FBW during the flare

[AirRabbit]

You've got to be kidding me...

Notwithstanding all the potentials that are (or could easily be) involved with FBW airplanes … after watching the video presented here, it is apparent to me that this pilot was more interested in achieving the often highly desired “grease-job” landing than he (or she?) was interested in simply landing the airplane.

LMG touchdown at 0:17? Possibly … but not to the extent that would have compressed the strut.
RMG touchdown at 0:22? Yes.
LMG touchdown at 0:23? Yes.
Nose rise at 0:26? Yes … but only after the start of the climb.

There isn’t any information available in the following areas:

1) the airspeed that was being maintained;
2) the airspeed that would have been appropriate during the final approach;
3) the airspeed upon commencing the flare; or
4) the airspeed upon achieving the landing attitude.

Additionally, there is no information about the location about where on/over the runway that any of the above listed points were reached.

It looked to me as though there was little, if any, power reduction initiated at any point throughout the video – meaning that there was certainly some, and likely a substantial amount of excess power being carried throughout what was captured on that video. Additionally, there was an extremely slight, if any, pitch attitude change, and no observable thrust change, as the airplane began to lift away from the runway … indicating that very likely only a small amount of additional power would have been required to achieve the “go-around” shown. Not knowing any more than what was captured on that video it would make sense that in attempting to achieve that senseless “grease job” touchdowns, the pilot used up a sufficient amount of the available runway that it no longer appeared to be safe to continue with the landing.

Of course, it’s only my opinion, but that opinion is that “grease job” landings may “feel” nice, but they are senseless in that they depend on irrationally using runway length and doing so at increasingly, and unnecessarily, lower airspeeds, and in doing so, unnecessarily compromise the safety and efficiency of flying the airplane the way it was designed. Of course, there are pilots who are quite good and can achieve these “silly” grease job landings, almost whenever they choose … but that is not the way the airplane was designed, and they give the impression that being able to do that is something that all “really good” pilots should be able to do. That is, of course, patently wrong-headed, particularly when such attitudes are more pervasive when focused on younger, lesser experienced pilots, seeking to “prove” themselves!