340° 600' AG L 320° 450' AGL 305° 300' AGL 290° 150' AGL 270° 100' AGL $_{Figure 8-2.}$  The horizontal plane’s “reality” approach to landing. of situational awareness and understands the horizontal  component, and therefore begins the approach with many  more options available. In this example, if the pilot is tending  more towards the road, he or she can “extend” the approach  to remain in more favorable winds, and then continue the  descent when the turn is more advantageous to the landing.  approach. The pilot would let the balloon cool naturally until  it reached the point depicted as Point A in  Figure 8-3.  A  normal descent rate at that point would project the balloon  out on a line tangent with the descent curve at that moment.  From that point, the pilot must maintain that line much like  the control necessary for contour flying. If, however, the winds are somewhat lighter or the landing  site is tight, conducting the approach from Point B,  Figure 8-3 might be more appropriate. Again, the pilot should wait until  the tangent of the descent curve aligns with the targeted  The vertical component of the landing profile is represented  in  Figure 8-3.  This may be referred to as a “natural” descent  profile. For example, the pilot may see a large field in the  distance ahead and elect to initiate a shallow or low profile  8-3