Although you may not have any actual soft field takeoffs or landings in your logbook, the procedures required for safe operations in such conditions are important to any pilot. It makes sense for pilots to periodically refresh this topic in order to maintain proficiency, perhaps in case of an emergency off-airport landing. Such a landing often requires a touchdown on a less-than-ideal surface, such as grass, snow, sand, or mud.
There are certain basic techniques that apply to most soft-field operations, but it is always worth taking note of any details specified by the manufacturer in your pilot’s operating handbook. Such details may include specific power and flap settings, as well as target airspeeds for specified portions of the approach and landing. Depending on the make and model, you may even find that your aircraft is not approved for operations on non-hard-surfaced runways.
Minimizing touchdown speed also helps to shorten the landing distance used.
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