Bugging up Vref?
 

Dear Forum:

Would appreciate inputs and opinions on pros and cons of increasing Vref on approach when flying with steady headwind (no cross wind and no gusts).

Recently, the First Officer I was flying with, made the case for the need of increasing the Vref speed by 15 Kts as we were flying an approach to RNW 34 with a reported wind of 340/15. His argument was that by doing so we would compensate for the loss of ground speed, and basically there was no downside as the runway was long and surface conditions were dry.

I do not agree with this operating philosophy, but I am no "astronaut" so I welcome everyone's ideas.

Thanks for participating.

ANA

Well

I would say that he is wrong !! During the approach he should not look at the ground speed ,
normally ITS Vref +5 IAS regardless of the wind speed !

cheers

Thanks!
Alex

Plus 5 unless there is a gusty crosswind, then it's half the steady and all the gust, anything else he's making stuff up.

Dear astronaut....double posting the same question is poor form.:rolleyes:

So its +5 in calm conditions and half the wind speed when windy, so in 20kts you plus 10, in gusty conditions say 15 gusting 30 you would plus 30???? What a load of c**p. Maybe specify type.

Well i think half the wind is ok .. but about me i use less than half the wind speed a lil bit

for example if the wind reported on runway 24 300/15 G 20 i might increase 6 or 7 Maximum KTS ,

What does your FHB/FCOM/POH say? Follow it!

FWIW, I believe Vref does NOT change -- your "bug speed" (the actual approach speed) is what changes.

Where the controlling documents give you a choice, blindly increasing the Vref additive will cause you to use more runway and more brakes and more fuel, and to make more noise. All that will NOT in any increase the "safety" of the operation, because safety factors have already been considered when Vref is calculated and additives applied as written.