Golftango From United States, joined Feb 2006, 261 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 9 months 11 hours ago) and read 1242 times:
In two instances I've noticed the ac rolling right to left.
Once on a SAT to DFW flight aboard a DL 732. During the entire flight the ac rolled back and fourth. No one else seemed to notice, but it was pretty evident while looking out the window.
Again, last year aboard an AA MD80 while on finals to BOS from MSY. The ac started to incrementally roll right in three or four small motions, then the same back to the left, repeat. I became a little nervous during that flight.
Ramerinianair From United States, joined Nov 2003, 1475 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (3 years 9 months 11 hours ago) and read 1216 times:
I have noticed this on the A320.
It was very pronounced on the TO and Landing. When the Pilot was flying, the rudder application was not solid. It felt like the pilot was pushing down and letting go rapidly and the rear of the A/C was "wobbeling" back and forth.
I think it was only when the pilots was controlling the A/C. I think Airbus calibrates the rudders so that the sensitivity changes with the airspeed. Maybe when gaining or loosing altitude, the rudder deflection changes when holding the same pressure.
SR
KAUSpilot From United States, joined Jan 2002, 1858 posts, RR: 51 Reply 3, posted (3 years 9 months 11 hours ago) and read 1216 times:
In the aircraft I fly it is quite common as well. During cruise the airplane will often bank back and forth continuously, no more than 5 degrees to either side.
The culprits are the autopilot and the FMS, more specifically the way they interface with one another. When you have the autopilot tracking the FMS course, sometimes it gets the message that it needs to bank to maintain course when in reality it should just be holding the wings level.
If I recall correctly, the DL 732 you rode on likely doesn't have an FMS, in that case, it was probably the autopilot attempting to hold a course based off a land based navigation signal....sometimes these signals aren't precisely accurate, especially at high altitudes, therefore the autopilot will initiate a bank anytime the course signal fluctuates.
FlyingHippo From United States, joined Aug 2005, 570 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (3 years 9 months 11 hours ago) and read 1187 times:
Flying STL-LGA on AA MD-80 last Thursday, we had to circle around LGA a few times due to high traffic caused by high wind conditions which actually closed LGA for a while.
While we're in the holding pattern, the strong wind shook the MD-80 pretty good, I was sitting near the rear part of the plane and I could feel the big yaw movements, as well as the roll and pitch constantly changing.
It's nothing to be scared of, it's either the pilot or the auto-pilot constantly adjusting the plane to keep it on it's flight path and glide scope.
The good thing is that as we approached the runway, we were still very bumpy (I did get a bit nervous by then), but the wind calmed down right as the pilot flared for the landing. A great job by the AA pilot!.
ManuCH From Switzerland, joined Jun 2005, 2371 posts, RR: 52 Reply 5, posted (3 years 9 months 9 hours ago) and read 1089 times:
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I always notice this on my flights on A320s and A330s. It's a slight back-and forth rolling (no more than 2-3 degrees, full cycle takes about 10 seconds), even in smooth air. Looks like the FMS/autopilot are compensating slightly all the time.
LGAtoIND From United States, joined Jan 2005, 489 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 790 times:
If the pilot turns the yoke, the aircraft will roll. If the pilot moves the rudder pedals, the aircraft will yaw. Both of these motions are common on commercial flights, especially when landing in a crosswind.
L1329II From United States, joined Feb 2006, 298 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 652 times:
Quoting Golftango (Thread starter): Once on a SAT to DFW flight aboard a DL 732. During the entire flight the ac rolled back and fourth. No one else seemed to notice, but it was pretty evident while looking out the window
If its constant its almost always an autopilot issue.
"By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?"
RubyMtn738 From United States, joined Jan 2006, 42 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 610 times:
Funny you should bring this up, I just finished flying with SkyKing Airlines on N977UA a B737-200 and I encountered the same experience. I asked the captain about it and he indicated it was an issue with the autopilot. Spent 3.5 hours rolling like we were in a boat.
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