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Old 29th August 2007 | 23:48
  #10 (permalink)  
Intruder
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Veteran: Navy
 
Joined: May 2000
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From: Seattle
Gear Down, Speedbrakes and maybe some flap (obviously flap for drag is bad)
Actually, flap for drag is NOT "bad"! In some cases, more flaps are the only added drag available (e.g., 747 Classic, where speedbrakes cannot be used with flaps down)! While Boeing may preach that flaps should not be used for drag, they should really preach that they should not be used "primarily" for drag.

If you are on the ILS Localizer, you are likely well below your minimum clean speed (in a 747 that might be 240+). Gear or more flaps may be the only way to add more drag to get down to the G/S. A 747 technique to get down in a hurry in the terminal area is "Flaps 20, 220" (with the gear down), which gives a good rate of descent without building up a lot of airspeed. Once nearing the G/S, decel to 200 and set Flaps 25 to stabilize. Get it done by 1000' AGL, and you may avoid a go-around.

FWIW, we fly into several airports where intercepting from above G/S is very common; ICN and OSN stand out among them. As long as you anticipate and plan for it, it's not a real problem, if not ideal.

For the OP, 500' above G/S is a lot, unless you're "way out there"...
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