What must a pilot be aware of as a result of ground effect?

• A. Induced drag decreases; therefore, any excess speed at the point of flare may cause considerable floating
• B. Induced drag increases; therefore, a harder flare is required
• C. Lift decreases
• D. Control effectiveness decreases

Answer: (A)

Ground effect changes how the wing behaves near the surface. When the airplane is close to the ground, the wing’s wake is altered by the nearby surface, which reduces the downwash and, as a result, reduces induced drag. With less induced drag, the wing works more efficiently and can produce more lift for a given airspeed, so you may experience a noticeable float as you flare. If you carry excess speed into the flare, that extra lift combined with the reduced drag can let the airplane stay airborne longer than you expect, making a short flare difficult. So the key idea is that induced drag decreases near the ground, and excess speed at flare can cause considerable floating.