Originally Posted by
Capn Bloggs
Anybody thinking a 777 is the same as a 737 is this scenario is, IMO, mistaken.
First thing they teach you is to fly a normal papi (btw, 3000 777 hours, 200 landings and type rating from the Boeing guys and instructors who've flown for a company with +50 777s in the fleet as a reference). The flare height is almost the same as a 737 as well, as there is very little pitch change required or you will end up at the end of the runway. The 747 might want to fly 3 whites, it is not done and not advised on a 777. Which is also what is stated in the FCTM.
A 2-bar VASI is not to be used (because yes, with a 3° path the main gear will touchdown near the end of the runway), a 3-bar VASI gives 3.25° and this is the "long-body" configuration you keep confusing with the PAPI system. It's a VASI specification, not a PAPI.
The PAPI's are perfectly safe to be used by any 777 "2 reds, 2 whites", whatever the body length, because the touchdown point is not the same as for a glideslope. They will guide an aircraft further along down the runway. This basic parameter is the one where you guys are doing pretty hard "guesswork" it seems (correct me if I'm wrong though). That doesn't mean there are variations to account for, but that is indeed, the pilot's job. The first "P" in PAPI is precision, and it will tell you when you are too low.