Too low during the circling?

[PitotTube]

Is this a bit on the low side during the final stages of the circling? Please give your opinion.

YouTube - B-737 Cockpit View Approach & Landing TGU

A cockpit view of the approach in weather and circling to land on RW01 (2004) at Toncontin International Airport, Tegucigulpa Honduras- MHTG

[con-pilot]

No, not in the least. That was a very well executed approach and landing to that airport.

There are quite a few videos on the Internet about Tegucigalpa. After you view a few of them you'll understand what I am talking about.

Nice video by the way.

[ab33t]

That was a cool approach , good video

[punk666]

Ive been told that you decend to MDA then circle round at that height, but wouldnt circling at 700ft MSL for example be a bit low for a 737 to circle or is that normal?

p.s nothing to do with the video

[411A]

Ive been told that you decend to MDA then circle round at that height, but wouldnt circling at 700ft MSL for example be a bit low for a 737 to circle or is that normal?

We circle at 600 feet in a much larger aircraft...L1011.

[Checkboard]

If you can't see at circling minima, you do not execute the approach, end of.

"end of." for your operation in nice, easy Europe Showing your inexperience a bit there.

Other countries have different rules, and Cat C airports can have different rule-sets again. As stated above - in Australia, if you are visual at the circling MDA, you may then descend visually to as low as 400 feet obstacle clearance in order to ensure that you remain visual. I have circled airports 400 feet AGL (200 feet below MDA) in B737 and BAe146 airline passenger operations in high winds and heavy rain several times in Australia.

At the old Kai Tak in Hong Kong, aircraft could not fly a straight final from anything higher than about 250 feet - that was another airport where a constantly turning final approach was necessary.

[411A]

Very well said, Checkboard....those pilots whom have worked for only one carrier really have no idea about how things are done, quite legally, at others.

That is the 'end of.'

[DBate]

Also, 50 ft callout well before landing threshold, 10ft radalt call just before end of the displaced threshold which they just squeaked a landing inside. All this with terrain clearly visible a short distance before the landing surface. Not a set of conditions I would have chosen to target a low profile under...

Have a look at this approach from a different angle here. Gives you an impression of the sloping terrain during the final stages of the approach.

With an demanding approach to a realtively short runway like this (6112 feet/ 1863 meters according to 'Worldaerodata'), I would definately prefer to touch down just past the displaced threshold instead of somewhere further down the runway (even at the 1000' markings). That is in any case much better than a landing like this one.

All said - quite a challange flying to this field. As 411A says so often on this board: '...Gotta bring your A game...'

Regards,
DBate

[misd-agin]

Normal approach for TGU and very nicely done.

In Pitot Tube's video, at the 4:58 mark, I prefer to be over the houses slightly to the right. The mound ahead is slightly higher and by offsetting slightly to the right you have an earlier lineup and are descending at a slightly lower sink rate.

The downside is you have to watch out for the house with the tall TV antenna and the passengers on the right DO NOT enjoy the closeup view of the rocks just prior to the area in question.

In DeBate's video the 'slot' over the houses is at the 0:15 mark.

Minor differences. Wider turn, less seperation on the right side, slightly steeper bank in the mid game, to avoid last minute adjustement for lineup.