Staggered Stream Landings

Note: If the runway width criteria allow landing on either side of the runway, each aircraft will land on opposite sides from one another with the lead aircraft normally landing on the side of intended runway exit. Each subsequent aircraft will cross the landing threshold with no less than the minimum safe interval of 500 metres. All aircraft must be capable of maintaining sight of the preceding aircraft during approach, landing and rollout.

Important: When landing more than two aircraft using staggered procedures, each pilot landing on the side of intended runway exit will verbally clear the preceding aircraft to cross to their side (runway exit side) when they determine it is safe to do so.

After pitching, following aircraft should aim to fly the same downwind ground track as Lead, keeping the preceding aircraft on the horizon. If a following aircraft has achieved the correct downwind separation from the preceding, he/she should turn base when the preceding aircraft is in the 2/10 o'clock position. Appropriate corrections should be made to the base turn point depending on whether the preceding aircraft has pitched earlier or later than he/she should have.

On final, the preceding aircraft should be below the visual sight line from you to the numbers. This picture will help avoid wake turbulence during the approach. However, be prepared for it at any time, particularly in the flare. In addition to your normal finals checks, make a conscious note of the spacing between you and the preceding aircraft. Approaching the flare, if the preceding aircraft is less than 500 metres ahead (eg, has not passed the 1000' markers), it is unlikely that the required minimum separation exists and an go-around will be required.

A staggered stream landing is usually briefed so that aircraft land on the same side of the runway as for take-off. (If the runway is narrow, landings may be briefed as all being on the centre line, and not staggered. In such cases, a safe interval of greater than 500 metres should be briefed.)

Once the landing run is under control, pilots on the non-exit side of the runway should cross to the exit side when cleared by the following aircraft with a call Clear to cross (Callsign of preceding aircraft). After normal braking each aircraft turns off the runway and completes the after landing checks individually.