1.fawad wrote: Sun May 24, 2020 4:19 pm There are a few interesting observations. My question to pilots over here:
1. When they were too high and too close, it means they would need to lose altitude quickly. This essentially means pitching the nose down and/or gathering speed. Is it true that you cannot lower landing gear at certain speeds (too fast)? So, in essense, the question turns to: is it possible that the landing gear problem was one they created rather than maintenance issue?
2. How can a pilot come in for belly landing (or just main landing gears) without emergency services at the runway and informing passengers and crew to prepare for a possible evacuation?
The possible scenario is this: Pilots (for reasons to be determined) were too high, decided against a 180 degree to lose altitude, and started descending. This increased speed and landing gears did not deploy. They thought it will when the speed reduces but the level stays down and nothing happens (you need to up the lever and lower it again when speed reduces). At landing, the engine scrapes the runway, and the pilot realizes they made a boo-boo. TOGA but the damage was done. They gained altitude and ATC asked/cleared them for 3000ft but the pilot struggled to maintain altitude at 2000ft. At this point, engines lost thrust (at the time of MAYDAY call) and the plane was essentially a glider that was too low.
^ A320 landing gear maximums.
The only sign (thus far) that shows us that the ATC was informed of landing gear issues is when the controller asks PK8303 if they were attempting a belly landing after the go around.
2. They cannot. If the pilot is coming in for a belly landing knowingly, then the pilot would declare an emergency, and emergency services would be scrambled on the ground. ATC, crew and passengers would be informed.