Southwest Pilots!

[PowerRanger]

What's up with droppin the gear out on approach with a clean wing??? Flown many airlines only seen this interesting manuver done on SWA!

 

[Palomino]

gear speed is higher than flap speed. helps them keep speed up and then get a quicker deceleration.

that's my guess. i don't work there but fly the same plane.

 

[Mach 80]

SWA has recommended speeds for flap extension, especially the initial extension speeds, which are MUCH lower then the placarded maximum speeds in order to reduce stresses on componets and reduce maintenance. Additionally the new generation 737s are very slick and often the controllers want you to keep the speed up for a while and then, in order to get slowed enough to get the flaps out and land, you simply have to throw the gear out. As someone else said, sometimes you simply just want a quicker dedeleration. No big deal.

Another factor, many of the arrivals and crossing restrictions were built for the old generation 727's and DC-9s which you could get down AND slow down. These old arrivals need to be modified for the new generation airplanes.

 

[Double Shot]

The very simple answer is we are no longer allowed to use speed brakes and flaps at the same time.
There you go.

 

[dhampton]

Goodyear speedbrakes.

 

[scoreboard]

The rubber eraser.

 

[PowerRanger]

The very simple answer is we are no longer allowed to use speed brakes and flaps at the same time.
There you go.

After flap extention I have never seen speed brakes used except on roll out!

 

[PowerRanger]

Another factor, many of the arrivals and crossing restrictions were built for the old generation 727's and DC-9s which you could get down AND slow down. These old arrivals need to be modified for the new generation airplanes.

Desent planning!

 

[awadrvr]

Power Ranger who are you kidding. You might want to look at your qualifications before you speak out!

 

[PositionandHold]

Why can't you use flaps and speed brakes simultaneously?

 

[Mooseflyer]

After 3 years as a member awadrvr makes his first post and comes out swingin' - I love it!

 

[joevollers]

What's up with droppin the gear out on approach with a clean wing??? Flown many airlines only seen this interesting manuver done on SWA!

Most times that it happens.. it's abnormal...I.E. left too high by appch control. or given an assignment like " maintain max forward speed until *.* DME"

Or if a company has a culture of always flying as fast as possible

 

[Palomino]

Why can't you use flaps and speed brakes simultaneously?

our company doesn't prohibit it from 1-10 flaps, but it's not recommended. the airframe limitation is no speedbrakes with flaps 15 or greater (i think it's 15...someone else can crack the book on that).

company says it stresses the airframe with the combined forces of flaps & speedbrakes. seems like it would beat up the wing, but it is still in regular use on the flight line. i try to avoid it, but sometimes it's the only way to get the job done. i'm not dropping the gear 100 miles from the airport to hit a fix or expedite the rate. i do try to use flaps only in the terminal environment. some guys frown on it because it probably uses more gas during level flight, but i don't like flying very nose high in bumpy air close to the ground.

for what it's worth...

 

[PowerRanger]

Power Ranger who are you kidding. You might want to look at your qualifications before you speak out!

Hahaha...I was being rather sardonic in nature with that post. You know tongue in cheek. I'm hardly an A.Net kid or "instructordude". And definately not here to pretend to know it all or tell professional airline pilots how to do their job. I'm here to learn and soak up knowledge.

I might be a new breed here!

 

[PowerRanger]

i do try to use flaps only in the terminal environment. some guys frown on it because it probably uses more gas during level flight, but i don't like flying very nose high in bumpy air close to the ground.

for what it's worth...

That is yet another "Southwestism" I see when I fly them. Flaps out nose high attitude on approach gear stowed. I'm more then guessing that,that is another way to fly slow. Reminds me of slow flight ina 172!