Take-offs and landings on grass or dirt runways

Taking off and landing on a grass or dirt runway is different from taking off or landing on a paved one. In fact and in most instances, larger planes weight too much and would sink under their own weight while the uneven nature of such runways could be potentially damaging to the plane and dangerous to all on board.

Hence and if you are a pilot who is not entirely comfortable with taking off or landing on grass or dirt runways, Vincent has posted an excellent entry on his Plastic Pilot blog with some handy tips. As he pointed out, take-offs from a grass or dirt runway need to be done under a very low speed followed by acceleration while approaches and landings require higher than usual nose-up attitude. In other words, some additional training would be required.

In addition, Vincent also pointed out:

Just like each pilot, I’ve my strengths and my weaknesses and I think it’s important to know them. I continue to extend my comfort zone, step by step. Sometimes with an instructor, sometimes alone on board.

Definitely good advice for anyone who is not yet comfortable with taking off or landing on a grass or dirt runway or for that matter, any other aspect about flying.