PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Sunset or Downwind??
View Single Post
Old 24th May 2004 | 16:58
  #4 (permalink)  
Monocock

 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 0
From: Earth
This is an interesting one and one that I frequently find catches me out. In fact, this time of year I positively avoid returning to my strip between 1900 and 2000 hrs for the very reason you are discussing especially as the first 100 m over the 27 threshold is slightly uphill and there is a risk of heavy contact if you are blinded.

If the cloud is broken I sometimes try and wait for the sun to be obscured for long enough to get in.

If I have plenty of fuel I will disappear for half an hour and come back when it's not so glaring.

I suppose I am fortunate that my 09 is slightly uphill so an early touchdown on the numbers gives a relativley "braking" landing run even with a tailwind. Saying this however, I avoid a tailwind landing unless it really is necessary. All that is needed for disaster is a bit of float, extended ground effect, wet grass etc and a long runway suddenly becomes a lot shorter. Equally, if it doesn't work and a go-around is opted for, giving full power with a tail wind gives a frighteningly poor accelaration !!!!

One thing to remember is that a low sun that is glaring MIGHT not be too bad in the last 50 feet as it MIGHT disappear behind some trees as the aircraft sinks down lower. Therefore, a descent to 50 ft over the dtrip might be an option to see if it's less of a problem at "flare" level.

On the whole, if fuel is not plentiful, the sun is really glaring and the tailwind is 7 kts +, I reckon the best bet is to find somewhere else to land. Most people must know of a better runway orientation for this situation that is within a few flying minutes.....
Monocock is offline