What’s wrong with bumping the Vapp up a few knots?

Do it by all means but it shouldn't cause any discomfort if you didn't.

I read the post as if GS-mini reduced the target speed too much, and thus a manual add-on is sought.

On that level I honestly refuse to engage.

Not sure what GS-mini has to do with this since in general it’ll have you flying faster than the minimum Vapp.

As long as it’s not routine I can’t see the problem with adding a couple of knots. My operator went down the “trust the load sheet” line, but it’s pretty obvious when the calculated approach speed is a little too low.

The aircraft (especially the A321) tends to wallow around and is very quick to decelerate further but reluctant to accelerate, even with a large thrust input. None of the Airbus series are happy about you entering the flare a few knots slow as I can vouch for from personal experience.

What was entered as ZFW shouldn't matter once Approach is activated because after that Vapp is not estimated but calculated. Following was a bulletin from Airbus.

GW and CG values are computed from entered ZFW and ZFWCG corrected for the predicted FOB and CG variation. When the Approach phase is activated, the characteristic speeds are recomputed using the actual weight and CG.The performance model used to compute the characteristic speeds, is accurate enough to provide speed errors of less than ± 2 kt from the certified speeds.

I believe that although this modification is incorporated in the latest FAC standards (or was it in an FMGS update?), it's not mandated for retrofit, so a large fleet will have varied setups. Nevertheless it's obvious when the aircraft is slightly slow and I don't think it's unreasonable to increase the speed slightly in those circumstances.

Airbus have to cover themselves from a regulatory point of view and their guidance is just that, guidance. On a 3000m runway there is little risk in increasing Vapp by 2 knots, provided it's taken into account in the performance. Doing it routinely because your landing technique is wrong is a different matter.

Could you please provide a link to this bulletin?

I made part of my approach prep routine to compare GW with GW FK in the AIDS page and add 1 note for every tonne of difference up to 3-4 kts.

There's no need to develop personal procedures. A few knots less or more is within the accuracy of the system itself. If it mattered Airbus would say so. In Airbus Flare is purely a visual judgment since there's no aerodynamic feel in the stick. A little more or a little less pull on the stick is all that's required. All these extra additions are just personal comfort factors in reality. That everyone doesn't do it is the proof that it's not required. How accurate is your BUSS with which you fly in unreliable speed? Or the latest Digital Back up Speed which has replaced the BUSS is a calculated speed and is accurate within 15kts. So no need to go overboard with one or two tones knots. You achieve nothing.

Airbus allows the flight crew to manually adjust Vapp to compensate for wind effects that GS mini is not well-tuned to capture. GS mini works best in steady wind gradients and normal gusts, but sometimes gets a little behind phase in sudden shears. This is really going to be environmental based on conditions or local knowledge, and as previously stated not to adjust a faulty landing technique on a calm day. To quote Airbus:

“In some situations (e.g. gusty conditions or strong crosswind), the flight crew may choose a higher VAPP than the AFS computation as good airmanship”.


https://safetyfirst.airbus.com/contr...h-and-landing/

There was never any doubt that pilots can increase upto 15kts in gusty conditions. We were talking about nitpicking a few knots for the heck of it.
Firsty ferret and enzino see below:

FCOM 22_20-40-10 OPTIMISATION
The FMGC uses the performance model and either the predicted landing weight or the current gross weight at transition to the approach phase to compute approach speeds (VLS, VAPP, F, S, Green Dot).

Thanks Vilas. I will pay close attention to it.

This particular topic can be discuses from many angles. Except the GS mini connected one, of course.


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​​​​​​​You need to try changing ZFW after activating approach before that it comes from MCDU. However a lot of changes are taking place no doubt. Anyway this is a digrasion. The point is nothing is achieved by trying to be accurate about LW to the last ton to get Vapp.

Sorry Vilas I did not see your reply and deleted my previous post as it was off topic.
I totally agree with you tho. =)