Originally Posted by JohnMcGhee
've been meaning to ask on this forum for some time: "Why" do the QF drivers all throw it at the ground? We have the smoothest flying conditions in the world, yet every one ends with an almighty thump! SQ drivers don't do it, BA drivers don't do it, Thai doesn't do it, Gulf Air, Air NZ, Air China, China Southern...
You must have been on different flights on those airlines than I.
A few concepts to throw your way. Google some of them.
Rear mounted engines
Stiff legs
Short runway
Remote from extensive ground lighting = black hole approach
Visual approach guidance lights all show
PINK to pilot on final approach. ALCAN replaced accurate but expensive T-VASIS with cheap but near-useless PAPI installation that gets covered by the red bauxite dust. Letter of the law only.
High performance jet, often near max landing weight.
Monsoon conditions that can dump 80+mm of rain in an hour on an ungrooved runway. Standing water.
Implicit instructions to not have Qantas passengers disembarking in the runway end safety zone. Less complaints if the walk to the terminal is short, you see. Therefore take firm touchdown and controlled braking over possible botched attempt at soft touchdown translates to floating and mainwheels in the mud.
Its pretty much the same bunch of pilots that flew you guys around in the 146's for years. Back then the complaints were - its slow and it will poison us. Now you have an aeroplane that is fast, and despite local prejudices, has far better on-time dispatch performance.
Commercial department reports show that the 717 fleet has bettered all other QF fleets in on time dispatch reliability. Flight data analysis shows 717 is third, not top, of the list of average G forces of the QF fleets.
But lets not let the stats get in the way of a good whinge.
Complaining is the local pastime. How bout we get rid of those pesky 717s and get Airnorth Metros back in there?