Martymccasland
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2011
- Messages
- 205
- Display Name
Display name:
M.McCasland
Wind was only 10-15 knots on the ground but really howling just 2-3k off the ground. Lots of rain and bumps. The field was reporting 2 miles / 300 OVC.
We're being vectored to final on an ILS. I look at the MFD and it's saying 70-75 knots of wind. ??? "Can't be", I think -- we only saw 55-60 max at altitude and the ATIS is reporting 10-15. Then, on one of the vectors, I look down and see 61 knots ground speed with 138 knots true at only 3000'. We get vectored some more (only 2 of the runways have approaches to 300' and 1 runway was closed for resurfacing). We turn again and I'm doing 203 knots GS with only 19-20" of MP and the prop back to 2300 (Bonanza).
We finally get vectored around to final, are cleared for the approach, and I drop the gear so as to keep losing about 1000' before the FAF without speeding too far over Va (140) in what had been a little bumpy air into the terminal area. At this point, lined up on final, I look to the GPS and it says I'm 14:42 mins to the runway! On final! I do a double-take, "can't be". I look back at the MFD and I'm doing 54 knots GS at 130 true! The approach is stabilized and the bumps have gone, so I bring the gear back up to get my speed up to shorten the time to the field -- and FINAL still took 7 minutes with ever increasing GS as we descended into less wind. We get get to 1000 AGL and I put the gear back down. We break out at 300 AGL just as advertised and it's just totally fine, not even that gusty, 10-15 knots. Surprising too, no wind-sheer felt or reported.
A first for me. Have never experienced that much wind on final right on the nose (got close at Chicago once, though). Have never had to raise gear to keep from nearly hovering on the glideslope. And have never had that much greatly varying degrees of wind in a small vertical area without turbulence or sheer...
'Thought I'd share and hear similar stories.
We're being vectored to final on an ILS. I look at the MFD and it's saying 70-75 knots of wind. ??? "Can't be", I think -- we only saw 55-60 max at altitude and the ATIS is reporting 10-15. Then, on one of the vectors, I look down and see 61 knots ground speed with 138 knots true at only 3000'. We get vectored some more (only 2 of the runways have approaches to 300' and 1 runway was closed for resurfacing). We turn again and I'm doing 203 knots GS with only 19-20" of MP and the prop back to 2300 (Bonanza).
We finally get vectored around to final, are cleared for the approach, and I drop the gear so as to keep losing about 1000' before the FAF without speeding too far over Va (140) in what had been a little bumpy air into the terminal area. At this point, lined up on final, I look to the GPS and it says I'm 14:42 mins to the runway! On final! I do a double-take, "can't be". I look back at the MFD and I'm doing 54 knots GS at 130 true! The approach is stabilized and the bumps have gone, so I bring the gear back up to get my speed up to shorten the time to the field -- and FINAL still took 7 minutes with ever increasing GS as we descended into less wind. We get get to 1000 AGL and I put the gear back down. We break out at 300 AGL just as advertised and it's just totally fine, not even that gusty, 10-15 knots. Surprising too, no wind-sheer felt or reported.
A first for me. Have never experienced that much wind on final right on the nose (got close at Chicago once, though). Have never had to raise gear to keep from nearly hovering on the glideslope. And have never had that much greatly varying degrees of wind in a small vertical area without turbulence or sheer...
'Thought I'd share and hear similar stories.
I'm surprise at that amount of wind. It was about dead calm outside. Just a heavy rain.
