Originally Posted by FliFast

Trogol,

I'd respectfully take a different position on landing at SXM. I think risk-taker is a better label than "idiot".

I used to fly into SXM with TWA in the 757. IMHO, the 757 is the perfect airplane for the run. SXM is a high yield, moderate density route. The brakes and reversers on the 757 make the landing look easy, even with a fair amount of winds, the usually unorthodox arrivals, and the constant barrage of VFR targets trying to land at the same time you do.

Using max thrust on the 757, the chandelle-like departure towards the mountain is made with ease and if my memory serves me correct it's not uncommon to complete the chandelle manuever at an altitude of upwards to 6000 feet .

Fast forward to the KLM landing, I flew the 747 Classic, not the -400, but can tell you that when you're at 550-600K pounds landing weight, and sitting 40 feet in the air and staring at a postage stamp runway of 6800-7000 feet of landing distance available, it isn't as easy as it might look.

With the picture you get from sitting that high in the air, your last glimpse of the boundary fence may be at 200-250 feet above touchdown.

I believe from watching the video and hearing the increase in throttle just prior to landing that his mindset was he was going to approach the runway somewhat low, drag it in and touchdown as close to the numbers as possible, even though his calculated landing distance (probably) is based on landing in the touchdown zone using a max braking effort with no reversers. In the process I think he neglected to remember the following:

1. The fence
2. The importance of staying above Threshold Crossing Height (TCH). On the 747 classic, not the -400, I believe it was 47'. In the video I would wager his TCH was under 35'.
3. Vigilance of the Radar Altimeter as a cross reference to TCH.

All's well that ends well--and it made for a great video.