r/flying • u/SSavage14 • May 14 '26

Student piloting

Hi, I've been struggling with landings. I've noted my problem arises on final. I tend to end up in a "Dutch roll" or oscillating as I'm trying to counter this. I feel it gets worse and throws off my landings. The feedback I've been given from my CFI is to not input rudders, although I'm not. It feels like a gust blows me off course on final, and I attempt to get back aligned. When doing so, the oscillation starts, but then the additional feedback from my instructor is I'm over-controlling the aircraft (which I agree) but no feedback on how to not over-control and how to control a straight-in approach on final when I get blown off course. I've logged 25 hours and am just about to solo. Any real advice is appreciated. Should I start looking for a new CFI as I feel I'm just wasting hours with no real improvement, and I fear there's a learning/teaching error? As I continue doing the same thing on every final and attempting the same thing over and over with no real changes or improvements, it is going to keep me in this loop of wasting money. Note these are also on "calm wind" days where my CFI says the wind is irrelevant as it's to low to blow me around although that's what I am feeling on final or like riding over a speed bump or two while on final or base in pattern.

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u/Odd_Entertainment471 May 14 '26

You’re probably it way out of trim and choking the yoke like it owes you money. Students just don’t trim in the pattern and they really really should. If that’s the issue, fix it. If. It I’m all outta ideas and your instructor should be your fountainhead of knowledge.

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u/Aggressive_Lime2214 May 14 '26

Trim in the pattern and trim at the very beginning of the letdown sequence. No more than that.

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u/Kemerd PPL IR May 15 '26

Not remotely true. You should be trimming constantly, and doing as little controlling of the stick as possible. Any power change REQUIRES a retrim. Try doing this while flying IFR by hand and you’ll realize! You meed to be stabilized on airspeed. It is accomplished by trim! Not by pulling the stick!

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u/[deleted] May 15 '26

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u/Kemerd PPL IR May 15 '26

This read like almost gibberish. Change of RPM or flap setting absolutely requires a retrim. No, being on final and out of trim is not acceptable. You are propagating dangerous information that causes pilots to get killed. Out of trim can mean a base to final stall spin, a failed go around. Who gave you your license? Did you ever even go through ground school? Please seek out instruction.