737 AIRSPEED /FLAP QUERY ON APPROACH

[Guest iain williams]

HiI was speaking with a person the other day who "claimed" he was knowledgable in ATC with 737 aircraft. He made the comment that a 737 can slow down very quickly only a few mile from the runway, and that they frequntly do this when landing under noise abatement conditions.Now with me in FS9, I am at about 1180 kias flaps 10/15 probably 10 mile out as I start to decend on the glideslope (depending on aircraft series and weight). I like to have everything set up for the final landing approach by the outer marker. At the OM I lower the gear with flaps 15/25 VREF + 10 thereabouts. I then move to flaps 30 VREF + 5 somewhere between the OM and FAF.Am I configuring my approach too far out? I find that if I do as this guy suggests I can rarely reduce speed in time to be at VREF + 5 at the FAF.BTW I follow the tutorial produced by Metzinger almosr to the letter without hassles, then this guy comes along and states something completely different.What do the experts think??Thanks....IAIN

[dave_paige 11]

In my opinion, for what it's worth, is that the procedures described in Tim's Tutorial are what should be followed in most situations. However, I do know for a fact that at KBWI, approach control will often clear aircraft for the approach and also tell them to maintain 170kts or greater until 5mi final. On VATSIM I often here maintain 180kts until the outer marker at Atlanta. In these cases I just configure myself for that speed with gear down. Upon reaching the end of the speed restriction I just set Vref +5 in the speed window if using autothrottle and then drop flaps as the speed drops. If not using autothrottle then I just set flight idle and do the same with the flaps. I usually have no trouble slowing to Vref+5 1000ft AGL which is where I like to be set for landing and stable. The key is to go ahead a drop the gear will maintaining the requested speed. The drag from the gear will help you slow down very quickly.

[Guest iain williams]

Thanks. I'll give it a whirl this weenend and se how I do! Best....IAIN

[Guest B1900 Mech]

Most large airports require a set speed,for example 170kts be maintained to the outer marker.Our B1900 crews tell me that KLGA Approach will sometimes have them do 230kts to 3 DME! But that is aircraft specific,being that the 1900 has tremendous deceleration ability's , due to the large prop discs. All that matters is,that your on speed and stablized by 1000'agl in imc,or 500' in vmc.