Whats it like

Tommay85

Tommay85

Well-Known Member
I guess I'm just bored. But I was wondering what its like to land the planes where cockpits are high in the air, like 747's and 777 size planes. I think I read somewhere that on touchdown the 747 cockpit is still 80 feet in the air. I think the 777 is worse becauce of its longer wheel base.

I just cant picture that. I mean even taxiing seems tough to me. Like trying to drive my house out on to the street or something. I dont now how high the cockpits of the two are but I'm guessing 40 feet for the 747 and 30 for the 777.

Just curious. I'm sure its something you adjust to. I think I've asked this before now that I think about it. Sorry if its a repeat.

Regards

Tom
 
All I know of is that you go to the end of the runway then turn to line up with the centerline when taking off, must be cool!
 
When I sat jumpseat in the A340 - it felt like there were 4 guys flying a 172 - you really could not tell there were another 300 seats behind the cockpit door.
 
Iain -

That's the same impression I got when I rode jumpseat in a 727 last winter (hockey team chartered the thing). They made the flight from NY to FL look like a cruise out to the practice area and back.

These gents were all former 121 guys, and it was really evident that, at that point, it was really not about the flying. Heck, besides running checklists, they only spoke about their kids, their boats, and their motorcycles. Guess you really have to love the lifestlye!

J.
 
I was actually wondering about judging altitude when landing, and seeing where your going when taxiing. I dont think you can see very close in to the nose when looking out the front. Could probly hide a little cessna or piper or airport vehicle for that matter down there.

Tom
 
I am sure it is just a case of getting used to it - much like driving different cars - you drive a Masserati differently then you drive a pick up truck towing 5 horses.
 
By the time you get to the 'real airplane', you don't even notice.

The picture that I see in the MD-88 is about what I saw in a Cessna 172. Except a whole lot faster.

But then you're landing on much longer runways so it all strangely evens out.
 
That's why they have ground control. When the 747's cleared to taxi, there shouldn't be a cessna or fuel truck etc. in front of it.

But to answer your question (not speaking from experience of course) you actually get a better view from the higher cockpit, and after getting used to it taxiing other aircraft seem too low to the ground. It must be similar to driving a large truck as opposed to a sports car. I remember moving to CA, driving the rental truck at first felt un-natural, but after a few days of driving it all day I got used to it. Then when I went back to driving my little Eagle Talon I felt like my butt was dragging on the ground and the road seemed too wide.
 
As an experienced 747-400 captain (MSFS of course) it's exactly like flying a 172, except it sure is hard to get the thing airborne when flying out of meigs field /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/insane.gif

Ok I'll go back to my corner now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/spin2.gif
 
It's funny how the sight picture quickly becomes natural for whatever airplane you are flying. The L-1011 was the highest cockpit I ever flew.

The interesting thing about it was we flew CAT III approaches to a 50' alert height. It was not required to see the runway to land. So on an actual CAT III to minimums you would touch down and then the runway lights would come into sight as you lowered the nose.

It required a lot of faith in the A/P system, but the L-1011 had a 3- channel system. It was as close to perfect and redundant as you could get. Later doing the same type approach with 2 channels and a decision height didn't feel quite as comfortable.
 
I think it is like transitioning to any new airplane ... the picture out the window is a little bit different ... you adjust to it and go from there. (Even in small airplanes, this is true ... if your time is all in Cessnas, go fly a Beech product sometime ... the picture is a LOT different on landing!)

In the Embraer, it took me a couple weeks on the line to get a good idea on judging the proper height to start the flare and retard the thrust levers. Once used to it, it works out pretty well almost every time though. It only needs to be adjusted to specific circumstances for each landing ... i.e., winds, runway length, etc.
 
I once asked a USAirways 737 pilot this question.
As a pilot i was expecting an answer dealing with some pitch degree that you must look out for on the attitude indicator when flaring, etc., but his answer was quite simple. "You judge the pitch in relation to your a$$." I was able to spend some time in a 737-200 level D sim, I can say that it works. For the King Air, after a few flights, I just get used to the higher up seat, no problem.
 
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By the time you get to the 'real airplane', you don't even notice.

The picture that I see in the MD-88 is about what I saw in a Cessna 172. Except a whole lot faster.

But then you're landing on much longer runways so it all strangely evens out.

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You know that's one thing that does change with the higher cockpits. Compared to the -88 the sense of speed is noticably less in the -1011, for example. Being higher off the ground causes a sense of less speed. It's one of the reasons you have to be a little more disciplined about just how fast you are going as you turn off the runway.
 
Betweeen a 115kt REF speed on a light MD-88 and a 155kt REF speed on heavy MD-90 with a bunch of extra added in for winds and gusts is hardly noticeable.

The only time I really think "Boy, this thing is coming in smokin' hot!" is when we practice flap malfunction landings in the simulator.
 
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Being higher off the ground causes a sense of less speed. It's one of the reasons you have to be a little more disciplined about just how fast you are going as you turn off the runway.


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Yep, you spend a little more time looking at the GPS/IRS groundspeed readout prior to during off the runway or just plain taxiing around. 20kts from up high looks like a very slow walk.

Flaring for landing is not a big deal after a few hours under your belt. The sight pictures becomes second nature and looks completely normal over time. You don't need to reference ADI's for pitch info or altimeters for height. It's really not that complicated even though some people try to make it out to be. The seat of the pants feel and outside visuals give me all the info I need.

What seems weird to me now is the sight picture in small GA airplanes during landings. We're so close to the pavement on landing I feels like my butt is dragging the ground! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/insane.gif
 
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Flyover, how long did you fly the L10? One of my ALL TIME favorite planes!!

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Really great machine. I only flew it a year, then the left seat called. But I enjoyed it.
 
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