Nibog From Ireland, joined Apr 2009, 312 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 10 months 1 hour ago) and read 5550 times:
Hello everyone,
On my recent flights on the now famous AF A380 (CDG-LHR),I passed the remark to myself that the landing at CDG was with a sudden "bang" as we returned to earth.I put this down to "experience"(on my behalf) and thought "well there is one to remember".On my return flight the next day into LHR,I had a similar experience,only this time the touchdown was much harder,even to the extent that an overhead locker flew open and a bag fell onto a passengers shoulder(thankfully she was okay I may add!!).
My question is has anyone else had any similar experience on the A380?.I have flown in the A330,B747,and B777,and the touchdown was very smooth.
(Incidentally I hope I have posted this question in the correct forum!!)
Thanks for your help,
Nibog
PGNCS From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 2518 posts, RR: 44 Reply 1, posted (2 years 9 months 4 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 5452 times:
You do realize that the big reason AF operates the A-380 on such a short flight is for pilots to gain experience in the type, right? People new to any aircraft tend to be more concerned with safe landings; smooth landings come with experience, and are a bonus.
babybus From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 3537 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 4864 times:
I agree. It does land with a clumsy thud. I was thinking about this only this morning. You'd think it would drift down on top of a cushion of air under those giant wings.
Quoting PGNCS (Reply 1): AF operates the A-380 on such a short flight is for pilots to gain experience in the type, right?
Maybe it is just pilots getting experience on the type, practising their landings.
I hope AF do the same again next summer!
and with that..cabin crew, seats for landing please.
BA6590 From UK - England, joined Jul 2007, 132 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 4666 times:
I have only been on the A380 once. I flew EK001 DXB-LHR last month, and I noticed the exact same thing. The touchdown was pretty hard, and a loud thud could be heard. No overhead lockers opened, but there were a few gasps heard around the cabin the moment we touched down.
I was always told that the larger the aircraft the softer the landing, something to do with an increase in ground effect in larger aircraft (could be entirely mistaken though).
"Never forget, the higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly" - Nietzsche -
eisenbach From Austria, joined Mar 2001, 103 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days ago) and read 4566 times:
It's strange, I heard quiet often that the A380 landings were hard - but I have no answer for this. I would think, that the A380 should be not more difficult to land than a A330 or A320??? A friend of me (A320 pilot) told me, that they have to make once a month an auto-pilot landing and thats always quiet hard - but I don't think all these A380 landings are auto-pilot landings.
My only experience with the A380 was with Emirates from Auckland to Sydney and the landing was smooth.
KPDX From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 2542 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 4550 times:
Maybe it seems exaggerated because the cabin is so quiet?
View my aviation videos on Youtube by searching for zildjiandrummr12
Starlionblue From Hong Kong, joined Feb 2004, 15904 posts, RR: 66 Reply 7, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 4488 times:
At this point it is all anecdotal. The fact that people have experienced a few "firm" landings on the 380 doesn't mean this is always the case. No statistical evidence.
"There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots." - from Citadel by John Ringo
Max Q From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3326 posts, RR: 19 Reply 8, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 4361 times:
Well, just as a personal observation I notice the A380 shares the same forward trailing gear bogie as the 767.
This is rather an unforgiving design, especially if you are not completely lined up on touch down (landing with some sideways drift)
It seems to magnify errors and less than perfect technique whereas the conventional trailing gear bogies tend to 'soak up'
the touchdown far more efficiently.
The best contribution to safety is a competent Pilot.
Nibog From Ireland, joined Apr 2009, 312 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4120 times:
Quoting babybus (Reply 2): You'd think it would drift down on top of a cushion of air under those giant wings.
My thoughts exactly,and to be honest I said to myself that " practise makes perfect" and the pilots were doing just that!!!.
Quoting BA6590 (Reply 3): I was always told that the larger the aircraft the softer the landing, something to do with an increase in ground effect in larger aircraft
Funny I was told the same a few years ago!!!!.
Thank you all for your replies,great to see so many people having different and similar experiences.
kimberlyrj From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2008, 385 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (2 years 9 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 3787 times:
Quoting Max Q (Reply 8): Well, just as a personal observation I notice the A380 shares the same forward trailing gear bogie as the 767.
This is rather an unforgiving design, especially if you are not completely lined up on touch down (landing with some sideways drift)
hey hey
I have always noticed this on the Boeing 767 type and when I asked pilots they blamed it on gear position and also pointed out that a ‘smooth’ landing is often not a good one.
A landing is more about getting the aircraft down at the right point of the runway not making it smooth for the pax (and floating down the runway and having to over brake).
I have always noticed this on the Boeing 767 type and when I asked pilots they blamed it on gear position and also pointed out that a ‘smooth’ landing is often not a good one.
A landing is more about getting the aircraft down at the right point of the runway not making it smooth for the pax (and floating down the runway and having to over brake).
Kimberly
Correct there, espceially if the runway is even a little bit damp and/or there are windy conditions, it is always best to make a firm landing to make good contact with the wheels on the runway through the wet, and to prevent drifting off the runway.
''Greasing'' as ive heard some pilots call it, is not always the best option.
I suppose aswell if the pilots are new to the A380 they will leave practising smooth landings to later on, they probably have more important stuff to worry about first!
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