I was looking through the 04 handbook to see what had changed in the forty years since my Private. I have already mentioned that I am impressed with the 2013 PTS change to accelerate in ground effect on takeoff. The handbook was leaning that way in 04. Anyway I was also impressed with the visual cues, outside of the cockpit, taught for the round out and hold off. They even reference the automobile when talking about the blurred vision of close objects and clear vision of distant objects. They teach moving our vision from far, where clear, to closer where clearing as we slow down. Perhaps they will take these good contact flying visual cues back to short final where maintaining the apparent brisk walk rate of closure to touchdown on the numbers will eliminate the need for the more difficult round out and hold off technique.

It is also interesting to see the FAA comprimise on the power pitch controversy. When I tested for the instrument rating power controlled glideslope and elevator controlled airspeed. Later that was reversed. The 04 handbook calls for coordination of power and pitch for both.

Slowing on short final, or preventing the apparent increase in rate of closure, requires use of elevator to slow down to a point where power is required to prevent sink. If elevator will control glide angle or sink, on short final, we are going to fast.