Going soft: soft-field operations mean reduced performance, but you also need to adopt different techniques, depending on your airplane. Airspeed control is key.(AIRMANSHIP)

My first time landing on something other than pavement was with an instructor in a Piper Arrow. I had yet to earn my private certificate, and we were out doing a combination of familiarizing me with a complex/high-performance airplane and transporting some items for the FBO. The most memorable occasion also involved an instructor: We were returning from a spin-training session to a grass strip just soaked by a passing shower. He landed long, locked the 152's brakes in standing water and we sluiced our way to within 30 feet of the fence at the far end. More than anything, that was a demonstration of how not to do it.

While I prefer pavement, a good grass strip is a pleasant experience if handled correctly. Some of my most enjoyable flights have involved grass and there's little to fear if with a little planning. But you do need to handle the airplane differently, especially during ground operations and takeoff. Let's go through it.

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CONDITION IS EVERYTHING

Presuming you're not based at or departing from a grass strip, the first thing you need to do is verify its condition. Ideally, you'd drive out and walk it, but that's impractical too often. Another option is to speak with someone whose opinion you respect about it. If that's not an option, you still have a couple of aces up your sleeve.

First thing you can do is rather old-fashioned: Pick up a telephone and call the field's owner or management and ask them about its condition. If you've never been there before, this also is a good time to ask about any local rules or procedures, plus …