My hat's off to those of you who make this approach regularly. As we've thoroughly discussed there are many challenging approaches throughout the country. (We beat Juneau to death this summer) but I have to say this "visual" was very challenging at night.

I just flew the Stadium Visual 29 recently. Great visibility and light winds but I very nearly dorked it up. We had a very hard time finding the runway because of the sea of lights out there. It didn't help that it was the first time either of us had been there, at night, in years. We set up the FMC for the RNAV Y as a back up and that's really the only way we found the runway. Being unfamiliar, I should have asked for 22R or at least asked the tower to turn the lights on 29 up momentarily. Live and learn I guess.

Anyway, I sure wish I could have looked at the view a little more. It must have been spectacular. Next time the FO flys that one. ✈️

 

Only done it a few times . But at night unless you have done it a few times is def a more hairy approach .... All the lights in the surrounding area make it hard to see until your right on it ...

 

That's a tough approach at night for sure

 

You want to see something visit Rio's Santos Dumont (SBRG). You circle just inside Corcavado (Christ the Redeemer) turn over the city next to Sugarloaf and roll out to a 1 nm final. Runway is 4300', no EMAS, no overruns. B737s, A320 and a variety of smaller stuff. GOL and TAM run hourly shuttles out of there.

GF

 

I think the controllers take the circle to 29 for granted. 90% of the crews are familiar with the approach and actually like doing it, so it gives the controllers the impression that it is a relatively easy approach. They like to pack the planes in tight when it is busy which works most of the time, but I could not imagine a crew with no experience with the approach trying it at night.

 

Saw a 777 do that last night

 

Of course they do. Have you ever stood in a tower and seen how much of the air traffic system relies on the pilots? Watching the game from both sides, I can say with some certainty that the perception on both sides is that the other side "has our back". In this case, as an approved procedure, ATC will not think twice assigning it to anyone. By accepting the clearance, the pilots are agreeing they can fly it. If they can't or if there's a problem with the procedure, it's not ATCs area of responsibility.

 

Here's what it looks like from a 777. Very cool. Would love to try this some day