Definition
A stabilized approach technique in which the airplane descends along a single, unchanging glide path angle from the final approach point to the intended touchdown spot, with power, pitch, and airspeed adjusted to maintain that fixed angle.
Plain English
Flying down toward the runway along one straight, steady slope -- not steepening, not flattening -- all the way to your landing spot.
Context Anchor
Used during final approach, especially for short-field landings where the pilot needs a stable path to clear obstacles and touch down near the chosen spot.
Derivation
“Constant” comes from Latin words meaning “standing firm” or “unchanging.” “Descent” means coming down. Together, the phrase points to a down path that stays steady instead of changing shape.
Why Pilots Care
Enables precise touchdown control on short or obstructed runways and reduces the risk of landing long or running out of runway.
Analogy
It is like walking down a straight ramp instead of stepping down, leveling off, and then dropping again.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane following one smooth, sloping line from final approach to the touchdown area.
Intuition Check
“Constant” does not mean the airplane’s speed, power, or rate of descent never changes. Here it means the overall downward path angle stays steady toward the landing area.
Example Sentence 1
On short-field approaches, the pilot establishes a constant angle of descent toward the aiming point and uses small power adjustments to hold it.
Example Sentence 2
Maintaining a constant angle of descent allowed the airplane to touch down at the intended point without floating past the first third of the runway.