Re: World's Challenging Approaches -4 |LGSM|30-09-2017|16:00Z
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2017 9:52 pm
@IAHM-COL-- Wow! terrific job on the Samos airport upgrade. Your usual hyper-attention to detail. And thanks for getting that large building in place for the visual reference on getting lined up.
Incidentally, I just shot about 6 approaches for 09 and you really have to hit your marks, not because it's difficult to fly, but the crosswind is absolutely wicked! If you aren't lined up properly after that last turn at the building, the X-wind will do its darnedest to blow you off the runway. I know of what I speak! Right now the wind is 350 degrees at 12 knots. That is virtually perpendicular to the RWY. Even with the 727-200's relatively low center of gravity, I had to fight it every single time. And as soon as you make that last turn, the crosswind is trying to push you off the centerline approach.
This one is going to be wild! Oh, yeah, and as you make that last turn, you better be descending through 400 feet, because you have about 3 seconds to get the nose pointed at the threshold and if you are any higher, you won't make it down in time. (All the while, the GPWS is screaming at you to pull up and don't sink, and droning, "Terrain, terrain!"). I found I had to set my flaps and lower the gear as soon as I crossed the coastline onto land, or I'd be in danger of forgetting it in all the busyness of flying just fast enough to keep from stalling. Like I said, Wild!
Incidentally, I just shot about 6 approaches for 09 and you really have to hit your marks, not because it's difficult to fly, but the crosswind is absolutely wicked! If you aren't lined up properly after that last turn at the building, the X-wind will do its darnedest to blow you off the runway. I know of what I speak! Right now the wind is 350 degrees at 12 knots. That is virtually perpendicular to the RWY. Even with the 727-200's relatively low center of gravity, I had to fight it every single time. And as soon as you make that last turn, the crosswind is trying to push you off the centerline approach.
This one is going to be wild! Oh, yeah, and as you make that last turn, you better be descending through 400 feet, because you have about 3 seconds to get the nose pointed at the threshold and if you are any higher, you won't make it down in time. (All the while, the GPWS is screaming at you to pull up and don't sink, and droning, "Terrain, terrain!"). I found I had to set my flaps and lower the gear as soon as I crossed the coastline onto land, or I'd be in danger of forgetting it in all the busyness of flying just fast enough to keep from stalling. Like I said, Wild!
But still in one go, landing softly.
