Airliner Landing

[1944screen]

How does a full airliner flying at it's normal cruising speed land where it wants to?I know the pilot shuts down the engines.Is this a set distance from the airport,or does it have to be worked out.Once this has happened does the plane just gradually glide down,because it seems to come down in a series of "steps" if this is the right word.Also would a request to go into the cockpit be turned,as things stand.
Thanks,Mick

[R1Geezer]

eek, they don't just shut down the engines! That'd be a very quick landing! Essentially they get the plan flying as slowly as possible without dropping out of the sky, by using min power and max flaps, then manage the descent onto the runway. A 747 for example cruises at 500mph but when it touches down it's still doing 120ish, then it's engines in reverse to act as a brake it slows down. Modern planes have an auto pilot that does the donkey work but you still need the main man up there.

[alavahalf]

Yeah ... definitely engines on ... otherwise they could'nt do this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtnL4KYVtDE

[Panic Button]

No chance of a flight deck visit, since 9/11 I'm afraid.

(Spitfires had cockpits, but airliners don't)

[Panic Button]

Flight decks.

[tamborine]

free flight simulator - be prepared as I may be a passenger ;)

http://flyawaysimulation.com/article853.html

[1944screen]

Thanks everyone,it is more or less what I was thinking.What about the distance from the airport though?Also if a 747 lands at 120 what speed is it doing at take off.Thanks Mick

[deggers316]

aprox 160mph, depends on load and meteorological conditions

[heathfield]

And at maximum takeoff weight for a 747-400, that's 413 metric tons travelling at 160mph. Boy oh boy, would that take a lot of stopping if something went wrong!! (Lord Beaverbrook, WWII Minister for Aviation, famously said that any plane that lands or takes off at over 60mph was inherently unsafe!)

[hippyhoppy]

We were invited into the cockpit/flight deck when my son was a nipper (he was born in 1999.. so perhaps it was before 9/11) on a holiday flight... there was barely any room and it was odd not having anything under us but clouds!!!

[Iggle Piggle]

a light hearted and funny but good reference to flying is here http://www.amazon.co....-Gunson/dp/B001GQ7E6A

It's true, accurate and funny at the same time. Media URL: http://www.amazon.co.uk/David-Gunson/dp/B001GQ7E6A
Description:

[deggers316]

heathfield
they have to be able stop at that speed and fully loaded ! see you tube "777 brake test"

[turbulance]

Dear Mick, I fly these things, so hope I can help: It is less important where the descent is started than where it is finished! However an efficient descent [engines at idle or slightly above] starts around 3 times the height [1000's of ft] in nautical miles. Eg, Flight Level 330 = 33,000ft x 3 = 99nm or about 114 statute miles. Modern aircraft have a Flight Management Computer to crunch these numbers and take into account winds, temperature, weight, expected icing, atc etc. But the pilot still makes an educated guess to ensure he [or his first officer!] hasn't programmed something silly and to keep an eye on the pesky computers. The "steps" on descent are usually caused by atc: either terrain/airspace or most often traffic restrictions. To slow for landing the pilot configures the wing [flaps] in stages and lowers the wheels - you can feel/hear these events on arrival. A B747-400 normally approaches at around 160mph +/- depending on weight. ON takeoff, at max weight out of a high airport [eg Johannesburg] the aircraft may be lifedt off at the tyre speed limit = 225mph....