737-900ER flaps 15° and go around performance
 

In previous posts many United/Continental pilots complained about the -900ER and called it a dog, especially in Denver. They complained about leaving passengers behind because of the -900ERs lackluster SE go around climb performance in icing conditions. Today, Alaska Airlines has made landing flaps 15° an appoved "normal" flap configuration. Apparently this will make the go around performance issue much better. My question:

Is flaps 15° available to UAL/Cont pilots? Does it make a significant difference? What do you think?

No. Flaps 15 is not approved for a normal 737 landing configuration. UAL has addressed the issue with a flaps 5 go around procedure. Everyone is getting sim training on it. With as many planes that run off or nearly run off the end of the runway, It's hard to believe that the FAA would sign off on flaps 15 landings except for non normals.

If I remember correctly flaps 15 landing was used on the -9 powered 200 series guppy back in the day.

As far as being "legal"as long as runway performance issues are covered Boeing could get 0 flaps approved for normal ops.

In the day the 200 series was "prohibited" from flaps 40 landings (emergency use only) because of noise limits.

Not a whole lot surprises me about what the FAA approves and dissapproves when it comes to individual airlines. The more I have learned about how the FAA regulates individual air carriers, the less I understand.

The different standards they apply are either a way to allow us to innovate, or a system completely insane and out of control. I would guess the latter, which actually allows a bit of the former.

Flaps 15 is an approved flap setting at AA on the -800 (that's the only model we have.) it really is not a big deal, I very rarely use it unless it's a long runway and gusty winds. Plane actually lands better due to the better deck angle down final. Vref is maybe only about 5kts higher than flaps 30.

I can't even imagine the number of tail strikes we would have in the 900 if landing flaps 15 was an approved procedure. 8 degrees is all you get.

Yeah, I'm only talking about the 800 as it's the only model we have...can't speak for the 900 but makes sense.

We at Delta are approved for flaps 15 landings on all models, even the -900ER.

Does anyone do it in the 900ER on the line? Not being flip, genuinely curious. I wonder if you did a Flaps 15 landing and banged the tail if the company would ask why you landed Flaps 15? Do you guys at DAL have the degree of focus placed on tailstrikes as we do at UAL? It was THE big thing that they talked about when I transitioned from the Bus. Well, that and don't go direct with Sabre =).

Maybe I just don't hear about it, but I also don't see you guys (or Alaska for that matter) running them off the runway like we do either. Makes me curious what the issue is that we seem to be having in our house.

It's just all you Airbii guys that come over and flare at 50', go to idle at 30', and pound it on with no reverse and no autobraking that are the problem. :D

Man I am lovin' the switch to da Bus! It's a no drama mama, at least when compared to the über guppy.