Procedure for flaring by hand after auto-pilot approach

flachi · 12-30-2001, 05:53 PM

Hi,

due to the "rough" auto-landing issue I am trying to take over and hand-flare the plane down the runway, but I never seem to get it smoothly and right ...

What is the correct procedure for this ? After I disconnect the autopilot and try to decrease the sink rate, shouldnt the throttle retard to idle at 27ft (according to the update manual) ? Well, it doesnt work for me, so I often end up climbing up again. Should I disengage the SPEED mode too ? Or is my speed (around 145 kts) too high ?

Every hint would be greatly appreciated...

Dirk

**Tim_W** · 12-30-2001, 06:15 PM

Dirk
Yes you must disable the speed mode too otherwise the throttles will not go to idle. Correct touchdown speed should be in the region of 139 knots depending on weight. I usually disconnect the a/p when I start to capture the g/s then keep the speed mode on till about 500 feet or so then turn it off and handle the throttles manually. Flare and retard (Airbus term!) the power at your 27 feet. The throttles will only retard auromatically if you are doing an automatic landing which is not handled very well by the aircraft in FS2002. I can't even get it to capture the localiser/glideslope automatically. So I am flying all my approaches by hand now! Much more fun anyway!

Regards
Tim

**newguy** · 12-30-2001, 06:17 PM

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Dec-30-01 AT 06:18PM (EDT)[/font][p]assuming the plane is set up correctly, (flaps 40, speed around 145 depending on weight). I usually take over the controls at around 5,000 ft. adjust speed, set proper flaps and follow the ILS all the way down to the runway. I leave autothrottle engaged to manage my speed, until I get to about 200-100 ft. I disengage the autothrottle and start slowing down the engines. At about 75-50ft I cut the throttles (F1 key) and let the plane continue descending. At about 20ft a start to pull back slightly on the stick and flare until the main gear touch, deploy reversers and then let the nose come down. You should be slow enough that when you flare you are still losing altitude while degrading your speed...

flachi · 12-30-2001, 06:34 PM

But when you disengage the speed mode, the throttle setting on your joystick is very likely not in sync with the current power setting, doesnt that cause problems ?

Dirk

**Tim_W** · 12-31-2001, 05:32 AM

>But when you disengage the speed
>mode, the throttle setting on
>your joystick is very likely
>not in sync with the
>current power setting, doesnt that
>cause problems ?
>
>Dirk

Yes it can, you have to careful, When you fly with speed control engaged you can close the throttle after thre autothrottle(or TO/GA) is selected. On approach I usually set my throttle open about a quarter before switching off the speed control. then just quickly adjust to get the correct setting. After some practice you will find the right spot.

Regards
Tim

**ilh** · 12-31-2001, 07:49 AM

Dirk, yes that can cause some problems, but they can be largely avoided. I generally keep my joystick throttle at full minimum while the A/T is engaged. When I kill the A/T, since FS doesn't see any joystick throttle settings, the throttles stay where they were in FS. Finally, when I do want them to go to idle, I just blip my joystick throttle up and down, FS sees the change, and the result is idle throttle.

I don't know if all throttles work this way. I am using a MS Precision 2. It seems to make zero noise, at least at full idle, so it doesn't affect the FS throttles until I want it to.

Lee Hetherington (KBOS)