On the numbers

[minitour]

Okay...maybe I'm missing the point here, but why is it every time I go to the airport I see people coming back in from all sorts of flights (even instrument flights) and they just have to land on the numbers?

I mean...there's nearly 5,000' of runway there...whats the fascination?

I can see for PPL/CPL/CFI training to practice a precision landing sure...touch it down on the numbers, but...last time I went up I sat in the back on an instrument training flight...we came in on the approach, circled and I could have sworn we were gonna touch down in the grass...as I looked out the window, we couldn't have been on the runway by more than 5' when the mains slammed down...

What gives? Someone PLEASE explain this fascination to me...it doesn't impress me at all.

-mini

 

[Flechas]

I guess it's kinda fun, and a challenge.
Kind of similar is when you go fly a X-C IFR, you try to stay on your altitude, airspeed, and on track, even though you are alone and you have plenty of sky for you.

Flechas

 

[minitour]

I guess it's kinda fun, and a challenge.
Kind of similar is when you go fly a X-C IFR, you try to stay on your altitude, airspeed, and on track, even though you are alone and you have plenty of sky for you.

Flechas

well yeah but you're supposed to stay on altitude, airspeed and track...

I mean...when I hear "alright, I'm gonna put it right on the numbers" from the guy up front...I don't think "wow...he's great!" I think more like.. "wow....why?"

 

[Flechas]

well yeah but you're supposed to stay on altitude, airspeed and track...

I mean...when I hear "alright, I'm gonna put it right on the numbers" from the guy up front...I don't think "wow...he's great!" I think more like.. "wow....why?"

I see your point mini, maybe some people are just trying to show off, but I think that if you keep trying to do it right, when the time comes that you better put it on the numbers and centerline because if not you become a NTSB report, you have more chances at doing it than the guy who always lands midfield or never cares.
Just MHO

Flechas

 

[Flechas]

Hey gkrangers, where do you fly in Daytona?

 

[minitour]

but 850ft from threshold to the taxiway isn't that impressive now that I think about it.

I guess thats what gets me really.

You still require X amount of room to stop (unless you come in with the parking brake on - which has happened to our students) so why is it such a big deal?

I know the guys behind me may want me to be off quick, but that's why I expedite TO the runway and then off the runway...no sense in coming in at 55 when I've got a 737 at 150 (just a guess) behind me... so I can make the first turnoff...meanwhile he's doing S-turns on final or going around (big bucks).

Maybe this is a question for the heavy drivers, would you prefer a person to go 70-80kts down final and roll a bit (brakes still do work at that speed) to maybe the middle of the field and still get off before you get to the threshold or have someone hangin on the prop so they can nail the numbers and make the first turnoff?

I guess either way could be quicker...depending on where the exits are...I dunno...I guess thats just my pet peeve...the whole "watch this" thing...usually right after that, I follow it with an "oh sh*t...I'm gonna die"

-mini

 

[Flechas]

Epic.

Who do you fly with?

 

[MTpilot]

I generally teach my students to land in the first third of the runway when we are operating at a smaller field (2 or 3 thousand feet). When we are at the big runway (9000 feet) I usually have them land on the third stripe. I'm with you theres no reason to "put it on the numbers" when you can pick any spot to work on precesion. Some times I even have them aim for the thousand foot markers, and if you look that's where the airliners leave all the rubber.

 

[Kream926]

you ever tried it mini?

 

[minitour]

you ever tried it mini?

Tried what? Landing on the numbers? Sure...lots of times. Usually the instructor will pull the engine abeam the numbers and say, "okay your engine quit, land on the numbers".

Here, I don't know why, but that's what he wants to see so...I'm not gonna argue with him or an examiner so I just do it. Now at shorter fields (went to 1K4 and used the short strip - 1800 and some change) sure...get it down as close as possible to the end without compromising safety...

But to come in off an ILS or another instrument approach and think they have to put it on the numbers just befuddles me...and doesn't impress me either. Sometimes I think they do it to try to be impressive...I dunno...maybe some people think its cool, I don't. I'd rather see them nice and stabilized all the way down, grease it on around the 1000' markers and hold the nosewheel gently up until it just settles to the pavement (not like a softfield landing where you hold it all the way back...just enough to let it gently settle). That, to me, is a good landing. IMO

-mini