Landing Energy Management

Throttle sets total energy. Attitude sets where it goes. Neither one works alone.

01 — the energy distribution control

ATTITUDE

Divides the energy you already have between flight path and airspeed. Exchanges one for the other; creates none.

02 — the total energy control

POWER

Sets how much total energy you have — altitude and airspeed combined. Adds or removes it; does not choose where it goes.

ALTITUDE 500 ft AGL — STABILIZED BY HERE RUNWAY AVOID THE FALSE EITHER / OR “pitch controls airspeed, power controls flight path” — they manage one energy state, together DESIRED GLIDEPATH ATTITUDE POWER TARGET ENERGY STATE on path · on speed AIM POINT
The aim point never moves — you fly the airplane onto it. Read every deviation as an energy error first: same direction = total energy, opposite directions = distribution.
Path + speed deviation What it actually is Correction
Low and slowToo little total energyThrottle forward, then re-trim
High and fastToo much total energyThrottle back, then re-trim
Low and fastRight energy, wrong placeEase aft — trade speed for altitude
High and slowRight energy, wrong placeEase forward — trade altitude for speed
Off path, on speedBoth errors at onceThrottle and elevator together
Gate + targets — set by your SOP
Stabilized by500 ft AGL
SpeedTarget +10 / −5 kt
Sink rate≤ 700 fpm
Aim pointFixed, ±100 ft
ConfigurationFinal flaps, trimmed
Not stabilized by the gate → GO AROUND
Caution — when you are already slow

If even full throttle leaves no surplus energy, adding power alone will not restore the path. Lower the nose first to trade altitude for speed and shed induced drag, then add power — and low to the ground there may be no room. That is the go-around.

Gate and target figures are placeholders — use your POH/AFM and school SOPs. SelwanJ Aviation Training teaching aid.

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