Difficult to slow her down during descent !

[Ourgas2 3]

Hi all,

 

Flies great but I have a problem slowing her down after passing T/D.

The 777 seems not to slow down enough and as a result I am at a much higher speed when reaching finals.

 

I know this a slippery plane. I use speed brakes, enter desired speeds into FMS but I just can't get it right.

 

Any others having the same problem?

 

 

Thanks,

Christos

 

[777 340]

Yes and yes!!!! Best thing I have found is to be configured, flaps down/gear down early - restricts the max speed.

[Lukas_Mathijsen 41]

Speedbrakes. Use them, you've got them for a reason :-)

[Joduv 90]

That's totally normal behaviour. Actually the wing is so thin that the aicraft is hard to slow. Also the B777 has a lot of inertia, hence it is more difficult to slow down. That's why it's very important to well prepare your descent schedule and to make sure your on profile with this type of heavy airplanes.

 

For deceleration it's a bit like the NGX, which also has a thin wing section.

 

Good luck ! Use sound judgement and airmanship. To make sure you're on profile you can always x-check the VNAV with an easy formula with use on the big airliners : ALT to loose X 3 = distance required.

 

Or you will loose 1000 Ft in 3 NM.

[3-2-1-Now 126]

You are simply not descending early enough. I've not had any issues so far decelerating.

 

Best regards,

Robin.

[kevinh 409]

Good luck ! Use sound judgement and airmanship. To make sure you're on profile you can always x-check the VNAV with an easy formula with use on the big airliners : ALT to loose X 3 = distance required.

 

Or you will loose 1000 Ft in 3 NM.

I believe 777 pilots use a four times altitude rule of thumb to calculate distance to touchdown. This is because the 777 is exceptionally slippery. The rule of three doesn't work well for it.

[SierraHotel 976]

Try sticking your leg out :blink: Works great in MotoGP :lol:

[scandinavian13 5,192]

 

 

I believe 777 pilots use a four times altitude rule of thumb to calculate distance to touchdown.

 

That's the rule a lot of the controllers use, too, specifically because it's an exaggeration of the pilot rule of thumb, giving them time before their T/D point.  I'll have to see if my ATC buddies handle the 777 a little differently to avoid what would then be a pretty consistent "hey, we're nearing the descent point..."

[MarkW 1,490]

Has anyone tried the Ziggy4 arrival into KONT.  This is the most difficult approach I know of to slow down in any plane.

[Joduv 90]

I believe 777 pilots use a four times altitude rule of thumb to calculate distance to touchdown. This is because the 777 is exceptionally slippery. The rule of three doesn't work well for it.

 

Possible. During the 737NG TR, we used the 3 thumb rule, but the aircraft is slighly smaller

[Spook 96]

.

[falcon999 24]

It's important to do all of the above. Also pay attention to the deceleration circles. They will assist as well.

[biloo 20]

In my last flight to VHHH, I had to make a fast descend 114 NM away from destination. I had to bring myself down 18000 ft in quick time. I used speedbrakes at 50%, reduced target speed down to 305 knots. At one point I was about to overspeed so I had to fiddle with my vertical descent to help reduce speed. 

[martin-w 3,234]

No problems for me whatsoever slowing down.

 

Speed brake, flaps, gear... With huge drag inducing devices like that there shouldn't be an issue.

 

Speed intervention is key, you fly the aircraft, you're the pilot.

[kevinh 409]

Possible. During the 737NG TR, we used the 3 thumb rule, but the aircraft is slighly smaller

It always amused me when people in the forum kept going on about how very slippery the 737NG is (well it is compared to the 737 Classic I suppose).  I thought if they think the NGX is slippery wait till they get to fly the 777X.  The rule of 3 is fine for most airliners but for very low drag aircraft like the 777 the rule of 4 is closer. No doubt the A350 and 787 are similar.