What are some "flying techniques" pilots use for landing on a runway with a displaced threshold.
In particular what techniques do you use in order to maintain the correct 3 degree profile to the displaced threshold.
Normally (without a displaced threshold) I use any of these :
- ILS / instrument approach
- the published profile on a chart for an instrument approach
- the vertical deviation symbol on the PFD
- Vertical deviation in the MCDU PROG page
- ongoing mental calculations using the distance to the threshold (threshold inserted in the MCDU)
However none of these will provide the correct profile for a displaced threshold.
Some techniques I see pilots use are to calculate some type of correction factor (eg +200', if threshold is displaced 1200 m) to the MCDU PROG page vertical deviation profile to the normal threshold. This seems to work OK.
Are there any other techniques pilots can use ?
I always thought that by creating a "new runway" (old runway with the displaced threshold) might be an acceptable technique but I have never actually tried it in flight. Would this be ok ?
At least this way, I can use :
- the vertical deviation symbol on the PFD
- the vertical deviation in the MCDU PROG page
- the new threshold location for mental calculations
Another technique occasionally used would be just to disregard the displaced threshold, fly a normal profile then just try and land through all the equipment and cones and see how much damage you can do
