Can a MD-80 autoland?

[pianoman]

Talking to a neighbor, the usual "don't planes land themselves nowadays" conversation. I know the -80's have autothrottles, but can they autoland and under what restrictions?

Thanks.

 

[Diesel-9]

Did it at NWA years ago. CAT II runway and gear down.

 

[rf285]

DL's can autoland to CAT3 600 RVR. Not that it is very pretty though.

 

[chperplt]

DL's can autoland to CAT3 600 RVR. Not that it is very pretty though.

It's never really pretty when the throttles move to idle at 50 feet in the -80.

 

[Whine Lover]

ALL modern aircraft can land themselves...all that is required is a monkey, with a butt-plug and a shock collar.

Everyone knows that.

Your neighbor must be a farkin' DIMWIT or sumpin'.

Love,

YKMKR

 

[dispatchguy]

all that is required is a monkey, with a butt-plug and a shock collar.

So, do ya want a banana, or are you good with the shock collar? I wont even ask about the plug.

 

[McNugget]

Talking to a neighbor, the usual "don't planes land themselves nowadays" conversation. I know the -80's have autothrottles, but can they autoland and under what restrictions?

Thanks.

sure, its called trim

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

ALL modern aircraft can land themselves...all that is required is a monkey, with a butt-plug and a shock collar.

Everyone knows that.

Your neighbor must be a farkin' DIMWIT or sumpin'.

Love,

YKMKR

A butt-plug and a shock collar? Please explain... Inquiring minds want to know!

:beer:

 

[wms]

here's one

 

[tomgoodman]

MadDog trivia

DL's can autoland to CAT3 600 RVR. Not that it is very pretty though.

I went to the MD-88 school in LGB when we first got them and we were certified to 1000 RVR. After a while they dropped it to 600 RVR and told us we were already trained -- they had been setting the simulator visibility at 600 all along in anticipation of the lower minimums.
We were also told that the MadDog would do a single-engine autoland just fine, but that we didn't "buy the certification" for that.

 

[AP2B]

here's one

:laugh:

 

[Superpilot92]

here's one

isnt that the truth!!

 

[m80drvr]

The 80 auto lands fine.


Great airplane overall. In fact, I like the 80 autothrottles over the Airbus auto thrust. The mad dog seems to work better.

The scary part is remembering that the 80 computer system was designed just AFTER vacuum tubes were not used anymore. I never had a problem though.

Who needs RNAV anyway!!!!!! Radar Vector Equipped BABY

 

[Whine Lover]

" A butt-plug and a shock collar? Please explain..."

Why it's quite simple really.

When the aircraft is in an autoflight/autoland mode, if the Monkey tries to touch anything he recieves a shock from the collar.

The butt-plug acts as an PSASS ( "Pilot Seat Anti-Soil System" ) in the event that the shocking of the Monkey creates excess gastrointestinal pressures and/or spasms.


YKMKR

 

[stlflyguy]

Sure, it worked (somewhat) well in the -80. Now, the 727 autolanding...that was a sight! All that trust in a Mod V autopilot...

stlflyguy

 

[michael707767]

It's never really pretty when the throttles move to idle at 50 feet in the -80.

If you are not going to idle soon after 50 feet in most situations, you are not landing the MD80 correctly.

 

[say again]

here's one

hahaha!! Good one.:laugh:

 

[aa73]

If you are not going to idle soon after 50 feet in most situations, you are not landing the MD80 correctly.

uhhh.... several decompressed vertebrae in my spine beg to differ!

as I recall, at heavy weights and the stab trim past 8-10 units nose up, the horizontal stab is at such a sharp angle that the servo tabs are effectively blanketed by the horizontal stab. (the -80 uses servo tabs for pitch and roll.) as such, when you pulled back to flare, NOTHING happened... so you needed to land with power.

at least that's how it was with the AA "super" 80s. maybe DL's -88s are different?

73

 

[b82rez]

uhhh.... several decompressed vertebrae in my spine beg to differ!

as I recall, at heavy weights and the stab trim past 8-10 units nose up, the horizontal stab is at such a sharp angle that the servo tabs are effectively blanketed by the horizontal stab. (the -80 uses servo tabs for pitch and roll.) as such, when you pulled back to flare, NOTHING happened... so you needed to land with power.

at least that's how it was with the AA "super" 80s. maybe DL's -88s are different?

73

The elevator is extremely effective throughout the whole flare, with no power, at high weights.

You can land the 80 a bunch of different ways, but when you land it with power you're just increasing your landing distance and brake/reverse use.

 

[michael707767]

The elevator is extremely effective throughout the whole flare, with no power, at high weights.

You can land the 80 a bunch of different ways, but when you land it with power you're just increasing your landing distance and brake/reverse use.

We have a winner!

Yes, at higher weights and the stab back toward 10 I will carry the power a little longer. But even then, I am still at idle by about 30 feet.

I get complaints all the time about the stopping capability of the 88. Then I watch those same pilots do a power on landing, touching down above vref at the end of the touchdown zone, and all I can do is shake my head.