737 series landing proceedure - flare?

[Guest iain williams]

Hey Folks:I have been having some hassles with landing lately. The aircraft bounces despite VREF +5 and flaring - as instructed in the PMDG manual.I was speaking with a "real" 737 pilot and he said that the 737 was meant to fly onto the runway and not to be flared.Ok so I tried his advice and didn't flare to the last 10 feet or so (if at all). No bounce whatsoever.Is this information correct - "the 737 was meant to fly onto the runway and not to be flared"?Thanks.....Iain

[Tabs 2,790]

I don't believe I've ever heard that it's not meant to be flared - autolands have a "FLARE" FMA mode, doubt Boeing put it in there for no reason.

[Guest iain williams]

Yes I agree. I met this guy whilst overseas and he said he was a pilot - who know for sure!Still, when I flare at the last possible moment I hardly ever bounce. But, when I flare I usually bounce. Perhaps I'm flaring too high? What's the correct flare height?Cheers....Iain

[zubart 5]

The bounces in the PMDG 737 add to the realism. The real 737 will bounce ocastionally too. Flying the airplane smoothly onto the runway is still a flare manuver. Initiate the flare when the main gear is approximately 15 feet above the runway by increasing pitch attitude approximately 2-3 degress. Smoothly retard the thrust levers to idle and make small pitch attitude adjustments to maintain the desired descent rate to the runway. A typical flare manuver can take anywhere from 4 to 8 seconds at the proper approach speed. Pilots that have a good feel for the main landing gear can ususally reduce the flare to 4 seconds whereas pilots that are new to the airplane and don't have a good feel for the main landing gear will typically feel for the runway and extend the flare time. This can turn into floating which quickly uses up available runway. Floyd

[Guest iain williams]

Thanks Floyd. I have been initiating my flare way to early. I'll keep practicing. Iain

[Guest andyman]

I also read in a manual that you should retard the throttle very smoothly. I read a line saying that you should retard around 15 feet and be at idle just when your are just about to touch down. This was taken from a 737 classic manual.