Heavy landing in Airbus A320

Ed · 20 Sep 2007 at 11:03

Blinkz said:
Commercial pilots generally DON'T do this. Touching down one wheel then the other in a crosswind means that you are using the wing-down method to keep aligned with the runway. The very LAST thing you want to be doing with under-slung engines which only have a handful of feet clearance from the ground at the best of times is to lower one of the wings!!

As Scuzi says, I believe it to be wake turbulence that meant left touched first because the plane was leaning left then right then left... It didn't appear that it was a calculated move because of the crafts instability. As you say, in a crosswind crabbing is preferred for its consistency and level of control.

Awesome landing though. Not one I'd look forward to in the Piper.

Tomsk said:
Cause....

and effect.

I took that into consideration but thought otherwise. I only gained 10lbs in a week but there were some monstrously fat people on board. That's all-inclusive for you.

PiKe said:
Whoa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RRpjzHGKZk

That was much smoother than I experienced on the Airbus.

hargi · 20 Sep 2007 at 11:45

think i found your pilot
http://www.hot-screensaver.com/wp-myimages/budget-airline-pilot.jpg

Baz · 20 Sep 2007 at 12:49

Not had any bad landings, had some like you suggested until touch down which was calm. The hardest landings are those on short runways, I remember Larnaca in Cyprus was quite short, as is Cayo Coco in Cuba. Thing was the pilot at Gatwick said they needed all of LGW's runway to take off as they were on the weight limit, yet Cuba's runway was much shorter, how he took off again was impressive!

Worst turbulence was coming into Verona in Italy in January, mountains providing a LOT of turbulence that even the crew looked worried!! Nothing like 50ft drops to wake you up

rich_g85 · 20 Sep 2007 at 12:52

Baz said:
Thing was the pilot at Gatwick said they needed all of LGW's runway to take off as they were on the weight limit, yet Cuba's runway was much shorter, how he took off again was impressive!

I can't remember exactly but doesn't the higher air temperature have something to do with it?

deSade · 20 Sep 2007 at 13:14

Baz said:
Not had any bad landings, had some like you suggested until touch down which was calm. The hardest landings are those on short runways, I remember Larnaca in Cyprus was quite short, as is Cayo Coco in Cuba. Thing was the pilot at Gatwick said they needed all of LGW's runway to take off as they were on the weight limit, yet Cuba's runway was much shorter, how he took off again was impressive!

I'm not sure if they've developed it, but some years ago I went to Madeira with my missus & the runway there was about 10 feet long, with a drop into the sea at the end!!!

That was the quickest descent & stopping of a plane I've ever been on.

Scuzi · 20 Sep 2007 at 13:20

rich_g85 said:
I can't remember exactly but doesn't the higher air temperature have something to do with it?

Higher air temperature = lower density.
The higher the air temperature, more runway is needed to take off. If the air temperature in Cuba was higher (as it propably was), they would have actually needed more runway for the same given weight. My guess is that they were a bit lighter on the way back or the runway at Cuba wasn't actually that much shorter.

rich_g85 · 20 Sep 2007 at 13:21

Scuzi said:
Higher air temperature = lower density.
The higher the air temperature, more runway is needed to take off. If the air temperature in Cuba was higher (as it propably was), they would have actually needed more runway for the same given weight. My guess is that they were a bit lighter on the way back or the runway at Cuba wasn't actually that much shorter.

D'oh - thanks for refreshing my memory

Jimmeh · 20 Sep 2007 at 13:39

I've had a fair few dicey landings mainly going into City Airport, not sure why - perhaps it's the winds coming up the Thames estery.
The worst landing I've had was when landing at Chergourg. First of all a go around was performed, and at the second time of asking the craft landed with such a thud a few of the over-head lockers flew open.

Scuzi · 20 Sep 2007 at 13:44

Jimmeh said:
I've had a fair few dicey landings mainly going into City Airport, not sure why - perhaps it's the winds coming up the Thames estery.

The 5.5 degree glideslope makes things interesting enough even without a bit of wind thrown into the mix! :eek:

Jimmeh · 20 Sep 2007 at 13:54

I've heard that there is a dodgy glideslope at LCY. What's the usual gradient? And why has LCY got such a glideslope - I presume it's for noise abadement?

hargi · 20 Sep 2007 at 13:56

Scuzi Whats like the minimum distances there should be between planes landing?

ScarySquirrel · 20 Sep 2007 at 13:58

Skull said:
I've never been worried by hard landings - numerous times the plane has hit the ground - hard - bounced back up and then landed again. Its all part of the fun really!

But i must say I absolutely despite it when the plane lands and everyone claps.

-Pilot can't hear you
-Why would the pilot have wanted to crash?

I was ona plane with about 25 retards once and they all started cheering and screaming as we took off. They then took about an hour to buy a sandwich for them each, which came to about £80 or something, lol.

dannyjo22 · 20 Sep 2007 at 14:04

Scuzi said:
Higher air temperature = lower density.
The higher the air temperature, more runway is needed to take off. If the air temperature in Cuba was higher (as it propably was), they would have actually needed more runway for the same given weight. My guess is that they were a bit lighter on the way back or the runway at Cuba wasn't actually that much shorter.

Huh isn't temp inversely proportional to density. The warmer the air the lower the density. Are you not thinking of pressure?

Cuba would need the longer runway on a hot day.

Scuzi · 20 Sep 2007 at 14:06

dannyjo22 said:
Huh isn't temp inversely proportional to density. The warmer the air the lower the density. Are you not thinking of pressure?

Cuba would need the longer runway on a hot day.

That's exactly what I said :confused:

Scuzi · 20 Sep 2007 at 14:10

Jimmeh said:
I've heard that there is a dodgy glideslope at LCY. What's the usual gradient? And why has LCY got such a glideslope - I presume it's for noise abadement?

The typical ILS glideslope is 3 degrees. The glideslope at LC is 5.5 degrees for both noise abatement, clearance from the buildings and also to avoid interference of the GS from the buildings.

Scuzi Whats like the minimum distances there should be between planes landing?

Depends on the aircraft involved. The minimum spacing of an A320 (which is in the medium vortex category) is 5 miles.

The minimum separations are as detailed:

The numbers are nautical miles. For reference, an A320 is in the Medium vortex category.

dannyjo22 · 20 Sep 2007 at 14:11

Scuzi said:
That's exactly what I said

Jesus I think I need a change of contact lens or a sleep

Diesel · 20 Sep 2007 at 14:24

Skull said:
But i must say I absolutely despite it when the plane lands and everyone claps.

I was on a flight the other month and loads of people clapped when we landed. It's confusing, like clapping when your bus pulls into the bus station.

dannyjo22 · 20 Sep 2007 at 14:29

Diesel said:
I was on a flight the other month and loads of people clapped when we landed. It's confusing, like clapping when your bus pulls into the bus station.

I think it's just relief. A way of easing the tension when you have a turbulent flight. I dont like flying but I've been on a few flights where we have lost altitude fast enough to lift my backside in the seat. When the seatbelt sign comes on I'm always wishing away the minutes til it comes off again and the turbulence stops.

I know it's safe it's just that feeling of being helpless and completely in a machine and pilots hands.

I never clap but do feel a sense of relief when the landing is complete.

The worst route for me is always to Barcelona, nearly always have very bad turbulence on that route.

LordSplodge · 20 Sep 2007 at 14:33

Had plenty of hard landings. I find them fun.

However Clear Air Turbulence puts the fear of God in me. I never want to experience that again...

Baz · 20 Sep 2007 at 14:42

Scuzi said:
Higher air temperature = lower density.
The higher the air temperature, more runway is needed to take off. If the air temperature in Cuba was higher (as it propably was), they would have actually needed more runway for the same given weight. My guess is that they were a bit lighter on the way back or the runway at Cuba wasn't actually that much shorter.

It was definately shorter, was fierce braking and reverse thrust and we only just slowed down enough, landing back at LGW we had loads of runway left..