By the PilotLeague Team - Updated January 2026
Every virtual pilot knows the feeling. You've spent hours crossing the Atlantic, the cockpit lights are dimmed, and the runway is finally in sight. There is only one thing left to do: Butter the landing.
But what exactly is a "Butter Landing," and why is it so hard to achieve consistently? In this guide, we'll break down the physics of the perfect flare and show you how PilotLeague can help you master the art of the touchdown.
To achieve a perfect butter landing, you must master the flare technique, maintain a stable approach speed, and aim for the touchdown zone with precision.
In the flight simulation community, a "Butter Landing" refers to a touchdown so smooth that the wheels kiss the tarmac with almost zero vertical force. Technically, simmers aim for a vertical speed of less than -100 fpm (feet per minute).
While real-world pilots prioritize landing safely within the "touchdown zone," the search for "butter" has become the ultimate skill test in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
A "Butter" landing is earned 5 miles out, not 5 feet above the ground. If your approach is messy, your landing will be too.
To ensure a perfect descent, follow the 3-to-1 rule: You should be 3 nautical miles away for every 1,000 feet of altitude you need to lose.
Watch the PAPI lights next to the runway:
The flare is the maneuver where you transition the aircraft from a descent to level flight just inches above the runway.
Every aircraft handles differently during the flare. Here are the key differences for the most popular MSFS 2024 aircraft:
The A320 has an auto-flare function that reduces pitch automatically below 30ft. Don't fight it — let the fly-by-wire laws do their job. Reduce thrust to idle at the RETARD callout and hold a slight back-pressure. Over-flaring will cause the aircraft to float past the touchdown zone.
Cut power at approximately 25ft and smoothly pull back. The 737 tends to sink faster than Airbus types, so maintain a slightly higher power setting during the flare. Aim for a 2-3 degree pitch at touchdown.
The C172 is very forgiving. Begin the flare at 10-15ft, progressively pulling back while reducing power to idle. Hold the aircraft off the runway until it settles — this is the classic 'hold it off' technique.
The TBM is fast and slippery. Manage your energy carefully on approach — use the speed brake if needed. The flare window is shorter than in lighter aircraft. Be ready for a firm touchdown if you're even slightly fast.
A -20 FPM butter landing sounds impressive, but if you touch down 2,000 feet past the threshold, you've failed the real test. In professional aviation, precision in the touchdown zone matters more than a low vertical speed.
The best pilots achieve both: they grease the landing AND hit the first third of the runway. PilotLeague scores both metrics separately — your Landing Rate and your Touchdown Zone accuracy — so you can track your true skill level.
How do you know if you actually buttered it? Guessing isn't enough. You need precise data to see your progress.
PilotLeague is the ultimate flight companion for MSFS 2024. It automatically records:
Don't float halfway down the runway just to get a low FPM. A "Butter" landing in the grass or too late on the runway is a failed landing.
If you are fighting the controls, you can't be precise. Always trim your aircraft for the approach speed.
Want to go further? Discover why precision is just as important as smoothness in our Precision Touchdown Zone Guide →
A butter landing is generally any touchdown below -60 FPM (feet per minute). On PilotLeague, landings under -60 FPM are flagged as 'Butter' in your stats. For reference: -1 to -60 FPM = Butter, -61 to -180 FPM = Smooth, -181 to -600 FPM = Normal/Firm, below -600 FPM = Hard landing.
Not always. Real airline pilots aim for firm, on-zone touchdowns — typically -150 to -250 FPM. Extremely soft landings can cause floating past the touchdown zone, which is a safety concern on wet or short runways. The best virtual pilots balance smoothness with precision.
PilotLeague uses SimConnect telemetry to capture your exact vertical speed (VELOCITY_WORLD_Y) at the moment of touchdown in MSFS 2024. The value is recorded in feet per minute and contributes to your Landing Quality score alongside TDZ accuracy and centerline deviation.
The FlyByWire A320 is often considered the easiest thanks to its fly-by-wire auto-flare function that smooths out control inputs. The Cessna 172 is also very forgiving at low speeds. The PMDG 737 requires more manual skill as it uses a conventional yoke with no fly-by-wire assistance.
Apply these techniques in your next flight and track your improvement with PilotLeague.
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