Originally Posted by
Slowhawk
Off topic, seems like maybe 25% of the people I fly with are doing this:
In the landing flare, passing “twenty” they suddenly start slamming the yoke forward and backward fast and maybe 6” of motion. So fast and such large control movements that they cancel eachother out and also you can feel the whole plane shaking from the motion of the elevator.
This seems strange to me. Like in calm wind I’d expect the yoke barely move, and if it did, in one smooth continuous motion.
Am I missing some secret Embraer technique (really) or is this just people over controlling it?
I would expect nothing less from our resident chief pilot.
I think it's a carry-over from some guys who would do that in a 172 or Cherokee coming in to land. I've seen people do that in my GA days and even Rod Machado has an article about it
here.
I've never seen anyone do it to the point where I can feel the airplane shaking, but I have seen people move the yoke in unusual ways. If they land smoothly, on centerline and in the touchdown zone, though, who am I to judge their technique especially if that's what they're comfortable with? (oh wait, we're ALL chief pilots here) And obviously when it's gusty, you'll be moving the yoke a whole lot more (I know I do). And the yoke is far less pitch sensitive on the Delta birds than the American birds in my experience. I'd imagine it'd more likely cause the airplane to shake if you're flying on an American trip with someone that hasn't flown American in a while.