We were on US 740 PHL-MAD, departing 3 July, arriving MAD 4 July. It's a smooth flight and we're on approach for an on-time landing when our pilots tell us that the wing flaps won't extend properly so we're going to land with more speed and a higher angle of descent. Not the usual way of doing things, but that's why these guys are sitting in the cockpit.
We circle a while before coming in for a landing. Wife and I are in Envoy on the port side so we can watch the plane's shadow in the sunrise as we approach the runway at Barajas. We can detect the slightly faster descent as the ground comes up a bit faster than usual, and the whole time I'm watching that shadow get closer and closer. Touchdown is pretty soft all things considered. The nose stays up as we stick to terra firma and we lose some speed while the nose finally drops and the pilot applies the brakes.
Once again, that's what the job is all about. I'm not a pilot, but I undestand the physics of what's going on and the adjusments necessary. Our cockpit crew does an extraordinary job that morning with a really pinpoint touchdown. Hats off to you guys, whoever you were.
Barry
We circle a while before coming in for a landing. Wife and I are in Envoy on the port side so we can watch the plane's shadow in the sunrise as we approach the runway at Barajas. We can detect the slightly faster descent as the ground comes up a bit faster than usual, and the whole time I'm watching that shadow get closer and closer. Touchdown is pretty soft all things considered. The nose stays up as we stick to terra firma and we lose some speed while the nose finally drops and the pilot applies the brakes.
Once again, that's what the job is all about. I'm not a pilot, but I undestand the physics of what's going on and the adjusments necessary. Our cockpit crew does an extraordinary job that morning with a really pinpoint touchdown. Hats off to you guys, whoever you were.
Barry