HlywdCatft From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 5321 posts, RR: 7 Posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 2927 times:
I just flew into MCO from DTW a couple days ago and my ears are still plugged and popping. I notice this everytime I fly to MCO from DTW, but when I fly to DTW from MCO it doesn't happen while landing at DTW or when I fly to ATL. Why would it just happen to me when I come in to MCO? I am thinking perhaps the plane makes a steeper approach into MCO with all of the other airports around like Sanford etc.
Dlx737200 From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1850 posts, RR: 23 Reply 1, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 2882 times:
Living in Orlando, I have flown in here Beaucoup times and haven't noticed this all too much except for when there is bad weather (primarily summer afternoon storms). However, your theory of the other airports causing this is logical because when approaching 18L or 18R, the planes are vectored to the Orlando VOR and then line up with the runway bringing the aircaft right over KORL. I've flown with pilots at KORL and they've all told me they have to stay below 2000 ft in order to allow clearance for the airliners into MCO. So I assume the MCO pilots have to stay ABOVE 2000 until they're passed ORL. Maybe then is when they have to decend quicker? Just expanding on your theory. Hope I was of some help.
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Phatfarmlines From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1322 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week ago) and read 2802 times:
The smooth approaches into DTW or ATL could be because of the pilots using ILS. The steep approach into MCO is probably a visual procedure. Hlywdcatft, did you fly a 757-300?
Atrude777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5613 posts, RR: 54 Reply 3, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week ago) and read 2764 times:
Iv flown an MD-80, 757 and a 737 inot MCO from STL and DFW and have also noticed the steep approaches.....the MD80 and 737 was on R17R, and the 757 was on 18L I think it was 18 something. I also noticed on the 737 we had waaaay more tunrs then I had on the 757 and MD-80. the 757 seemed to be a direct straight into runway landing but we did seem to drop heavily and have steep landings.
Alex
ps- i shouldn't say I flew into MCO I rode on a plane into...lol
Good things come to those who wait, better things come to those who go AFTER it!
InnocuousFox From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2805 posts, RR: 16 Reply 4, posted (9 years 2 months 1 week ago) and read 2747 times:
When they do the downwind/base/final approach at MCO, they do tend to drop them in steep and tight from my experience. Of course, I was on WN most of the time and they do that everywhere they can.
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HlywdCatft From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 5321 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2635 times:
My ears started really hurting a ways away from MCO. My estimate was we were over Ocala at the time because I seen several horse farms and horse tracks below.
Thursday I was on a Spirit MD-80 and landed on Runway 17.
The time before that I was flying a NW 752 from DTW and landed on Runway 36R.
Today I seen several planes doing extremely high approaches over my apartment, a few WN 737s, an Air Tran A320 and a USAirways 762 (landing on 17 because AF1 was using 18R)
FutureFO From New Caledonia, joined Oct 2001, 3095 posts, RR: 24 Reply 6, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2618 times:
I do not consider MCO to have a steeper approach than normal. The only thing that I can think of is due to Sea-Level variences. Considering FL is a very low lying state.
Dlx737200 From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1850 posts, RR: 23 Reply 7, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2588 times:
I've seen approaches to runways change daily but here are some of the basic approaches I drew up on my own from memory and experience:
One of the more common ones:
Another of the more common ones:
Another 17R Approach which I have done a few times as an alternate to the
pervious:
Usually used for Weather if I'm not mistaken:
Usually used for weather like the pervious if I'm not mistaken
One of the least used ones: Flew on it once (rode it actually) bcause of severe wx in the area:
Seen it flown many times by WN and flights arriving from MIA/FLL area:
I know there are also many approach patterns from the NE but I have no knowledge or experience from that direction therefore I'm not going to try and guess.
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InnocuousFox From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2805 posts, RR: 16 Reply 8, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2546 times:
It's all standard stuff for entering a pattern from any of the 4 corners. This doesn't tell us anything about the horizontal profile, however.
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EALSYS1 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 229 posts, RR: 17 Reply 9, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2529 times:
I've never noticed anything at all. I've flown into MCO maybe 20 times and no ear popping, pain or anything. I can only guess it's a low lying thing since I've ALWAYS flown in from MIA, 6 ft above sea level!!
Dlx737200 From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1850 posts, RR: 23 Reply 10, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2516 times:
I'm aware that this doesn't show anything about the horizontal profile but earlier, Atrude777 made a statement about how having so many turns when he approached MCO.
[Edited 2004-03-21 03:10:28]
The public: They always know better, even though they often know nothing
Atrude777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5613 posts, RR: 54 Reply 11, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2453 times:
Dlx737200- The 17R approach from the Northwest is the one we did, I remember that one huge turn we did and i was on the right and rememeber seeing the dipped wing, that is very familiar to me, however it was very cloudy and it was kinda raining so we seemed to do more turns then the usual but we took the same type of route that you showed on the map. We flew Southwest straight from STL by the way if anyone was wondering.
Alex
Good things come to those who wait, better things come to those who go AFTER it!
USAir734 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 57 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2425 times:
My first time to MCO was on a US 757-200 from PIT. I had the same problem. We landed on either 18L or R, not sure which one, but I also had a similar problem.
HlywdCatft From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 5321 posts, RR: 7 Reply 13, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2372 times:
I forgot to mention when I flew from ATL-MCO I did NOT have the ear popping problem, but I am sure we also weren't flying at such a high altitude.
As for the approach I did into MCO on Thursday, it was probably the second or third one down. Like I said, I flew over "horse country" around Ocala, then headed Northwest where I could see the FL turnpike to my right (i had the rightside window seat). I do remember seeing a big lake which I assume was Lake Apopka since it was the biggest in the area. I could see the intersection of Highway 436 and I-4 out my window and at that time I was still heading east before turning south and pretty much following Highway 436 in to Runway 17R.
As for my flight last January on the NW 757, it was late at night and didn't quite have my bearings. I came in from the northwest, possibly overflew some of the theme parks before circling around Highway 417 (Greenway) and landing on 36R.
I've seen planes later at night (coming from SE Florida) when it isn't busy make much quicker turns into MCO. Usually this occurs on one of the late night Florida Cargo flights like Kitty Hawk from MIA and a lot of corporate flights and commuter B1900 flights. I have seen many planes approach from the east as close to MCO as Hoefner Ave.
InnocuousFox From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2805 posts, RR: 16 Reply 14, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2280 times:
The STAR from the North goes just west of JAX, then straight down the state over Ocala as mentioned, near Apopka, then makes a 45 degree left toward the city. At that point, you turn left to enter the pattern for the 17/18s or right to enter a downwind for the 35/36s. If you are in the north flow, you will, of course, make either one long turn or two short ones to the left to get lined up on final.
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Tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6173 posts, RR: 9 Reply 15, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2254 times:
I have had my ears pop several times on approach into CO / KMCO), USA - Florida">MCO. Man it REALLY sucks when you have a head cold, and your just trying to un-pop your whole way there. I had that a few times on CO, once on US, and on AA. I also have experienced a steep take off from CO / KMCO), USA - Florida">MCO on AA to JFK (757.) It was so steep I think someone puked 5 rows behind me.
In sum, I do think there are steep approaches into CO / KMCO), USA - Florida">MCO.
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Ifly2eat From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 8 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (9 years 2 months 6 days ago) and read 2201 times:
Normally when cleared for a visual approach to one of the 18's you are cleared for a visual to cross the Orlando VOR (Executive Airport) at or above 2500. This keeps above their traffic pattern. This gives you a bit steeper approach. The trick (for me at least) is to get the gear and flaps out before the VOR and then dive to get back on the normal 3.0 degree glideslope. As far as when MCO is landing north, they tend to keep a tad higher so you don't over fly Kissimmee and its airport too low.
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5722 posts, RR: 20 Reply 18, posted (9 years 2 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2143 times:
Worst ear pain I've ever felt while descending was into MCO in Dec. 1992. Horrible!
ERfly From United States of America, joined Aug 2002, 164 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (9 years 2 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2113 times:
Landing in MCO, the aircraft is vectored over the ORL VOR which is located on Orlando Executive. Because of inbound and outbound traffic to Exec, MCO traffic must remain at or above 2500' until south of the VOR. That puts you on a less than 10 mile final to 18L. Its very tricky to get slowed down and to get down to make a decent approach. Most guys slow the airplane get it fully configured over the VOR and then slam dunk it into MCO. Its a tricky approach.
InnocuousFox From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2805 posts, RR: 16 Reply 20, posted (9 years 2 months 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2076 times:
C'mon guys... the difference between having an airport at 25', and one at 525' is loose change compared to decending from 31,000'. Think about it! The air pressure difference is negligible at that point.
Not only that, the cabin pressure change is regulated so that there is continual, comfortable change all the way down. Just because the plane is decending at 2500'/min. doesn't mean that the cabin pressure is doing that.
Also, are we talking about ears hurting during the last 6 minutes before touchdown or the final 20 minutes as you decend out of cruising altitude?
Dave Mark - Intrinsic Algorithm - Reducing the world to mathematical equations!
Ifly2eat From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 8 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (9 years 2 months 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2063 times:
Thanks ERFly. Did I miss something?
As far as this ear thing. You have got to be kidding me. An airliner can be descending 4000 ft/min and the cabin will usually keep somewhere around 500 ft/min. Could your ear pain be because you northerners have head colds and sinus infections you don't know about and get on a plane to enjoy the Florida weather?
TheFLCowboy From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 403 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (9 years 2 months 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 2030 times:
I thought the cabins were pressurized to 6000 feet or something? If thats true, the ear-popping thing wouldnt matter.
TLHFLA From United States of America, joined May 2003, 584 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (9 years 2 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1959 times:
I had a strange approach to MCO last year flying in on AA from STL. We came in from the north, flew over the western part of town, passed the airport, turned toward the east and back to the north and landed on either 18 L or 18 R (can't remember which one) facing north. The weather was good that day, so I am not sure why we had do the "loop."
FlyboySMF2GFK From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 193 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (9 years 2 months 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 1922 times:
The pressurization on an airliner is usually based on a PSI ratio which differs in each type of aircraft. Up to a certain altitude the computer will try to keep it on a "schedule" that is based mainly on comfort (200-500 fpm is normal). If you fly too high it can't keep underneath the max differential which causes the outflow valve to open keeping the ratio in check, hence cabin altitude will climb. If it didn't you may overstress the hull - don't try it at home.
If your cabin altitude climbs over 10,000' the pax will get a nice surprise in the form of the oxygen dixie cups falling from the passenger service units. Also if you do a zoom climb or descent, the computer will try to keep the cabin climb/descent rate consistent (but not exactly) with the aircraft climb/descent rate so that the ratio isn't again busted. This is why a slam dunk approach may feel more uncomfortable - ear block or no.
Maybe some pro's could shed more light.
25 Continental: I flew MSP-MCO last August. I found the approach to be normal, no irregularities whatsoever. Quite a nice approach I must add! co
26 InnocuousFox: "I had a strange approach to MCO last year flying in on AA from STL. We came in from the north, flew over the western part of town, passed the airport
27 HlywdCatft: **Could your ear pain be because you northerners have head colds and sinus infections you don't know about and get on a plane to enjoy the Florida wea
28 HlywdCatft: Whats the deal with the last couple of days? All traffic at MCO appears to be departing on the 36's including Southwest, Air Tran, Delta etc that norm
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