Pilot Skill Level Seriously in Doubt

Following close on the heels of Scott’s Monday post about a serious lack of stick and rudder skills comes this video of a BAE 146 landing at London City Airport.  Attaching the word “hard,” to the word “landing” here almost seems an understatement. I was waiting to see the mains leave the airplane.

What you’ll see here is a great example of no rudder control, no flare and someone trying to plant an airplane by shoving the control wheel forward. The result is predictable … a porpoising aircraft. This doesn’t work on a Cessna 172 and it doesn’t work on a 146.

These basic stick and rudder skills – or the lack of them – precisely illustrate Scott’s post I think.

But what do you say?

And in case you’re wondering what a more normal landing looks like at LCY, watch this clip of a Fokker 50 on approach. Granted there is no wind, but watch how close the aircraft on short final pass to the office building on the right. I’ve tried this one in the clouds and never saw the buildings. Just as well.