Wow...nice job by these pilots !!!

[roydo]

So many big birds use auto land that you can (safely and legally) get down in some conditions that are unsafe to drive. You know it's bad when the aircraft lands and needs help getting to the terminal because the crew can't see where they're going.

I thought the navigation thingy in the nose cone can guide it to about 6 inches of their box? At least my brother in law said it can, and he is a captain for BA. Or I wasnt really listening closely.

 

[The Esk]

So many big birds use auto land that you can (safely and legally) get down in some conditions that are unsafe to drive. You know it's bad when the aircraft lands and needs help getting to the terminal because the crew can't see where they're going.

Yes but this is China, and their internal airlines are not perhaps the most reliable....

They have improved a lot in recent years. About 15 years ago I was flying into Wuhan, and we landed and took off 3 times. My Chinese interpreter told me not to worry it was just an efficient way of getting trainee pilots some experience

 

[SerenityNigh]

I thought the navigation thingy in the nose cone can guide it to about 6 inches of their box? At least my brother in law said it can, and he is a captain for BA. Or I wasnt really listening closely.

A good GPS is very accurate, but most carriers require their pilots to hand-fly approaches from a certain point in the approach (i.e., may be autopilot until a certain position, then manually flown to landing). But all approaches have minima that limit the crew from landing; our local airport allows pilots to fly until 200 ft (~60m) above touchdown zone elevation (the runway) before discontinuing the approach if the runway/runway environment is not in sight. Although each approach is different, this is a pretty common figure for instrument approaches in the US. When there's fog or other weather obscuring your vision you have to wait it out, go around and try again, or go to an alternate destination.

Auto land is completely different, however, and uses the auto pilot system and the GPS to bring the bird down and land--all the way through touchdown and flare--and the pilots are doing little more than monitoring the flashing things until touchdown. Auto land is at the same time altogether amazing and frightening (and I'm not sure I want to use it...)

 

[noharmdone]

Its not that bad to be honest

£250 for 4 nights

Really ?
We were quoted £1500 for 3 nights in August only last week ?

 

[SerenityNigh]

Yes but this is China, and their internal airlines are not perhaps the most reliable....

They have improved a lot in recent years. About 15 years ago I was flying into Wuhan, and we landed and took off 3 times. My Chinese interpreter told me not to worry it was just an efficient way of getting trainee pilots some experience

I was going to suggest that you may want to stick to "big name carriers" flying in an out of China, but didn't want to seem racist. Take care when booking those flights.

 

[roydo]

Yes but this is China, and their internal airlines are not perhaps the most reliable....

They have improved a lot in recent years. About 15 years ago I was flying into Wuhan, and we landed and took off 3 times. My Chinese interpreter told me not to worry it was just an efficient way of getting trainee pilots some experience

Haha! That is ace that.

 

[noharmdone]

Yes but this is China, and their internal airlines are not perhaps the most reliable....

They have improved a lot in recent years. About 15 years ago I was flying into Wuhan, and we landed and took off 3 times. My Chinese interpreter told me not to worry it was just an efficient way of getting trainee pilots some experience

Can't they just play in the FA cup ?

 

[Muggins]

Is that the water spraying out on landing? Don't they use it as a type of suspension?

 

[SerenityNigh]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-5...ing-767s-landing-gear-strained-to-its-limits/

Watch that video. Brutal crosswinds there !!!

Watching again and it's nasty wind shear and not the crosswind that gets the pilots at the end. Well done either way--not fun for any at the moment and all, passenger and crew alike, were looking for the nearest bathroom in the terminal.

 

[roydo]

Watching again and it's nasty wind shear and not the crosswind that gets the pilots at the end. Well done either way--not fun for any at the moment and all, passenger and crew alike, were looking for the nearest bathroom in the terminal.

You a pilot mate? Obviously know your stuff about this.

 

[Del]

Really ?
We were quoted £1500 for 3 nights in August only last week ?

The little lads only 17 months so not restricted to school holidays yet

Peak times are daft prices like

4 nights in May is £299 for the three of us, think I paid the same last year

 

[The Esk]

I was going to suggest that you may want to stick to "big name carriers" flying in an out of China, but didn't want to seem racist. Take care when booking those flights.

Air China are pretty good so try to stick to Air China on internal flights wherever possible.

Actually I nearly always fly Air China London to Beijing, far superior service than BA, usually flying on a Boeing 777-300ER. Anyone flying that route at the front of the plane, make sure you ask for the Chinese food when you board, they usually reserve it for the Chinese and tell the Gwai Lo's (us) they have run out. lol

 

[SerenityNigh]

You a pilot mate? Obviously know your stuff about this.

I've induced more than my fair share of trauma on the landing gear of small airplanes

 

[roydo]

I've induced more than my fair share of trauma on the landing gear of small airplanes

Thought as much!