What is the main purpose of performing a sideslip during landings?

The main purpose of performing a sideslip during landings is to lose altitude without increasing airspeed. A sideslip allows the pilot to descend more steeply while maintaining controlled airspeed. This maneuver is particularly useful in situations where the aircraft needs to lose altitude quickly, such as when approaching a runway with obstacles or needing to descend rapidly while staying within safe airspeed limits.

While it's possible to align with the runway through different maneuvers or adjustments in flight path, that is not the primary purpose of a sideslip. Likewise, altitude increase or speed reduction are not inherent objectives of this technique; rather, the focus is on achieving a higher rate of descent efficiently and safely. By utilizing the sideslip effectively, a pilot can approach the intended landing runway with better precision while managing the aircraft’s energy state.