PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - GS-Mini, Auto-thrust, and Short Runways – Airbus A320/330/340
Old 13th Mar 2008, 18:15
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TopBunk
 
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Alex

My interpretation, as an ex Airbus pilot and current Boeing pilot:

GS mini is an excellent feature in providing protection to wind variations on the approach. Most relevantly, imho, when you have microburst activity.

Consider the scenario where you have a tower wind component of 10kts Headwind:

Instantaneously on the approach you encounter 50kts HWC - GS mini will add up to 40 kts IAS (50-10) giving a constant GS approach (=constant power). It will also help protect you when (in a microburst) the 50 kt HW becomes a 50 kt TW.

The system is not perfect, but it sure helps in microbursts.
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