767 at LAX did a go-around today!

Yep. Friend of mine is a AA pilot and told me that they had to land once
without flaps. Trouble was that none of them knew what the speeds were
for
that setup, so they had to dig out the books ("professional" pilots mind
you). They were a bit close, so they went around and announced that
another
plane had come out on the runway.

Kinda irked me because it gives the non-flying public the impression that
ATC/GA/Another pilot had put them at risk, when this was not the case.
Why
lie? Just tell the passengers whats happening and get on with it.

I wonder what compels them to get on the horn and say something about it in
the first place. Just fly the damn plane.

"Jeff Franks" wrote in message

....Trouble was that none of them knew what the speeds were for
that setup, so they had to dig out the books ("professional" pilots mind
you).

That's normal. That's the safest way to do it. There's no point in
committing details of abnormal procedures to memory -- plenty of time to
look them up. And you don't "..dig out the books..". There are convenient
checklists all prepared that cover virtually all eventualities. There are a
few emergency procedures that you do memorize -- immediate action items
only.

Regards,

John Gaquin
B727, B747

"Jeff Franks" wrote in message

Kinda irked me because it gives the non-flying public the impression that
ATC/GA/Another pilot had put them at risk, when this was not the case.
Why
lie? Just tell the passengers whats happening and get on with it.

It's a careful balancing act. Some people watch the progress of the flight
out the window, and have some familiarity. But not many. Most people
haven't got a clue what makes an airplane tick, and if you tell them
somethings not absolutely 100% normal, they'll get upset. You could wind up
causing more problems than you already have. Generally speaking, if you're
dealing with an abnormal, glossing over it is acceptable -- it really is no
big deal. If you have a bona fide emergency, you play straight and right up
front.

--
Regards,

John Gaquin
B727, B747

In article , Jeff Franks wrote:

Friend of mine is a AA pilot and told me that they had to land once
without flaps. Trouble was that none of them knew what the speeds were for
that setup, so they had to dig out the books ("professional" pilots mind
you).

I'd be willing to bet that the landing speeds vary over a wide range
depending on gross weight of the aircraft. They probably have to
check a table every time they take off or land to see what the reference
speed is. I think if your "friend" is reading the thread, you owe him
an "apology."

Regards,

Mike Beede

Saw it at an airshow in Salt Lake City about 10 years ago. 747 was on final
to 17 and heard a Cessna receive a taxi clearance to the same runway.
Instead of holding, guy taxis right over the hold line, lines up, and
started his takeoff roll with that 747 almost right on top of him. Was
holding my breath because for a few moments it looked like he was going to
climb right up into the belly of the jet. '47 gets it cleaned up and climbs
back out headed 45 degrees off to the right, while the Cessna just bops off
on his way climbing straight out, apparently unaware that the jet had even
been there. The tower did NOT sound happy.

"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...
In a previous article, "Yossarian" said:
minutes later. Pretty minor I guess but I've never seen or heard of a
heavy
jet doing a go around. Must have freaked some of the passengers out!

I've been on a heavy that did a go-around. The pilot said that another
plane blundered onto the runway.


--
Paul Tomblin , not speaking for anybody
Once we've got the bugs ironed out, we'll be running on flat bugs

(Paul Tomblin) wrote in message ...


I've been on a heavy that did a go-around. The pilot said that another
plane blundered onto the runway.

We had to do one in a DC-10 in Las Vegas a bunch of years ago. I was
watching out the window and we kept floating down the runway. Just as
we passed the halfway point on that runway, the pilot went to max
power. We went screaming off the airport boundry at about 150'AGL and
well over 200kts. Wheeled around and landed on another runway. Never
did climb above 500' in the turn. The captain's explanation was the
sudden wind shift of more than 90 degrees and it raising up to 30kts
continous. I still remember the dust clouds we set rolling through a
subdivision as we roared over it.

Craig C.