In re-watching the video (until I wanted to lose my dinner
) some points crossed my mind:
1. For each landing/departure, would it not be fun to know what the ground level TDZ, mid field, and far end (departure end?) reported winds were?
2. The same points 100 and 200 feet in the air.
3. The demonstrated cross wind component of each aircraft.
4. How many times the wind exceeded the aircraft component?
I’m not sure, but I do not think that FAR 60 discusses the runway random vertical deflection as shown in the video. Slope yes, deflection, I do not think so. I’m also pretty sure there is not a lot of data or design on what the wind does coming over the top of the buildings. All of which are going to be needed to improve the software.
The NTSB report on Continental Airlines Flight 1404’s Runway Side Excursion in Denver, Colorado on December 20, 2008 has the following recommendation:
Gather data on surface winds at a sample of major U.S. airports (including Denver International Airport) when high wind conditions and significant gusts are present and use these data to develop realistic, gusty crosswind profiles for use in pilot simulator training programs. (A-10-110)
I’m not aware that has happen as of yet.
I do think Part 60 should have discussed both the instruction of the instructor and the maintenance staff training, or at least made them required points within the SQMS.
Quick question for the current pilots: On a United States ILS runway with center line lighting, are the center line markings over the lights, or are they off to one side? And if off to one side, which side? Let us limit it to KSFO, KFJK, KDEN, KPHX, or some other major. I’ll answer the why in a day or two.