Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler - What you guys think for a newbie to the MD-88? Taking Off or Landing?

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations | What you guys think for a newbie to the MD-88? Taking Off or Landing?

DVA5521
Captain, B757-200

Joined on June 06 2007

Northeastern United States

61 legs, 120.4 hours
55 legs, 110.8 hours online
57 legs, 114.4 hours ACARS
3 legs, 6.7 hours event

Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 04:17 ET by Kevin Stier

Do you think I am taking off in this picture or landing?

Kevin Stier (DVA5521)

DVA4589
Senior Captain, B737-800

Joined on June 15 2007
Online Century Club
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Romania

341 legs, 810.0 hours
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314 legs, 754.1 hours ACARS
8 legs, 20.9 hours event

Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 04:49 ET by Marius Petrascu

You are taking off because I can't see anywhere the touchdown zone.

Marius Petrascu (DVA4589)

DVA1679
Senior Captain, A320

Joined on May 16 2004
Triple Century Club
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"flightdeckproductions.com"
Utica, MI USA

322 legs, 620.4 hours
300 legs, 591.4 hours online
115 legs, 194.0 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 09:04 ET by Larry Foltran

I'm going to say take off as well based on the flap configuration. If landing and configured properly, the flaps should be visible at this angle.

Larry Foltran (DVA1679)

DVA3501
Captain, B767-300

Joined on August 30 2006
Century Club
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"Stop Looking at me Swan!!!"
Finleyville, PA USA

182 legs, 641.8 hours
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176 legs, 628.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 13:19 ET by Scott Windham

Neither...you are just popping a wheelie and showing off. Airplanes are not toys Kevin. razz

DVA5521
Captain, B757-200

Joined on June 06 2007

Northeastern United States

61 legs, 120.4 hours
55 legs, 110.8 hours online
57 legs, 114.4 hours ACARS
3 legs, 6.7 hours event

Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 16:06 ET by Kevin Stier

Well then I am going to need a lesson or two to learn how to land this sucker. I am new to the md-88 and not very good at the landing.. I approach the localizer at 150 then slow to 135 on the localizer with flaps 25 until 500 feet where i set flaps to 45. I arm the spoilers and seem to have a plane balancing issue as well as floating on touchdown. I was landing in this picture. So any advice would be great. I followed what the manual says for landing instructions, just can't seem to get this bird on the ground right.

Kevin Stier (DVA5521)

DVA4890
Captain, B747-400
OLP

Joined on August 22 2007
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"Jesus is my co-pilot"
McDonough, GA USA

1,022 legs, 3,005.6 hours
330 legs, 1,101.7 hours online
948 legs, 2,807.1 hours ACARS
59 legs, 156.7 hours event

Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 16:23 ET by Mark Fetters

yea i have the same problem try to put more wait in the front of the plane is you can put the nose grea on the ground

Mark Fetters (DVA4890)

Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 16:24 ET by Mark Fetters

i at like 20 feet from ground flare try not to do it early

Mark Fetters (DVA4890)

DVA3196
Senior Captain, MD-11
OLP, COMM

Joined on June 03 2006
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"pitchpowertrim.com"
Anderson, MO

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Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 16:27 ET by Michael Brown

You'll have to get the specifics from your CP about your plane....but as for myself, no matter which plane I am in, I'll be in full landing configuration before 2500' AGL. That means appropriate flaps, landing gear down and Vref+5 for calm winds....more of course depending on the wind. At 500' feet all you should be concentrating on is the TDZ and airspeed.

Michael Brown (DVA3196)

DVA2750
Senior Captain, B757-200

Joined on December 17 2005
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"Roll Tide Roll"
Montgomery, AL USA

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Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 18:47 ET by Derek Bradley

Ditto what Michael said. The fleet MD-88 has a weird CG, so adding more forward weight is a bad idea. However, with a proper weight, speed, trim, and flap setting, you should be pretty stable on final. Just maintain the attitude you have on final all the way until time to cut the throttles around 30 feet. You don't have to flare too much as ground effect should allow you to settle down on the runway at an average rate of about -200 fpm.

Posted onPost created on February 02 2008 18:51 ET by Scott Windham

Flare too much and you end up with a tail strike, it's easy to do in the MD-88. I hold off on the flare until I am 10-20 ft over the RW, then pull back ever so slightly. The MD-88/MD-90 is a great plane and great program here at DVA, it is where I got my start and I still fly it fairly often.

Scott Windham (DVA3501)

Posted onPost created on February 03 2008 16:38 ET by Larry Foltran

There's some great advice here. One of the key things is have your aircraft configured for landing and stabilized early on. Depending on the model you are using, the Mad Dog will balloon up once the flaps are fully extended as a result of the increased lift. On the actual aircraft, that tail end will come way up on you. At 500' AGL, you won't have much time to get the aircraft stabilized and ready for touchdown.
One more note. Don't be too concerned about getting a <100 descent landing. Trying to do so will typically result in you floating half way down the runway before hitting the ground. There's nothing wrong with a sure and firm landing, especially in rainy conditions. You don't want to jar your passengers' fillings, but get that plane securely on the runway. Don't worry. You'll get it. Just keep at it.

Larry Foltran (DVA1679)

DVA3787
Senior Captain, CRJ-200
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Western Europe

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Posted onPost created on February 03 2008 22:43 ET by Mark Salter

You do look a little far down the runway. The flaps should be more too.

Mark Salter

Senior Captain, CRJ-200

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