Under which ground slope angle should the aircraft land upslope when the slope is very gentle?

Under which ground slope angle should the aircraft land upslope when the slope is very gentle?

• A. 5 degrees
• B. 7 degrees
• C. 9 degrees
• D. 10 degrees

Answer: (B)

Landing on a slope requires balancing the rate of descent with how the airplane will settle on the ground so touchdown is stable and controlled. On a very gentle upslope, a moderate descent angle relative to the slope helps the aircraft touch down smoothly with the main wheels first and avoids an abrupt, hard contact that could stress the gear or cause a bounce. Seven degrees hits that balance well: it’s enough descent to load the wheels without a harsh impact, and it’s not so steep that you’d slam the tire into the slope or pitch the nose aggressively. A shallower angle, like five degrees, can lead to floating or bouncing as the aircraft doesn’t load the wheels firmly, while a steeper angle, around nine or ten degrees, increases touchdown severity and the risk of loss of directional control on the slope. So, seven degrees is the best choice for a very gentle upslope landing.

Landing on a slope requires balancing the rate of descent with how the airplane will settle on the ground so touchdown is stable and controlled. On a very gentle upslope, a moderate descent angle relative to the slope helps the aircraft touch down smoothly with the main wheels first and avoids an abrupt, hard contact that could stress the gear or cause a bounce.

Seven degrees hits that balance well: it’s enough descent to load the wheels without a harsh impact, and it’s not so steep that you’d slam the tire into the slope or pitch the nose aggressively. A shallower angle, like five degrees, can lead to floating or bouncing as the aircraft doesn’t load the wheels firmly, while a steeper angle, around nine or ten degrees, increases touchdown severity and the risk of loss of directional control on the slope.

So, seven degrees is the best choice for a very gentle upslope landing.