The engine quits and you see this view out of your left window. Can you put the airplane down on this closed runway safely?

by Ken Ibold

When a pilot allows flying to fall into a routine, wheels go in motion that conspire to make flying anything but. Most pilots have seen how even a short layoff affects their skills in instrument flying and how a longer layoff can make hash of their landings.

Imagine, then, where you’d be if you needed to dredge a high-performance maneuver out of your bag of tricks when the chips were down. Even more to the point, though, is that practicing high performance maneuvers will help your skills, judgment and confidence even during everyday flying. The emergency use is just gravy. …