FL100 tadex
Hi Tadex, yup your quite right the weight matters and that affects the rate of descent ! The lighter they are the faster the rate of descent.
On my aircraft 737-200 with 50 pax or less she will come down at a greater rate of descent so basically you might find it reasonable to cut down on the distance needed for speed loss to configure for the approach or you may find yourself way out and low. About 5nm is ok but remember this depends on if you have a continuos rate of descent down to FL100 and below. If you are heavy take an early descent.
At top of descent maintain 300kts to 310kts as you descend and try to keep a rate of 2500ft/3000ftmin depending on her weight all the way, now then here is the point you need to grasp and if you get it right you should have no problems, as you approach FL110 plan to be about 50nm from your initial approach fix then reduce rate to 500ft/700ft per min and decelerate her to 250kts (she will cover about 10miles to reduce speed nicely depending on how fast you pull her nose up)) at this point you should be 40nm from your initial approach fix and coming out of FL100, now increase rate of descent to 1500ft/min not more she should hold 250kts and work your way now by monitoring and having a mental picture of whats going on around you and the airport that your going into traffic xther etc ..... then start slowing her down to configure and as you get on the final approach you should be right on the money, speed distance height and all.
Remember 40nm-10,000ft-250kts my friend.
The thing is how much distance did you chew up while slowing her down still high up there!!!
Its crazy but the -200 amazingly will actually hold these numbers once you get it right and quite nicely too.
Enjoy Sir,
Zaz