747 - Getting it wrong

[Choderboy]

This 747 seemed to touchdown perfectly , don't know what caused it to lean over just after. It was a very calm day.



http://farm1.static.flickr.com/226/505370656_f380375d20_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/505372938_4ee61ea113_o.jpg

[::John::]

Bummer

Looks like the freighter. I bet he was crapping himself.

[Choderboy]

He had a witness too...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/505456770_e348e62374_o.jpg

[::John::]

Haha

I can imagine the communications back to home base.

[dgcorner]

The guy on the ground must have been mumbling to himself: "serves him right being put into cargo"...

[PhotosGuy]

"serves him right being put into cargo"... Next it will be a month in Inventory Control? :D

[Mstar]

I never forget the day when I was in a plane and it was the pilot's first ever landing. Yep, I had a very rooky pilot! I recall looking out of the window and one second I'm seeing all the ground and the next second all sky and this pattern continued at an increasing frantic rate until we landed....on the third bounce. Maybe this was what happened here. They should really stick those learner "L" plates on the front and rear of the plane.

[Karl C]

This 747 seemed to touchdown perfectly , don't know what caused it to lean over just after. It was a very calm day.

In pilots' defense, everyone of us has an off-day where we "prang" a landing. I've flown with many high-time Captains who've made less-than-perfect landings.

I won't speculate as to what happened since I wasn't sitting in the cockpit. Sometimes, crap just happens.

BTW, it's not a "very calm day" - look at the ripples on the water.

I bet he was crapping himself.

Just out of sheer curiosity, why would you make this comment? It's not like the landing was so bad they cartwheeled down the runway.

The guy on the ground must have been mumbling to himself: "serves him right being put into cargo"...

If you ask the average US Airline pilot, I'd bet they would say they would kill to fly cargo. There's a lot less hassle and more money being on that side of the house. There's a very good reason why FedEx and UPS are being inunadated with pilot resumes.

I never forget the day when I was in a plane and it was the pilot's first ever landing. Yep, I had a very rooky pilot! I recall looking out of the window and one second I'm seeing all the ground and the next second all sky and this pattern continued at an increasing frantic rate until we landed....on the third bounce. Maybe this was what happened here. They should really stick those learner "L" plates on the front and rear of the plane.

Good thing about US carriers, it's take a lot of time and experience to become get hired by them (I'm not talking regional airlines). Most applicants have thousands of hours flying as Pilot-in-Command for regional airlines or freight or charter or military.

There are quite a few European carriers who send new pilots to the States for Ab Initio training to become an airline pilot. They are then placed into a Boeing 737 with roughly 250 hours total time and now are flying passengers.

Sorry but there's no substitute for experience.

[jungle]

Good points Karl. I always get a chuckle out of landing C&Cs. Until you have had your hands on 160 million dollars worth of metal and fuel rushing toward the runway at 160 KTS it is just speculation. Computer sims don't count.

A good landing is one you can walk away from, a great landing allows the plane to be used for the next flight.

Nice shots.

[Karl C]

Good points Karl. I always get a chuckle out of landing C&Cs. Until you have had your hands on 160 million dollars worth of metal and fuel rushing toward the runway at 160 KTS it is just speculation. Computer sims don't count.

A good landing is one you can walk away from, a great landing allows the plane to be used for the next flight.

Nice shots.

Exactly! Amen, brotha! :D

Nice shots - good lighting.

[RCoulter]

Nice shots, I wish RNO was busy/big enough to get 747's.

[kaitanium]

probably got a good stiff crosswind at that moment? didnt throttle down the other two engines equally?

but great pictures

[gimme]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Choderboy http://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=3234462#post3234462)
This 747 seemed to touchdown perfectly , don't know what caused it to lean over just after. It was a very calm day.

In pilots' defense, everyone of us has an off-day where we "prang" a landing. I've flown with many high-time Captains who've made less-than-perfect landings.

I won't speculate as to what happened since I wasn't sitting in the cockpit. Sometimes, crap just happens.

BTW, it's not a "very calm day" - look at the ripples on the water.

Quote:
Originally Posted by ::John:: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=3234642#post3234642)
I bet he was crapping himself.

Just out of sheer curiosity, why would you make this comment? It's not like the landing was so bad they cartwheeled down the runway.

Choderboy-
Nice shots! Great capture.

Karl-
Great comments and it seems like you are pretty experienced with airplanes, but why criticize Choderboy's comments? The ripples on the water actually proves that it is a calm day, as there aren't any whitecaps or rough water. Besides, since Choderboy was there to capture the shots, I'm pretty sure he can determine whether it is a calm day or not and it's really just his opinion.

JMO

[WGK]

When landing an aircrat with such large winhgs it is important not to release aileron pressure after touching down. If you do, the wind will lift the upwind wing and cause the other wing to dip toward the ground. Cross wind landings (wing low/opposite rudder) in big aircaft can be difficult to make.

[Karl C]

Karl-
Great comments and it seems like you are pretty experienced with airplanes, but why criticize Choderboy's comments? The ripples on the water actually proves that it is a calm day, as there aren't any whitecaps or rough water. Besides, since Choderboy was there to capture the shots, I'm pretty sure he can determine whether it is a calm day or not and it's really just his opinion.

JMO

No problem - my comments are not meant as a criticism but merely a perspective from a pilot who's also experienced what happened in that landing sequence, several times.

It might have been calm where he was standing but the ripples indicate there was some wind and it could've been a little stronger at the airplane's touchdown point. Wind has a mind of it's own sometimes. ;)

It's all good. :D

[Choderboy]

I was hoping I'd get some comments from a pilot.
I'll stick by my calm description Karl , (I realise there could have been some wind movement where the plane was) air traffic information was broadcasting "light and variable" and I was thinking to myself what a great day it was (as it was so calm). The bay is about 4klms across so it does not take much wind to get a decent chop going)
I like watching the 747s land on the big wind days - gusting 45knots is big for Sydney. I can't remember ever seeing an engine this low before though.
If only Kai Tak was still open...

[GBRandy]

Hummmmm. Not knowing what he had in for a crab angle it is hard to say just how bad that was. As mentioned, it looks to be a bit windy as well.

Flying cargo is a pilots dream. It removes 2/3 of the emotional baggage from every flight.

I went to the airport one day and found a captain friend in a plane he had recently purchased (used) As I approached, a seat came flying our the door. I asked him what was up? He responded, "how to ruin a perfectly good airplane...put passenger seats in it" He threw the next seat out the door....he flies for one of the majors during his duty time....and cargo as a side operation on his own.

Anyway, I like the shots...great captures and a good vantage point....I suspect not a single box on the plane complained about the landing.... :)

[DC9]

Not knowing the particulars on this flight it might be because the poor lads have been up for 16 hours and strapped in the saddle for the last 10 hours. He might have only grabbed eight hours of sleep and is 180 degrees off on his circadian rhythm from the day before when he made his initial Pacific crossing. Kick in he was trying to sleep during the day when the hotel staff is cleaning the hotel, horns blaring, fire trucks on the street below etc, etc, etc.

Great shots of the plane but the issue of the landing is DOA in my opinion.

Now sit back, relax and enjoy the flight.