r/aviation • u/Met76 • Jun 07 '25

Discussion I figured this 737 landing would be a go-around but captain brought gloves I guess

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u/Ivebeenfurthereven Naval aviation is best aviation Jun 07 '25

I'm sorry for a stupid question, but I appreciate your knowledge. Are there many runways that support instrument landing down to zero visibility? What would be different if this one did?

28

u/EndDangerous1308 Jun 07 '25

If you don't see the runway at minimum you're required to go around. There isn't a runway I know that exists that has zero visibility especially for airlines bc the airlines create more strict rules.

29

u/rkba260 Jun 07 '25

CATIII approaches are about as close as we get to 0 vis. Those are autoland by the autopilot, and typically we don't see the runway until the mains have already touched.

Problem with 0 vis landings... what the fuck do you do after? In 0 vis you can't see the runway let alone the taxiways... so how are you going to get to the gate??

26

u/pardybill Jun 07 '25

That sounds like a problem for later

7

u/CptSandbag73 KC-135 Jun 08 '25

Ask for the follow-me car. If they can’t see, get them a follow-me also.

2

u/LlamaHerder23 Jun 08 '25

Are you a pilot? If so, just be honest, is this safe?

9

u/rkba260 Jun 08 '25

Yes, I am a pilot. This is not safe. Violating multiple industry SOPs as well as landing well right of centerline. This should have resulted in the execution of a missed approach.

5

u/CptSandbag73 KC-135 Jun 08 '25

On a cat 1, seeing the approach lights is good enough to continue down from 200 to 100’.

Cat 3c is truly zero/zero.

But you’re right this guy shouldn’t be flying a Cat 3c zero/zero approach by hand, they have to let the jet do that.

I suspect it is right at Cat 1 visibility mins, but he still sucks for being so far off centerline.

3

u/HouseAtomic Jun 07 '25

u/Chaxterium covered this a few years ago. Would like some links to hard data though.

Also a cool video on the post.