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Landing

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EHM-2101 Tarik:
Hello guys (and girls if we have them)!

I hope you experienced pilots can help me a bit. I'm having troubles with such easy thing as landing. So I'm asking you for some kind of theoritical lesson about landing ;D

I'm flying the European Capitals tours right now with Boeing 737-800. So let's use it for example.

What is good landing speed? When should I set throttle to 0%? How and when should I set the flaps? When is the correct time to set landing gear down? When I have the runway in sight and I have lined up with it what would be correct altitude? What is the correct decending rate? And everything you can tell me. I'd also appreciate some links, etc where I can found some information about perfect landings.

So thank you very very much indeed if you can help me. Because I think I don't have enough assurance for perfect landings. Sometimes my landings are totally OK. But sometimes I fail very badly :(

So thank you, once again,

Tarik Ahsanullah

PS. This topic is for anykind of talking about landings. Not just for helpin such a novice like me :P

EHM-0948 Bruno:
Hi Tarik,

I'm going to try to answer without getting too much inside the pro stuff.

What is good landing speed?
Well it depends on what aircraft are you using. Specifically speaking there is a value on the aircraft specs that gives you a VREF value. That's the value with (normally) full flaps that you should use to land.
The 737-800, with 15% fuel, 50% cargo and full flaps can easily match a 140/135 knots safety landing speed.
Remember that you should also see the decision height (DH) when reaching that specific altitude to decide if you're going to land or not.

When should I set throttle to 0%?
If you are on a precision approach (ILS CAT X engaged) controls your throttle by setting the speed to your speed bug value. So, on your approach you should try to put the speed bug around the 140/135 knots when you are with full flaps. After that, let the airplane control the throttle.
If you are on a non precision approach (VOR, NDB) you should also mantain a clean speed around 160kn until you see and be aligned with the runway before decreasing to 140.

How and when should I set the flaps?
That depends on your approach. On a normal straight approach you should start decreasing your speed after you pass 10000ft. You pass this value around 240kn... then you start decreasing your speed to 180kn and adjust the flaps by leveling your nose on the artifical altitude indicator (HUD) ... if you airplane climbs too much the nose, push the flaps level again! ...

When is the correct time to set landing gear down?
There isnt a special time but don't wait for the last second! ;D
Pull it around 2500ft or bellow, on a 170kn speed to not damage it ... remember that when you pull the landing gear, the airplane, due to air friction, drops the speed a lot so, compensate it with another flap level if possible.

When I have the runway in sight and I have lined up with it what would be correct altitude?
On IFR flights, the "runway in sight" is not too much used nowadays. We can land almost with zero visibility on IFR :) ... Use the distance to the runway for that.
If you are on ILS mode, then you don't need to worry about that. ILS automatically locks you on an "invisible" downwind ramp right to the runway threshold! Isn't it beautiful what technology can do for us ? ;D

What is the correct decending rate?
Again, let ILS treat this for you. Train your ILS approaches a lot before passing to other approaches.

To end, this is my opinion, but remember that other pilots can do these things on another way ...

Regards and safe flights.

EHM-1883 Matt:
Bruno got it spot on, however, I'd just like to tell you a story of mine:

My main problem is speed. I can always get my altitude perfect, and I can easily calculate in my head when I should descend and at what rate, but I always end up usually approaching the runway too fast. I remember a flight I did during the alps missions, which unfortunately required the dreaded landing at Courcheval. That was really a test of my skill when it came to speed, and I wasn't too thrilled, because I knew I could get the plane at the right height, but due to the sloping runway, I wasn't sure what speed to go to land in that weird position. I did the flight with Javier, and I think I had about 6 go-arounds, because I just couldn't get the speed right. However, I started to learn after doing all these go-arounds how I should approach it, and I started to notice that my altitude didn't really matter, as the speed counted more trying to land at this airport. I made the plane go very very fast towards the airport, and when I reached the slope, I kind of "dropped" the plane onto the runway (not a big drop, about 10 feet) by a sudden decrease in speed. It worked, and I now use that technique whenever I fly around that airport.

I guess my advice is, it's usually a pain when we have to go-around, especially after a 12 hour flight, but really, go-arounds are the greatest because the more you do of them, the more you learn about how to execute the approach to line you up better, what speed would be appropriate for the runway and plane, and what altitude to be at. Courcheval was a real experience for me, but now I know how to land there without having serious problems, all due to going around many times.

EHM-1343 Jonathan:

--- Quote ---Originally posted by EHM-1883 Matt

I can always get my altitude perfect, and I can easily calculate in my head when I should descend and at what rate.
--- End quote ---


Nothing like a bit of modesty is there Matt ;)...



Looking perfect there Mr Haywood!

My main bit of advice would be to reduce your speed early, and try and intercept the Glideslope from below, if you have to intercept from above there is the risk you will gain airspeed, making the approach generally harder!!!

EHM-1883 Matt:
haha, that was on a bad day:s

corrected from always, to most of the time, most of the time:%

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