This occurs when a pilot lands with excessive descent rate or too much airspeed, causing the aircraft's landing gear to act like a spring and launch the plane back upward. It is a dangerous situation that can lead to a secondary, much harder impact, potentially collapsing the gear or causing a prop strike. Pilots are trained to either hold the aircraft steady as it settles or immediately apply power to abort the landing.
Heard on the job
He bounced the landing twice before finally adding power and going around for another try.
Insider tip
If the bounce is high, the best corrective action is almost always to execute a go-around rather than trying to salvage the landing.
Also heard as
- ballooning
- porpoising