Why is it with Ryanair, the landings are always violent?

[AdamT]

This is something that has been puzzling me for the 20+ times I have flown with Ryanair. Every single time we have landed, the landings have been completely and utterly cack handed.

I dont know much about flying but every time we come into land the engines strain, its bumpy and then the force of hitting the runway is actually pretty violent.

In comparison, Easyjet whom I have flown with 100s of times never ever have a violent landing, always smooth and controlled...

Is it because of the differences in planes used or some form of technique? Any thoughts would be great

[pokethepope]

I heard they have introduced non-seated/standing to the cockpit as well as the cabin in order to maximise passenger capacity, which makes it harder for the pilots to land smoothly, but earns that tt an extra 50p a flight.

[Pints]

Have only flown with a budget airline once (stag weekend to Gdansk) and I was highly amused the way everybody clapped when we landed.
FFS. It's the pilot's job to land the plane. I don't hear rapturous applause everytime I complete commentary on a month-end financial report.

[FourWheelDrift]

AdamT said:

This is something that has been puzzling me for the 20+ times I have flown with Ryanair. Every single time we have landed, the landings have been completely and utterly cack handed.

Ryanair landing check list.

1) Locate airport
2) Wheels down
3) Flaps down
4) Line up on runway
5) Land on the black bit
6) Throttle back & brake
7) Open eyes.

[VernalEquinox]

Possibly that it saves rubber (and thus money) to slam the tyres down and get them spinning, rather than a nice soft grease-job of a landing which drags them along the ground?

[Silver993tt]

They don't have any autopilot installed, that option was omitted for cost reasons.

I can't believe you've actually flown 20+ times with this sham of a company.

Edited by Silver993tt on Sunday 6th September 16:14

[ypauly]

maybe due to thier planes having less weight so the wind can move them about more.

[T_Pot]

real pilots have to learn somewhere !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AdamT]

Silver993tt said:

They don't have any autopilot installed, that option was omitted for cost reasons.

I can't believe you've actually flown 20+ times with this sham of a company.

Edited by Silver993tt on Sunday 6th September 16:14

So no autopilot?! Really? wow...

re: flying with them often, they are the only choice i have and will only do so with paying them as little as humanly possible....

[jamoor]

They have the cheapest pilots, which are usually ones with less experience.

That's it really!

[5150]

Some unbelievable responses here !!

[shirt]

Pints said:

Have only flown with a budget airline once (stag weekend to Gdansk) and I was highly amused the way everybody clapped when we landed.
FFS. It's the pilot's job to land the plane. I don't hear rapturous applause everytime I complete commentary on a month-end financial report.

i hate it when people do that. flying is just another form of transport, noone claps when the bus driver makes it to the depot do they?

[bluesatin]

Fly BA and get the pleasure of bad landings for a lot more money!

[Somewhatfoolish]

AdamT said:

Silver993tt said:

They don't have any autopilot installed, that option was omitted for cost reasons.

I can't believe you've actually flown 20+ times with this sham of a company.

Edited by Silver993tt on Sunday 6th September 16:14

So no autopilot?! Really? wow....

Seriously, you believed that?

[D_T_W]

pokethepope said:

I heard they have introduced non-seated/standing to the cockpit as well as the cabin in order to maximise passenger capacity, which makes it harder for the pilots to land smoothly, but earns that tt an extra 50p a flight.

Utter bks, it's exactly the same cockpit in the Ryanair 737 as any other 737

Silver993tt said:

They don't have any autopilot installed, that option was omitted for cost reasons.

I can't believe you've actually flown 20+ times with this sham of a company.

Edited by Silver993tt on Sunday 6th September 16:14

Again, utter bks. They have a full autopilot installed just like every other 737, and they're equipped with CAT III landing capabilities. I know this as I've sat in the cockpit on the jumpseat during a CAT III landing in Stanstead.

ypauly said:

maybe due to thier planes having less weight so the wind can move them about more.

Once again, utter bks. It's a 737-800. The only model in the range that's bigger is the 737-900. It weighs in at around 75t fully loaded, typically loaded at between 60-70t. It'll weigh the same as every other 737-800 used by any other airline in the world

jamoor said:

They have the cheapest pilots, which are usually ones with less experience.

That's it really!

And finally, utter bks. Ryanair pilots, once qualified, are surprisingly well paid, earning around the £80-£100k mark dependant on rank and experience. Also, they tend to be experienced pilots, all the captains I flew with had thousands of hours in big jets. Many used to fly for airlines such as BA, but got fed up with the crappy attitude and st overnights, so moved to shorthaul.


And before somebody comes in with a comment about their engineering standards, they're better than BA, Virgin, Easyjet etc

I know all this as I worked for Ryanair for 3 1/2 years. It's a st company to work for, it's a st company to fly with, but it's cheap. If you want ice and slice in your G&T, fly Bad Attitude and pay for the privilege. Ryanair is a flying bus service, once you realise and accept that fact then everybody can stop whining.

[AdamT]

Somewhatfoolish said:

AdamT said:

Silver993tt said:

They don't have any autopilot installed, that option was omitted for cost reasons.

I can't believe you've actually flown 20+ times with this sham of a company.

Edited by Silver993tt on Sunday 6th September 16:14

So no autopilot?! Really? wow....

Seriously, you believed that?

yes.

[AdamT]

D_T_W said:

pokethepope said:

I heard they have introduced non-seated/standing to the cockpit as well as the cabin in order to maximise passenger capacity, which makes it harder for the pilots to land smoothly, but earns that tt an extra 50p a flight.

Utter bks, it's exactly the same cockpit in the Ryanair 737 as any other 737

Silver993tt said:

They don't have any autopilot installed, that option was omitted for cost reasons.

I can't believe you've actually flown 20+ times with this sham of a company.

Edited by Silver993tt on Sunday 6th September 16:14

Again, utter bks. They have a full autopilot installed just like every other 737, and they're equipped with CAT III landing capabilities. I know this as I've sat in the cockpit on the jumpseat during a CAT III landing in Stanstead.

ypauly said:

maybe due to thier planes having less weight so the wind can move them about more.

Once again, utter bks. It's a 737-800. The only model in the range that's bigger is the 737-900. It weighs in at around 75t fully loaded, typically loaded at between 60-70t. It'll weigh the same as every other 737-800 used by any other airline in the world

jamoor said:

They have the cheapest pilots, which are usually ones with less experience.

That's it really!

And finally, utter bks. Ryanair pilots, once qualified, are surprisingly well paid, earning around the £80-£100k mark dependant on rank and experience. Also, they tend to be experienced pilots, all the captains I flew with had thousands of hours in big jets. Many used to fly for airlines such as BA, but got fed up with the crappy attitude and st overnights, so moved to shorthaul.


And before somebody comes in with a comment about their engineering standards, they're better than BA, Virgin, Easyjet etc

I know all this as I worked for Ryanair for 3 1/2 years. It's a st company to work for, it's a st company to fly with, but it's cheap. If you want ice and slice in your G&T, fly Bad Attitude and pay for the privilege. Ryanair is a flying bus service, once you realise and accept that fact then everybody can stop whining.

Could you explain why the landings are always so bad? Whats the reason for it?

[Somewhatfoolish]

AdamT said:

D_T_W said:

pokethepope said:

I heard they have introduced non-seated/standing to the cockpit as well as the cabin in order to maximise passenger capacity, which makes it harder for the pilots to land smoothly, but earns that tt an extra 50p a flight.

Utter bks, it's exactly the same cockpit in the Ryanair 737 as any other 737

Silver993tt said:

They don't have any autopilot installed, that option was omitted for cost reasons.

I can't believe you've actually flown 20+ times with this sham of a company.

Edited by Silver993tt on Sunday 6th September 16:14

Again, utter bks. They have a full autopilot installed just like every other 737, and they're equipped with CAT III landing capabilities. I know this as I've sat in the cockpit on the jumpseat during a CAT III landing in Stanstead.

ypauly said:

maybe due to thier planes having less weight so the wind can move them about more.

Once again, utter bks. It's a 737-800. The only model in the range that's bigger is the 737-900. It weighs in at around 75t fully loaded, typically loaded at between 60-70t. It'll weigh the same as every other 737-800 used by any other airline in the world

jamoor said:

They have the cheapest pilots, which are usually ones with less experience.

That's it really!

And finally, utter bks. Ryanair pilots, once qualified, are surprisingly well paid, earning around the £80-£100k mark dependant on rank and experience. Also, they tend to be experienced pilots, all the captains I flew with had thousands of hours in big jets. Many used to fly for airlines such as BA, but got fed up with the crappy attitude and st overnights, so moved to shorthaul.


And before somebody comes in with a comment about their engineering standards, they're better than BA, Virgin, Easyjet etc

I know all this as I worked for Ryanair for 3 1/2 years. It's a st company to work for, it's a st company to fly with, but it's cheap. If you want ice and slice in your G&T, fly Bad Attitude and pay for the privilege. Ryanair is a flying bus service, once you realise and accept that fact then everybody can stop whining.

Could you explain why the landings are always so bad? Whats the reason for it?

Bear in mind a bad landing from a pilot's perspective is different from a bad landing from a passenger's perspective. From the former's perspective, a controlled touchdown in the touchdown zone at the right speed facing the right direction is best. To do that smoothly requires approaching too low to extend the flare, or being a genius. Include the fact that many Ryanair airports have short runways so pissing about losing half of it to smoothness is much more likely to be dangerous, and there you are.

Doesn't help that the 738 has a fairly low pitch limit too... makes said flare harder to get on target if it's to be smooth.

(This is all completely from an enthusiast's perspective btw, who has flown nothing more complex than a cessna and glider or two)

[pokethepope]

D_T_W said:

pokethepope said:

I heard they have introduced non-seated/standing to the cockpit as well as the cabin in order to maximise passenger capacity, which makes it harder for the pilots to land smoothly, but earns that tt an extra 50p a flight.

Utter bks, it's exactly the same cockpit in the Ryanair 737 as any other 737

whooosh.

I was making an (admittedly very poor) joke in reference to the news story a couple of months ago that they were planning to introduce a standing option for passengers, to fit more people onto short hall flights.

Did you really believe that I really believed that Ryanair pilots are made to stand up!?!?!?!

[pushthebutton]

The 737-800 isn't the easiest of a/c to land, especially in Flaps 40 config. The difference between a smooth and a firm touchdown in this config is very slight. Plus, with some of the conditions you describe, a positive touchdown is preferable. This is especially the case on a wet runway due to aquaplaning. You don't want a nice smooth touchdown which fails to break the surface tension of the water.

Secondly, Ryanair operate to some smaller, regional airfields with limitations on the landing distance. Touching down at the correct spot is preferable for obvious reasons and achieving this often involves a positive landing.

Sometimes, the landings and firm for good reason and sometimes it is a slight error in judgement, but in almost every case it is safe.