I notice in the Fedex MD-11 Narita landing accident (3 bounces), comments have also been made about leaving the A/P in till 100 ft AGL, possibly contributing to mishandling, especially in rough conditions... once control is finally taken.
Hand-flying down the approach gives a degree of acclimatisation... better SA etc
Being handed back an aircraft at night, in a (somewhat) unknown trim condition, in turbulence, and as we have said many times, is more of problem initially, if out of practice with hand-flight in the cruise... definitely not handled with care and sensitivity commensurate with a 200 ton missile flying at M .8 in thin air, regardless of the 'law'
Why, why, why would a pilot not have even a semblance of sensitivity to feel their way into suitable control inputs...
That sidesticks suits some and not others, IMHO... regardless of the raging controversy about feedback, it wouldn't have happened to that PF with a conventional control column.
Because it would have been seen as absurd, not just by PNF but by PF himself, feeling the forces involved in such gross input at speed and having the thing back in his gut for minutes on end!
Last edited by HarryMann; 30th Aug 2011 at 14:02.