Hard Landings
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whether it's a light 737 or a 302 tonnes 747-400 freighter, the best technique is to put the wheels down on the centreline and at the touchdown point on the runway. But as always, it's the last six inches that counts!!!
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Originally Posted by Sean Dell
Don't forget also that Ryanair pilots aren't quite as good as the rest of us and are more likely to make 'hard landings' as they bought their licences on e-bay. 
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Re: Hard Landings
Im sure everybody has "banged one on" a couple of times. I do up to ten landings a week, and I seem to bang them on all the time, but as Sean Dell implies, I did get my license at ebay.
CIA isnt a very pleasant place at all, seems very short on final approach, and if memory serves me correctly its narrower than normal runways, or atleast thats the way it seems, and therefore you sometimes feel that you are higher than normal and thus starting your flare too late.
I dont know, maybe the landings are getting harder, and the LoCo pilots are less capable than the flagcarrierpilots, so know Im going to go and find out...
so long friends
CIA isnt a very pleasant place at all, seems very short on final approach, and if memory serves me correctly its narrower than normal runways, or atleast thats the way it seems, and therefore you sometimes feel that you are higher than normal and thus starting your flare too late.
I dont know, maybe the landings are getting harder, and the LoCo pilots are less capable than the flagcarrierpilots, so know Im going to go and find out...
so long friends
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Re: Hard Landings
Part of being a lo -co pilot is the 'no frills' element of lo cost carriers thus lack of smooth landings. 
CIA does actually have a bit of smooth runway around the touchdown zone which often gives a nice touchdown. One factor that makes CIA a little more tricky at the moment is that the ILS is out of service so we are using a VOR let down procedure instead. This equates to a slightly steeper than normal approach (3.2 degree slope instead of a 3 degree slope with the ILS) this combined with the preferential use of runway 15 with tailwinds upto 10 knots means that at the moment you can have quite a high groundspeed (upto + 20kts faster than a still air approach a 20 kt increase in groundspeed equates to an approximate 100feet/min increase in rate of descent) This combined with a higher than normal descent rate to maintain the profile results in the final 50 feet prior to touchdown being more difficult to judge than usual. Thats not to say a smooth landing can't be achieved but the odds are stacked slightly less in our favour than say landing back in STN with a headwind a normal approach angle and big long runway. Thats my excuse anyway!
CIA does actually have a bit of smooth runway around the touchdown zone which often gives a nice touchdown. One factor that makes CIA a little more tricky at the moment is that the ILS is out of service so we are using a VOR let down procedure instead. This equates to a slightly steeper than normal approach (3.2 degree slope instead of a 3 degree slope with the ILS) this combined with the preferential use of runway 15 with tailwinds upto 10 knots means that at the moment you can have quite a high groundspeed (upto + 20kts faster than a still air approach a 20 kt increase in groundspeed equates to an approximate 100feet/min increase in rate of descent) This combined with a higher than normal descent rate to maintain the profile results in the final 50 feet prior to touchdown being more difficult to judge than usual. Thats not to say a smooth landing can't be achieved but the odds are stacked slightly less in our favour than say landing back in STN with a headwind a normal approach angle and big long runway. Thats my excuse anyway!
Hmmmyeah
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Re: Hard Landings
Of course, those really hard landings are quite possibly due to the use of autoland. One indicator of such automation being used is that some systems are so advanced that they even open the overhead lockers on touchdown ready for the pax to remove their hand luggage on arrival at the gate. Automation may often give some away to human finesse, but just appreciate the convenience! 
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I guess it those sort of occasions that make you realise why pilots are worth what they're paid!
Especially the ones with the eBay licenses
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Re: Hard Landings
A firm landing is sometimes necessary so the a/c knows it is actually on the ground and not still in the air, as IIRC the sensors work on the compression of the landing gear. This then ensures that the spoilers will deploy and reverse thrusters and auto brakes will work to actually stop you on the runway and not through the fence at the end.
IIRC that was one of the factors that was mentioned with regards to the Air France A343 that ran off the runway last year as to whether the a/c knew it was on the ground or not and deployed the spoilers etc.
I'm only a lowly PPL myself, but my instructor told me that whenever anyone who cannot fly themselves flies with you, you can do a perfect take-off, navigate to your destination perfectly without drifting off course, but the one thing they will judge the whole flight on will be the landing !!. Seems this is true for the big boys too.
As has been said before, any landing you can walk away from is a good one, when you can use the a/c again then it's a perfect one.
IIRC that was one of the factors that was mentioned with regards to the Air France A343 that ran off the runway last year as to whether the a/c knew it was on the ground or not and deployed the spoilers etc.
I'm only a lowly PPL myself, but my instructor told me that whenever anyone who cannot fly themselves flies with you, you can do a perfect take-off, navigate to your destination perfectly without drifting off course, but the one thing they will judge the whole flight on will be the landing !!. Seems this is true for the big boys too.
As has been said before, any landing you can walk away from is a good one, when you can use the a/c again then it's a perfect one.
Re: Hard Landings
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Re: Hard Landings
I've noticed on autoland there is an extra big 'thump' on touchdown. Why is this? I've only just finished my JOT so never tried one myself - I always seem to need the practice!
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Re: Hard Landings
Originally Posted by Sean Dell
Don't forget also that Ryanair pilots aren't quite as good as the rest of us and are more likely to make 'hard landings' as they bought their licences on e-bay.
People like you should be shot Sean, my hubby is a captain for FR and he is one of the best in the industry. How dare you slate his profession. He obtained his licence no problem with a very excellent pass rate.
FR pilots are just as good and sometimes better than a lot of you who think you work for better airlines.
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Re: Hard Landings
Originally Posted by Sean Dell
Don't forget also that Ryanair pilots aren't quite as good as the rest of us and are more likely to make 'hard landings' as they bought their licences on e-bay.
