Originally Posted by
KayPam
Yes, but one must reckon that having the right runway for landing is mandatory.
If you look at the fcom, visual approach, you will notice they ask you to activate secondary.
Why is that ? If you're on final on rwy 27R, you can't perform a sidestep onto 27L except if it was briefed and prepared in secondary. Whereas for other aircraft it would not pose any problem.
One captain told me a valid reason : our operator (but not airbus) requires us to have at least one instrumental way of checking glide path (papi, or the CF on the a320, or glide, or any other means) and mainly because if there was a glide and you go for a runway that is closer, you may get spurrious too low glide alarm.
It's so GS Mini works properly.
If you're circling fron 27 to 09 and the wind is gusty 090/30G45 then if the aircraft thought it was a tailwind (when you finally get round to finals 09) it would add no GSmini delta and just sit at the standard Vapp. By activating the secondary with 09 in and the correct wind 090/30, it will give you the correct additional energy via GSmini. Those winds are obviously exagurated to make the point, circlign with 45kts up your chuff is probably a poor choice!
If you sidestep from 27L to 27R, apart from perhaps turning the GPWS G/S off and the usual FD's off, the wind will still be valid. Ok it might be SLIGHTLY different from one to the other, but not enough to really get that excited about.
Originally Posted by
pineteam
Visual approaches are to be flown using outside references. Programming the FMS is a big no no by Airbus. I remember reading it in one of the Airbus Safety First Mags. Why would you do that anyway... Flying visual is easy.
Ignoring the fact that visual flight is indeed easy, I'm not sure that is the current rule. My operator says you may put points in the FMS (perhaps a route) to aid SA but obviously not to be flown using that guidance. If someone wants a line for their 2.5nm leg then they can fill their boots as far as I'm concerned. As long as you're visual, it isn't illegal to do that.