Originally Posted by Rananim
Generally,the shorter the runway,the quicker those hands are to reach for the reversers...which is a natural reaction but also a shame as it narrrows the window for the runway GA option as well as jumps the gun before spoilers are confirmed...
Good point - in the Congonhas crash the FDR/CVR clearly showed that reverse thrust was activated before the FO called 'no spoilers'....
Possibly 'instant reverse' is even more likely in the A320, with its 'one-piece' throttle levers? I recall seeing a video of a (very good) A320 landing on a short runway (the Azores, I think) where the captain pulled the levers back to the 'Idle' detent after the 'Retard' call, kept his hand on them as he flared and touched down, and then slammed them into reverse the moment the nosewheel was down.
PS - Doing the guy an injustice, found the video again and he DID wait for the spoilers call.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nYzV...eature=related