Query about final approach to land
 

Sir/s, 1st of all before putting my query, let me tell you that I am not at all a pilot or a trainee but a simmer who fly on computer simulator and very much interested in aviation. Though it may be stupid to ask this but still what I am going to ask here is to gain knowledge and expecting that someone will answer my query.

Sir, a plane is on approach to the destination:
1) At what height from the ground level does a pilot should disengage auto-pilot and auto throttle for final approach to perform the landing. In other words what is the safe height to go manual for landing?


2) Taking an example of Toncontin airport (MHTG), the elevation of the runway as we know, is 3300 ft. A plane is on approach to runway 20, whereas the the pilot has to maintain 8000 feet till his final turn to the runway cause of high elevated land and right after passing the hill there is a steep descend to the runway.The distance from the hill to the runway is just 8.5nm


According to the above condition, it means we have to make steep descend to cover 4700 feet to reach the runway just within 8.5nm and at the same time have to maintain the speed for the final touch down.
a) With all the above scenario, is it possible and practical to make a manual descend covering 4700ft for the approach and maintaining the speed same time?
b) What does real world pilot do while making the approach and when they go manual for the final touch down?


This query is only related to going for manual approach. Also kindly don'tmention PARO (VQPR) as Paro approach doesn't have steep descend. We roll the nose up and down while approaching at Paro to make a decent descend even though we are too high above the runway and the concept to approach is completely different..

1) Usually at or before the MDA or DH.

2a) Yes. Use the "minute to live" rule - vertical speed is no more than your altitude above the ground.

2b) On this approach (VOR DME Rwy 02) I would configure to final landing configuration outbound from the VOR. Keep autopilot connected until inbound to D7.0 fix. Disconnect autopilot and use Flight Director for reference. Have PM set MCP altitude to 6700 and vertical speed at -2000FPM. Passing D5.0 fix, set altitude to 5700. Approaching 5700', look for runway. If in sight, continue to 5000', then decrease to -1500FPM until on the PAPI; if not, go around.

It depends on company operating procedures. I did a flight deck ride once with Air 2000 in an A320. On takeoff from Gatwick, the pilot removed his hand from the sidestick just after rotation and didn't touch it again (therefore disengaging AP) until the 'Retard, Retard' call (50ft radio) at Alicante.

Sorry, amended the runway number as i written wrong earlier. I made the correction. My apologies for it.

The VOR to 02 is the only approach I see with an 8000' limit...

It doesn't really matter, because the general principles are the same.