reverse before touch down

[Smythe]

Wasnt that long ago when there werent reverse thruster locks...one could deploy them at any altitude.

then there is also this

You Tube

[BluSdUp]

Smythe
That was SOP in ScotAirways in GLA in 1999. Even with a 90` turn.
Note to self: Do not use brakes to stop!
( Dornier 328 TurboProp)

[slack]

seen it done on dc8 43 series. Better be at altitude or real close to the ground or it could be nasty.

[WingNut60]

Originally Posted by BluSdUp

Smythe
That was SOP in ScotAirways in GLA in 1999. Even with a 90` turn.
........

And a wing mirror on a selfie stick?

[Atlas Shrugged]

Also done by pilots on the 747s to land on short runways.

Ummm... what?????

[vilas]

Also done by pilots on the 747s to land on short runways

Not unless doing some shady work. Not at all recommended or required.

[Smythe]

There was a crash when a 767 deployed reverse thrust at 24,000...cant remember the year.

[sonicbum]

Is there seriously any professional pilot who advises on deploying thrusts reversers prior to touchdown ?

[ATC Watcher]

Originally Posted by Smythe

There was a crash when a 767 deployed reverse thrust at 24,000...cant remember the year.

Lauda air Bangkok 1991. But it was uncommanded on one engine only , the disymmetry caused the unrecoverable loss of control .

[bumpy737]

Originally Posted by sonicbum

Is there seriously any professional pilot who advises on deploying thrusts reversers prior to touchdown ?

Well on the old IL-62 it was a part of the landing procedure as far as I remember

[Meikleour]

That was a standard technique that could be employed on DH Tridents - reverse in the flare - but that was 40+ years ago!

PS I do believe that the BEA/BA Trident pilots counted as professional pilots!

[HowardB]

Is it true that the RAF TriStars could apply reverse thrust before landing? Many year ago I was told that they competed to make the shortest landing at Stanley airport using revers thrust after the Falklands War

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by Meikleour

PS I do believe that the BEA/BA Trident pilots counted as professional pilots!

Ditto DC-8 pilots.

[CV880]

Back in the early 70's I saw a Swissair DC8-62 landing on runway 13 at Hong Kong Kai Tak with the reversers deploying well before touchdown (actually as it went passed the Aero Club which was where I was seated).. This was before the runway was lengthened and the aircraft looked a bit fast over the fence.
Also wasn't there an Alitalia DC8-62 written off at Sydney after a heavy landing because the pilot had selected reverse on the inboards in flight to expedite his descent and forgot about them until he tried to apply power on short finals?

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by CV880

Also wasn't there an Alitalia DC8-62 written off at Sydney after a heavy landing because the pilot had selected reverse on the inboards in flight to expedite his descent and forgot about them until he tried to apply power on short finals?

Yes, though it was at JFK rather than SYD.

Twitter

[tdracer]

No current production Boeing Commercial Aircraft allows the selection of reverse until the air/ground logic has been satisfied. In the case of the 737 the use of radio altimeter may mean you're not quite on the ground - but deploying them before actual touchdown is not approved and can be very hard on the aircraft (and perhaps your flying career). When the reversers deploy, the efflux kills the lift on that wing (as we discovered very unpleasantly on Lauda) and the aircraft drops like a rock. Plus, if one reverser fails to deploy for some reason you're also going to get a nasty roll at a bad time.

I'm with sonicbum. While it was possible (and even approved) on some older aircraft types, it's a very, very bad idea to try it on any current Boeing.

[etudiant]

Originally Posted by tdracer

No current production Boeing Commercial Aircraft allows the selection of reverse until the air/ground logic has been satisfied. In the case of the 737 the use of radio altimeter may mean you're not quite on the ground - but deploying them before actual touchdown is not approved and can be very hard on the aircraft (and perhaps your flying career). When the reversers deploy, the efflux kills the lift on that wing (as we discovered very unpleasantly on Lauda) and the aircraft drops like a rock. Plus, if one reverser fails to deploy for some reason you're also going to get a nasty roll at a bad time.

I'm with sonicbum. While it was possible (and even approved) on some older aircraft types, it's a very, very bad idea to try it on any current Boeing.

Was there not an Air Canada DC-8 that landed very hard due to early reverse thrust, was taken back up and crashed with all aboard lost? A very, very bad idea indeed for any civil transport.

[slack]

reverse thrust

nope spoilers deployed prior to touchdown. big bounce, ripped off engine, opened wing and fuel caught fire. Game over crashed north of airport. cyyz All perished.

[andrasz]

Applying R/T on the outboards (only those had reversers) during flare was SOP on the IL-62. It had no leading edge slats, and was necessary to avoid floating in ground effect with the very efficient wing (for those times) at a high angle of attack. Mind you, originally it had a five person fight deck...
Good video here:

You Tube

[Ilyushin76]

Originally Posted by sonicbum

Is there seriously any professional pilot who advises on deploying thrusts reversers prior to touchdown ?

Yes, I can name a few. All pilots of classic aircraft such as the 707/A300/747 combis..