Hi. I've always heard the SOP for the MD11 is to flare it at 50 feet. The autoland function in FSX seems to flare it at that height too, but a lot of people seem to flare it at 30 feet and are saying thats the correct way. Are they confusing MD11 with Boeing aircrafts or have i heard wrong?

Nice question, personally i flare something between 50 and 30 feet AGL. (but always after the throttles are commanded IDLE, either by the A/T or by me...)If i remember right, the FCOM tells that the throttles are retarted just after passing 50 AGL and then to flare around 40-30 feet AGL...But i'm non sure, i must go to see it right now...Cheers

Is this really an issue?

Folks,I think not issue at all,It's the pilot to have to understand (feeling) when begin to close his throttle...Each landing is different, a general rule cannot be valid here...Best RegardsAndrea Buono

If i may add something to the conversation i ve read once that heavies have little or noflare at all.. For example the 747 should have no flare at all, that is you should be nose up in short final..i dont remember where ihave read this ..Regarding MD11, i am flaring near to 30-40, but that depends on many factors (weights, weather e.t.c)

No flare? With 150 knots groundspeed and a 3 degree glide, your descent rate is about 150*5 = 750ft/min. Offcourse it will be a bit less due to the groundeffect, but it still is a rough landing.Then, between 50 and 30 (steeper approach a bit sooner, shallower approach a bit later) should be fine. Just select idle-thrust and pull back on the yoke slightly. Be carefull, don't pull back too much, because then you'll float...Dion Mollert

Yes ofcourse, when i said flare, i dont mean a Cessna type flare where you keep the plane off the ground till it almost stalls. But an extra 2-3 degree nose up pitch beginning at 50 feet and fully established at 30 feet. But you guys are all right ofcourse, it depends on the rate of descent in the approach. Runway 34 at Zurich airport and at max landing weight is a good example of where you need to flare sooner to not end up with the MLG through the wings...

About the flare of the "heavy" i've read something about non exceed the flare itself, just "flying the plane on the runway"...Altough, i think that a flare is needed anyway, just a little one. By the FCOM of the MD11 it say to flare the beauty at 40/30 feet AGL...But i also think that it depends on a lot more factors like wind, weight, and personal pilot's feelings, just like Andrea said.Cheers,

I flare around 50. I find my landings to be alot smoother.

I don't know about the big Boeings, I'm no expert on those. There might be one among them not needing a flare due to the aerodynamics and the ground effect associated.But the MD-11 certainly needs a gentle flare, without it the touchdown will be an unhealthy one. A good start to flare is at 35ft on a 3° glide path, as described in the advanced tutorial document.BTW the heavy Airbusses A330 and A340 need flare too, so it is definitely not accurate saying heavies generally don't need one, as some have stated here having read somewhere.Regards,Markus

I have observed many 747 landings, some from 100ft away from the runway fence and every one I have seen have flared.

Yes, everyone flare...that's something basic for every aircraft.I think that he want to say that the "heavies" flare is much smaller respect any Cessna or any small airliner.Also, sometimes, with a high nose setup on approach, the flare will not be very big....maybe is not simple to see it if you are habit with the GA planes flares...Cheers

I flew the MD11 for a European airline some years ago, here's a link to my personal notes for landing:You might have to zoom in to read it, best I can do, is there any other way to post documents?The interesting part is in para. 4 of '9.1 general'; it is the key to a smooth landing. Conversely a sharp pull on the column in a late attempt to arrest a high rate of descent simply rotates the main landing gear into the runway and has been the cause of several hard and bounced landings, some ending in disaster...Chris SwitzerlandEdit: PF and PNF refer to pilot flying or not flyingIt was standard procedure to leave autothrottles in for the whole flight.

Guy's I would strongly recommend reading Aerodynamics for airline pilots by Captain N.P Ternvig from the SAS flight academy.I learnt more in two day's reading then I have in the past two years.Regards

Sorry for the late reply. Thank you Chris, thats a lot of good information! Rob: sounds interesting, i'll check it out :)