What happens to the landing approach characteristics when flaps are not used?

When flaps are not used during the landing approach, the aircraft typically experiences a faster and shallower descent profile. Flaps are designed to increase both lift and drag, which allows the aircraft to fly at a slower speed with a steeper descent. Without flaps, the aircraft must maintain a higher airspeed to prevent stalling, leading to a longer, more shallow glide path toward the runway.

Additionally, the lack of increased drag from the flaps means that a greater amount of thrust (or power) is required if the pilot intends to maintain a controlled descent angle. This combination of higher speed and reduced descent angle is significant, as it can affect landing precision and necessitate different pilot inputs compared to a flaps-extended approach. Understanding this difference is crucial for pilots to adapt their approach techniques based on the configuration of the aircraft during landing.