Raw data flying
Thanks for sharing that newspaper link. Except for the sensationist headline, it is very well written. It is a sad state of affairs when pilots are hauled in for 'tea and biscuits' with the Chief Pilot for what often would be nothing more than a momentary excursion outside the set parameters. Sustained exceedances are definitely deserving of some counselling and possibly additional training, but it is a pain in the a$$ to be 'dobbed in' by the ACARS for momentarily being 3 knots above a flap limit or 3 degrees beyond a bank angle limit while on a difficult approach.
As an example, there was one NDB circling approach in our network that was the only approach available. The circling minimum was 500 feet and it was not unusual to be flying that approach in anger with low cloud, heavy rain and a brisk crosswind. Coming off the approach in a B737 correctly configured for downwind at gear down and flap 15, as soon as you turned onto base and descended 50 feet, the ACARS sent a nasty-gram to Engineering. That in turn sent the Safety Management System into investigative mode with a caste of thousands getting involved in the various stages needed to 'close off ' with many meetings and wise and wonderful words that would actually contribute nothing worthwhile.
All this was triggered because the aircraft had been outside the parameters set for a stable final approach, i.e. it required wings level (or with bank angle less than 10 (?) degrees) and landing flap in position below 500 feet. On base leg the flaps would be at 25 degrees and possibly running towards the landing setting, but of course would not be fully in position until maybe 400 feet. To further drive the ACARS into a frenzy, the bank angle would certainly be more than 15 degrees and - shock horror - could have momentarily been 33 and a 1/2 degrees if that is what it was going to take to get aligned with the unmarked runway (which also lacked any lead-in guidance or any useful cues as it was sat almost on the fringing reef). So there were three strikes: one for being "unstable", one for not being configured to land and another for exceeding bank limits.
The solution of course would have been to never go to that airport unless it was CAVOK. Just like banning manual flying solves the problem of adverse FDM reports. Neither says much for pilot skills.
As an example, there was one NDB circling approach in our network that was the only approach available. The circling minimum was 500 feet and it was not unusual to be flying that approach in anger with low cloud, heavy rain and a brisk crosswind. Coming off the approach in a B737 correctly configured for downwind at gear down and flap 15, as soon as you turned onto base and descended 50 feet, the ACARS sent a nasty-gram to Engineering. That in turn sent the Safety Management System into investigative mode with a caste of thousands getting involved in the various stages needed to 'close off ' with many meetings and wise and wonderful words that would actually contribute nothing worthwhile.
All this was triggered because the aircraft had been outside the parameters set for a stable final approach, i.e. it required wings level (or with bank angle less than 10 (?) degrees) and landing flap in position below 500 feet. On base leg the flaps would be at 25 degrees and possibly running towards the landing setting, but of course would not be fully in position until maybe 400 feet. To further drive the ACARS into a frenzy, the bank angle would certainly be more than 15 degrees and - shock horror - could have momentarily been 33 and a 1/2 degrees if that is what it was going to take to get aligned with the unmarked runway (which also lacked any lead-in guidance or any useful cues as it was sat almost on the fringing reef). So there were three strikes: one for being "unstable", one for not being configured to land and another for exceeding bank limits.
The solution of course would have been to never go to that airport unless it was CAVOK. Just like banning manual flying solves the problem of adverse FDM reports. Neither says much for pilot skills.
Last edited by Mach E Avelli; 28th Oct 2014 at 22:10.
