PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - El Al flight nearly crashed in Jerusalem hills
Old 3rd Feb 2009, 20:36
  #6 (permalink)  
Raymond767
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Canada
Age: 74
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have executed that approach to that runway at least 20 times, and can attest to the fact that it is fairly "tricky," especially at night or in low vis conditions.

The procedure not only has tight airspace restrictions due to the Jerusalem overflight restrictions, but requires you to stay tight to the airport downwind, then lose lots of speed and lots of altitude while executing a 180 degree turn and attempting to line up with the runway, and configure for landing, all at the same time.

It is especially a tough approach for a First Officer to execute, especially in reduced visibility conditions or at night, for the simple reason that he will be executing a left 180 degree turn from the right seat. And when the Captain is executing the approach, it is extremely difficult or almost impossible for the F/O to monitor outside the cockpit while the Captain attempts to maintain visual contact, due to the requirement to monitor parameters inside.
Raymond767 is offline