I have been sadly but avidly (it's a compulsion for me) following the news about the Asiana airlines flight 214 crash at San Francisco airport. It appears they hit the seawall on the approach end of runway 28L.
I just found this informative analysis of flight 214's speed and energy profiles on final approach. http://flyingprofessors.net/what-happened-to-asiana-airlines-flight-214-2/
They say the flight was high and fast, several miles out, then the throttles were pulled back to idle for a rapid descent, but then they ended up low and slow at the sea wall. What a crying shame.
The FAA, and I think the airlines, all recommend a missed approach, if the aircraft isn't on a stabilized approach, by the time a flight is within 500 feet of the ground.
There's an FAA circular that defines a stabilized approach, as:
1) On the correct track.
2) In the proper landing configuration.
3) No big corrections required, to maintain track and glideslope.
4) Speed within acceptable range specified.
5) Rate of descent no greater than 1000 fpm.
6) Appropriate power setting for the landing configuration.
They must've been asleep at the controls, to not have realized several of the above were out of whack. Very sad.
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Hi:
ReplyDeleteGreat insight. Very useful for us Novice Observers.
However, you are quite right..... What a crying shame.
Gene.