Which elements must be verified to meet the approach criteria prior to landing?

Which elements must be verified to meet the approach criteria prior to landing?

• A. Gear position and flap setting only.
• B. Altitude and airspeed only.
• C. Runway alignment and briefing content.
• D. Gear, flaps, power, speed, and altitude settings meet the approach criteria and the ILS/visual approach plan.

Answer: (D)

Before landing, you must confirm the aircraft configuration and performance align with the intended approach. Gear position and flap setting establish the proper landing configuration and handling characteristics for the final approach and touchdown. Power and speed control the descent energy and ensure you stay within the target approach speeds and envelope, preventing underspeed or overshoot. Altitude settings verify you’re tracking the correct vertical profile, meet any step-down fixes, and stay compliant with the glideslope or visual descent path. The ILS or visual approach plan ties everything together, confirming you have the correct course, frequencies, minimums, and plan for the approach and landing. All five areas need to be verified together to meet the approach criteria before landing. Checking only gear and flaps, or only altitude and speed, or just the runway alignment and briefing content leaves gaps in configuration or energy management that are critical for a safe, stable landing.

Before landing, you must confirm the aircraft configuration and performance align with the intended approach. Gear position and flap setting establish the proper landing configuration and handling characteristics for the final approach and touchdown. Power and speed control the descent energy and ensure you stay within the target approach speeds and envelope, preventing underspeed or overshoot. Altitude settings verify you’re tracking the correct vertical profile, meet any step-down fixes, and stay compliant with the glideslope or visual descent path. The ILS or visual approach plan ties everything together, confirming you have the correct course, frequencies, minimums, and plan for the approach and landing.

All five areas need to be verified together to meet the approach criteria before landing. Checking only gear and flaps, or only altitude and speed, or just the runway alignment and briefing content leaves gaps in configuration or energy management that are critical for a safe, stable landing.