When performing an approach, what two criteria must be met in order to land?

When performing an approach, what two criteria must be met in order to land?

• A. Runway environment in sight and aircraft in position to make a safe landing
• B. Aircraft speed under 100 knots
• C. The weather must be VMC
• D. The runway lights are on

Answer: (A)

Landing during an approach requires two things: you must have the runway environment in sight, and you must be in a position to make a safe landing.

Having the runway environment in sight means you can see the runway and the necessary visual references to continue the approach and align with the landing zone. If you can’t see the runway, you’re not cleared to land and should go around.

Being in a position to make a safe landing means you’re on the proper approach path, properly configured for landing, at the appropriate airspeed, and able to clear obstacles and land within the usable runway length. In other words, you’re in a stable, safe configuration and within the limits to complete the landing.

The other options aren’t universal requirements: a fixed speed like under 100 knots isn’t required for all aircraft or approaches; weather being VMC isn’t mandatory for all instrument approaches since many are conducted in IMC; and runway lights being on are not a prerequisite for landing.