Originally Posted by Gusty
Hi Guys,
I've heard from many people that this forum is a good one to air a technical question.
I fly a twin-jet aircraft out of a major UK airport for a well-established carrier and the other day we were coming in weighing in at considerably less than normal, passenger load was about half what it normally is, and so the approach speeds were on the lower side.
I'm perhaps not the best person to comment (being only a lapsed glider pilot) but nobody else as so...
My first thought was why did you allow the plane to dictate your speed? Perhaps it's different in a jet but in a glider you select a speed based on the aircraft type (eg it's recommended landing speed) and add an allowance for wind shear. Letting it fly slower/faster is not recommended. In a glider the elevator controls your speed and the air brakes/spoilers control your rate of descent/glide slope. Pointing the nose at the "aiming point" will get you there but too fast and you can't burn off the speed quickly because the plane is very clean. If you try and use elevator to slow down you get your height back.