No, the touchdown was barely average! Being instrument rated and well
familiar with that particular approach, it was obvious to me, even in
cloud, where/when heading and power changes on final approach from the
OM on in, and were more subtle than average. All the while I presume
planning for a probable braking problem, on a very slick rwy with only
1/2 thrust-reverse available for some more yaw on the wrong side of a
crosswind. Indeed the braking conditions were obviously bad, airframe
at times shaking and yawing a bit. All 9,000 feet were safely used.
I know they practice in sims, but doubt this was all easy. Will a sim
fully duplicate these landing conditions? The voice on the cabin PA
initially indicated at least one shook pilot.
Best,
Fred F.
Nigel Charles wrote:
>
> Message text written by Fred Fillinger
> >I was a passenger
> on an MD-80 whose port side engine exploded during rotation. The
> single-engine ILS, at night, 600 and 3/4 in sleet and fog, following
> that failure was outstanding. How smooth the guy's landing were, or
> whether he could even spell tailwheel, is not part of my definition!<
>
> I think we are now getting well away from objective assessment. To assess
> the achievements of a pilot from the passenger seat of an airliner is not
> even vaguely creditable. Sure having a major engine failure during rotation
> is a challenging situation and so is landing with a lowish cloudbase and
> 1200m vis in sleet on one engine. However for all you knew the pilot may
> have managed the situation very badly and the smooth touchdown was
> fortuitous. I would not want to have that event happen to me for real but
> airline pilots practice such failures twice a year in the simulator.
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