When a pilot says he is on short final at what height or distance is the aircraft roughly from the runway? Thank You.

I don't think there is any hard and fast rule for what "short" is. In little GA aircraft, I'd say short final is being on final under say 300-500' AGL (pattern altitude 1000' AGL). You are most likely 1/4 - 1/2nm from the threshold at that point.Short final for a heavy is probably quite a bit further out.And then there is a "short approach". I love those in 172s, where you may finish your turn to final over the approach lights/numbers. ATC will sometimes ask for a short approach if they want to squeeze you in, or we'll ask for it if we are practicing an engine out.Lee Hetherington (KBED)

Short final is what I report in the flare if the controller forgot to give me landing clearance. :-)But is probably further out if you're in a transport airplane.

>I don't think there is any hard and fast rule for what>"short" is. In little GA aircraft, I'd say short final is>being on final under say 300-500' AGL (pattern altitude 1000'>AGL). You are most likely 1/4 - 1/2nm from the threshold at>that point.>1nm=300ft usually, so 1/2 nm is about 150 feet AGL.I can't quite remember if there is a formal definition of "short final" - I doubt it.I use the term "short" on about a 2-3nm or less finals. An airplane in a circling pattern entering final leg is "on final", while a guy on a straight-in approach might also be in a "long final".If a circling plane made a long downwind leg, then mentioning he is in a "long final" might be mandatory to avoid conflicts (pretty rare with the heavies).

Small GA aircraft flying visual patterns are generally well above the 3-degree glideslope in my experience, at least those with any wish of making the runway if the engine stops. Let's see, in a typical pattern, 1/2nm abeam the numbers at 1000' AGL, begin descent (actually level to slow to flap extension speed first, but I'll ignore that for now), 1/2nm downwind turn base, 1/2nm base, 1/2nm final for 1000' descent over 1-1/2nm (C-172, PA-28). 1/2nm yields about 333' AGL. Factor in the level deceleration phase abeam the numbers and you're probably higher than that when turning 1/2-3/4nm final in the neighborhood of 500'. Again, I prefaced it by saying small GA.The tower at my field typically tells folks their traffic is over the numbers, over the approach lights, 1/2-mile final, 3/4-mile final, 1-mile final, 2-mile final, 3-mile final, etc. I've never heard them say "short" because that is too vague to be useful.Lee Hetherington (KBED)

yep my tower tends to give that description, but short final will probably be within a mile and a half or so. If they say short final, it should be really easy to spot the plane if you are on the ground. If your in the air, just watch the runway for movement, movement catches the eye!!