Three things the FAA says about forced landings that are pure gold...

What's up GlideScope, Family!

I was doing some reading through the Airplane Flying Handbook recently and spent some time digging into the emergency landing section.  It's amazing how much valuable revisiting these various topics are - there's always something to take away from it!

A few things stood out that genuinely made me stop and rethink how I think about forced landing decision making.

1. Almost any terrain can be survivable.

The handbook makes a point that pilots often obsess over finding the perfect field.

But in reality, survivability often comes down to using the airplane structure to absorb energy and protecting the cabin… not necessarily finding the ideal landing spot.

Sometimes “good enough” is the right answer.

2. Pilots often wait too long to accept the inevitable.

One of the biggest psychological traps during an emergency is refusing to accept the situation.

The FAA specifically warns that pilots can become fixated on solving the problem instead of lowering the nose, maintaining control, and making decisions early.

The phrase that stuck with me:

“Wishful thinking turns precautionary landings into forced landings.”

That one I thought was gold.

3. Trees and water might be better than you think.

This was probably the most interesting one.

The handbook points out that:

 

• Trees can provide cushioning and energy absorption
• Water landings are often less violent than rough terrain
• Dense crops can absorb energy surprisingly well

 

Sometimes the “least bad option” is not the obvious one.

One habit I’ve been practicing more lately:

Every few minutes while flying, I ask myself:

If the engine quit right now… where am I going?

Try it on your next flight...continuously.

It’s a fantastic mental exercise. :)