Commercial flying

Catman100

All-American
Jan 3, 2003
6,705
9,679
96
I have been flying commercially for over 40 years on pretty much any popular airline you can think of. Have flown so much that I usually know what certain sounds mean, and usually there is nothing that surprises me during a flight. When it comes to landings, It always felt to me that you could feel the plane ease up and gently make its first touch on the runway.

With that said, over the last couple of months I have probably flown 15 separate flights out of Lexington, Louisville, and Cincy and have landed all over the Midwest and south. It truly seems to me that pilots are landing on runways the way naval aviators land on carriers. In other words, they punch it right at landing in case they miss the wires and have to shoot off the ship and try again. I have never felt such rough landings in all of my life and I am pretty certain it has nothing to do with weather.

Have any of you noticed this? Are there any pilots out there who are aware of new landing regulations? Even a couple of fellow passengers have commented on it. Just seems rather odd.
 

jtrue28

All-Conference
Feb 8, 2007
4,134
1,513
0
Could be that the “old guys” who have flown longer, are retiring. Not sure if this is a new technique being taught, or if they should have the “student driver” stickers on the cockpit door.
 

WildcatFan1982

Heisman
Dec 4, 2011
21,198
17,479
81
I don’t fly enough to notice. I went on a trip in august and it seemed like every other flight I’ve been on
 
Jan 28, 2007
20,397
30,168
0
I have been flying commercially for over 40 years on pretty much any popular airline you can think of. Have flown so much that I usually know what certain sounds mean, and usually there is nothing that surprises me during a flight. When it comes to landings, It always felt to me that you could feel the plane ease up and gently make its first touch on the runway.

With that said, over the last couple of months I have probably flown 15 separate flights out of Lexington, Louisville, and Cincy and have landed all over the Midwest and south. It truly seems to me that pilots are landing on runways the way naval aviators land on carriers. In other words, they punch it right at landing in case they miss the wires and have to shoot off the ship and try again. I have never felt such rough landings in all of my life and I am pretty certain it has nothing to do with weather.

Have any of you noticed this? Are there any pilots out there who are aware of new landing regulations? Even a couple of fellow passengers have commented on it. Just seems rather odd.
I'm 1K on United right now. I have not noticed this at all.
 

Catman100

All-American
Jan 3, 2003
6,705
9,679
96
Could be that the “old guys” who have flown longer, are retiring. Not sure if this is a new technique being taught, or if they should have the “student driver” stickers on the cockpit door.
That was one thought I had.
 

Mdnerd

All-American
Apr 20, 2022
1,870
5,687
0
New landing regulations for sure. We are now required to land as hard as possible to ensure max discomfort and passenger stress. The ultimate goal is to get you all to stop flying so damn much and stay home.

In all seriousness, you’ve just had a run of bad luck. New guy, old guy, high time, low time, etc all have their share of iffy landings and runs of great landings. Truth be told, I’ve been doing it for 17 years now and honestly don’t give a single damn how nice the landing is anymore, just get the wheels on the pavement. The new guys tend to care a lot more. So there’s that.
 

entropy13

All-American
Apr 27, 2010
3,235
6,124
113
I have been flying commercially for over 40 years on pretty much any popular airline you can think of. Have flown so much that I usually know what certain sounds mean, and usually there is nothing that surprises me during a flight. When it comes to landings, It always felt to me that you could feel the plane ease up and gently make its first touch on the runway.

With that said, over the last couple of months I have probably flown 15 separate flights out of Lexington, Louisville, and Cincy and have landed all over the Midwest and south. It truly seems to me that pilots are landing on runways the way naval aviators land on carriers. In other words, they punch it right at landing in case they miss the wires and have to shoot off the ship and try again. I have never felt such rough landings in all of my life and I am pretty certain it has nothing to do with weather.

Have any of you noticed this? Are there any pilots out there who are aware of new landing regulations? Even a couple of fellow passengers have commented on it. Just seems rather odd.
You fly commercial? LOL. This is Le Paddock. Mods, please permaban.
 

vhcat70

Heisman
Feb 5, 2003
57,418
38,482
0
I have been flying commercially for over 40 years on pretty much any popular airline you can think of. Have flown so much that I usually know what certain sounds mean, and usually there is nothing that surprises me during a flight. When it comes to landings, It always felt to me that you could feel the plane ease up and gently make its first touch on the runway.

With that said, over the last couple of months I have probably flown 15 separate flights out of Lexington, Louisville, and Cincy and have landed all over the Midwest and south. It truly seems to me that pilots are landing on runways the way naval aviators land on carriers. In other words, they punch it right at landing in case they miss the wires and have to shoot off the ship and try again. I have never felt such rough landings in all of my life and I am pretty certain it has nothing to do with weather.

Have any of you noticed this? Are there any pilots out there who are aware of new landing regulations? Even a couple of fellow passengers have commented on it. Just seems rather odd.
I worked with a former naval pilot. He said their motto was "There's nothing more useless than runway behind you.".
 

BGCATFAN2012

All-American
Aug 19, 2020
3,663
5,158
0
You think them landings are rough... wait til they hand you a parachute and tell you to let your landing gear down.
 

KYWildCatsFan

Heisman
Aug 18, 2017
5,712
12,120
98
Could be captains letting their first officers take the landing.

Smooth landing is not the primary objective. In fact, a smooth landing can lead to excess floating down the runway and missing your touchdown point.

A firm landing typically guarantees you spend the least amount of time on the runway as possible.
 
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Mdnerd

All-American
Apr 20, 2022
1,870
5,687
0
Could be captains letting their first officers take the landing.

Smooth landing is not the primary objective. In fact, a smooth landing can lead to excess floating down the runway and missing your touchdown point.

A firm landing typically guarantees you spend the least amount of time on the runway as possible.


I’d love for you to say this to a crew sometime. I’m sure the FO would be relieved to know a captain may LET him take a landing.
 
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Catman100

All-American
Jan 3, 2003
6,705
9,679
96
New landing regulations for sure. We are now required to land as hard as possible to ensure max discomfort and passenger stress. The ultimate goal is to get you all to stop flying so damn much and stay home.

In all seriousness, you’ve just had a run of bad luck. New guy, old guy, high time, low time, etc all have their share of iffy landings and runs of great landings. Truth be told, I’ve been doing it for 17 years now and honestly don’t give a single damn how nice the landing is anymore, just get the wheels on the pavement. The new guys tend to care a lot more. So there’s that.
Hope you didn't have to land in Louisville on Friday cuz that was a dumpster fire.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
37,311
57,157
113
Funny you say that.. I don't fly a lot, but recently took 4 flights from NY to the Bahamas and back to NY.. and on I think all of them, the landings were quite rough.. like we landed and almost bounced up and down off the tarmac a few times. I know landings aren't some easy thing and I expect a little roughness.. but yeah, everyone was pretty much holding on from being thrown around.

Also.. I don't know why the hell people travel for the holidays unless they absolutely have to. I've mentioned this on here before but that seems insane. Something like 80% of SW flights canceled today? Leaving all those people stranded for what could be a few days.

I will never ever travel for the holidays.. not worth that risk and the general hassle of travel.
 

Ukbrassowtipin

Heisman
Aug 12, 2011
82,109
89,931
0
I just connected in Charlotte from lex en route to Baltimore, apparently we had to floor it to get here bc Air Force 1 was landing in and all planes had to be down. That or the flight attendant was just making up stories on the intercom
 

Mdnerd

All-American
Apr 20, 2022
1,870
5,687
0
It sure sounds like it. Dated systems etc even after getting $7B in Covid money last year.


As bad as this is, that doesn’t apply. The covid money was payroll protection and not to be used for updating infrastructure.