf]

Just watched a video where ATC scolded a jet pilot because pilot asked for a short approach and didn’t turn base before reaching the threshold on downwind. ATC said that’s what a short approach is.

[deani]

Slipping in a turn, slow and low to the ground, is a great way to kill oneself.