Airbus Makes Beautiful Crosswind Landing At The End Of The World

[MicaelS]

http://flightclub.jalopnik.com/airbus-makes-beautiful-crosswind-landing-at-the-end-of-1722901257

The approach to Ushuaia International Airport in Argentina, near the southern tip of South America, is known for being windy. Last week, an Airbus A340-300 made a beautiful cross-wind landing there, kicking the crab out with a little cross control to keep the wings level and the aircraft from drifting off centerline.

Perfecto.

Notice how low the wings are situated on the A340’s fuselage, and how much lower the bottom of the engine nacelles are. This requires the pilot to keep the wings as level as possible so nothing strikes the ground right before landing. On smaller or high wing planes, a wing down into the wind approach can be used instead of a crab, this is called a side-slip. Side-slip approaches can end with only one side of the aircraft’s gear touching down first, and its wing still drooped into the wind. As the aircraft slows, the wing can be raised and the landing gear on the other side of the aircraft can touch down safely.

EDIT: Direct Link to Youtube video

[denbot]

1. That's some piloting.

I'm not a good areo passenger, and would have had a death grip in my armrests as we came in.

[Scuba]

2. Nicely done.

[progressoid]

3. Damn.

[Laffy Kat]

4. We called it crabbing and would do it frequently in gliders.

It becomes second nature. God, I miss soaring.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Greatest Page for this thrilling landing!

Wow.

[Divernan]

6. Thrilling. Can you give a link w/out the R's political ad against the Iran deal?

I clicked on it to see what it would say, and I totally disagree with it, so I don't want to share the link of this great landing with friends when this ad comes with it. Can't believe there's really a Senator named "Flake"! (googled to find Jeff Flake, R-Arizona)

Call Senator
Flake
Key Iran Deal Facts:

Billions of dollars of sanctions relief awarded to Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism
Lifted arms embargo for Iran that allow them to export weapons in a dangerous region
Loss of anytime, anywhere inspections of Iran’s military facilities

These three key concessions of the Iran deal pave the way for Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. It is now up to Congress to put an end to this detrimental deal. Congress MUST stop this bad Iran deal. Call Senator Flake now and tell him to stand up for America and strike down this bad deal with Iran.

[JayhawkSD]

7. You can use the YouTube link

It is in the video itself, in the lower right corner. Clike on the YouTube logo and it will take you to the YouTube page.

[Divernan]

8. Thanks!

[MicaelS]

9. Sorry, I use AdBlock, so I did not see any ads when I did the OP. n/t

[1monster]

10. Wow!

Note to self: Never, ever plan on landing at Ushuaia International Airport in Argentina... (Wonder what the take-offs are like?)

[trof]

11. Boy, that brings back some memories.

30 knot crosswind.
Crab into the wind to maintain a straight track over the ground.
All lined up with the runway, the nose is pointing 30 degrees to the right.
Tracking straight down the approach path.

Crab, crab, crab, crab, and THEN, just at the instant the main gear touches, kick out the crab with just enough left rudder, deploy the spoilers to kill lift, and let inertia take you straight down the runway.
Reverse thrust, brakes.
Heave a sigh of relief and turn off on the taxiway.

Been there, done that.
And every time you think "OK, I still got it."

[trof]

12. Hmmm...Just wondering. Was it autopilot? Or human skill?

Ya never know with Airbus.

[BlueEye]

13. A little of both.

Mostly human, since autoland is not approved for stiff crosswind landings. That being said, since the Airbus is fly-by-wire, the aircraft's computer is constantly coordinating the rudder movements with the pilots' control inputs to the ailerons and elevators.

[Gumboot]

14. Amazing piloting skills, in those conditions.

Looks like a very narrow runway, and that's a super-sized jet they're landing. I'd have chickened out, and gone around again.

Imagine the lateral forces on the main gear as they touch down at such a crazy sideways angle...

[Xipe Totec]

15. Masterful. nt

[trusty elf]

16. I just noticed the fourth set of wheels

between the landing gear under the wings.

[MicaelS]

17. Yes, I noticed that, too.

I wasn't aware of that (single centerline gear) on any modern commercial jet.

[3catwoman3]

18. My retired pilot husband flew the...

...Airbus 320 for his last years at United. He also has landed at this airport, many year's ago, during a special side job flying Liz Claiborne's Gulfstream.

He enjoyed watching this.