UAL and Flaps 40

[tomgoodman]

Dropping like a brick

We could use 40 Flaps at DAL, but were told in 727 school that some carriers had prohibited that setting due to "sink rate" accidents in the early days of the airplane, when pilots were transitioning from straight-wing props. One example was a UAL crash at SLC in 1965. According to reports, the approach in that case was extremely unsafe: (over 2000 ft. high at the OM, sink rate 2300 FPM, hit short with 14.7 vertical Gs).

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Multiple answers: Flaps 40 definately locked out on some noise kits,

However long before that some airlines locked out flaps 40 due to some awfull landings and damage from said landings.

Remember some airlines really do not hire aviators, they hire people that will do what they are told and get along with others.

Perhaps it was both. Maybe flaps 40 was blocked to abate the noise of a B727 making a 14G impact. I'm sure that can't be very quiet.

 

[luckytohaveajob]

Flaps 40 keep the nose down. On low visibility approaches and with airplanes prone to tail striking flaps 40 shows good judgement.

 

[aa73]

IIRC, AA blocked out flaps 30 (safety wired) on the Raisbeck kit 727s. Flaps 25 was standard and we could only use 30 in an emergency. It's been too long so I may be wrong.