Credit where it is due

[Paddybee]

I was SLF from Windhoek to OR Tambo on SA 077 last evening,26th Feb 2015, spectacular cloud formations & thunderheads, full pax, couple of course changes to avoid weather, earlier arrival than sched. Touchdown by the Captain an example of the fine art of aviation - perfect greaser! Seated row 18 of A330 200, -that is directly above main gear- and I only heard the rumble of the tyres, there was NO bump. Thinking back- None of the turns made for Wx was unco-ordinated, I never felt that the ball was out of the middle. Additionally, after smooth power reduction at top of descent there was no throttle-chasing on approach, nor sudden power chop at threshold. Taxi was equally smooth.
It is always a rare pleasure when you encounter a professional who is also an artist at what they do. Well done Sir! Give that man a Bell's!

[wondering]

No disrespect but shouldn´t the main credit go to Airbus? Thought FBW, Auto thrust and all the other gimmicks make it such a wonderful experience. Mind you a pilot can still bounce it on landing :}

[safelife]

Turn coordination, smooth throttling and soft touch downs are built-in features of the Airbus 330.

[Paddybee]

with all the modern aids that let you smooth out your flying - a ham-handed pilot is still capable of giving his pax a crap flight. My general feeling is that the larger the airframe the less turbulence apparently affects it , simply because of mass. The A330 flight in question was noticeably smoother than my recent previous flights in A330, A320, A380, B737, B767, B747 run by various operators. (Etihad, SAA, Kulula et al.) With the help of the systems available to him, this guy operated a flight as it should be done, not as it is usually done and I believe that he (& crew) should get the recognition for the result.
We are usually quick to bitch when it goes pear shaped, this is just appreciation of a good job well done.