What is the recommended approach for landing an aircraft on water?

The recommended approach for landing an aircraft on water is to land into the wind or parallel to the swells. This choice is based on the need to minimize the chances of a rough landing caused by wind and water movement. Landing into the wind helps to slow the ground speed of the aircraft, which allows for better control and stability during the touchdown. Additionally, approaching parallel to the swells can reduce the adverse effects of wave action, ensuring a smoother landing surface.

Choosing this approach is crucial because water conditions can change rapidly, and landing with the wind or perpendicular to the swells can lead to dangerous situations, such as a bounce or loss of control upon contact with the water. Using flaps for a controlled descent, while beneficial in many situations, does not directly address the safety and control issues presented by water landings and is secondary to the primary concern of how the approach is made relative to wind and wave patterns.