A319 Approach Speeds

[TitanMaster]

Can someone, perhaps an A319 pilot, help me to know the reason why A319's always seem to fly such slow app speeds, even when given no speed restrictions?

Does it have something to do with the FMS/FMC?

And how much physical flying does the pilot actually do when flying the A319?

[FliegerTiger]

TM,

What sort of speeds are they flying then?

[TitanMaster]

Usually about 210kts with 25 track miles to go, and slowing. I'm just interested to find out. The airspace we work is seldom busy enough to warrant them keeping the speed up.

WE've even had PA31's, DH8C's and CRJ2's flying faster approaches. Although the CRJ2 and A319 is a jet-on-jet race.....

[FliegerTiger]

That does seem a bit slow for that far out....what airport is this at? Is it a particular airline?

[TheKabaka]

Final App speeds on the 319 are low because theaircraft is relativley light, often about 120-130 knots.

They should be able to fly standard jet speeds up to 4ish miles, ie about 220 to 12 180 to 8 and 160 to 4.

I fly 319,320 and 321 the only time the varient makes a difference in terms of speeds flown is slowing to Vapp about 4 miles out as I say.

As to how much flying it depends on the pilots/day. Possibly the whole flight or on AP all the way to autoland!

[TitanMaster]

Ok. Thanks everyone for your input.

[FlyUK]

Sometimes the 319 can't keep 160 to 4 and be stable at 1000ft. About 10 knots tail wind and engine anti ice will mean you have to start reducing about 4.6 ish miles. The flap limiting speeds often cause a few issues on decending on an ils. The 319 will accelerate in flap 1 (210ish) and idle on a standard 3 degree. So most guys prefer flap 2 (180 knots) to hold idle thurst all the way down the app. Else you have to use gear or speedbrake which is messy and noisy. However if ATC ask you for something they expect you to do it unless you say otherwise. Sometimes you just have to dirty the aircraft to get it to do what you want...and this may mean gear at 8 miles with power. Not ideal.

Manual flying...As much as possible. It works on the same principles as every other aircraft (sort of). Remember Up, down, left and right and you can't go wrong. On a nice day the autopilot comes out in the decent (15000ft ish) down to the ground. Everyone is different though and you will get a different answer from every pilot you speak to. :ok:

[F4F]

Talking approach speeds, some operators rely on low cost index giving them not only fuel savings but slow descent/approach speeds. Can be overriden up to VMO 350kt...

As for manual flying, another myth... having some kindda computer in between you and the flight controls, you cannot fly the Airbus manually at all, despite what some "pilots" pretend :E


live 2 fly 2 live