Southwest Wing View Landing into Phoenix | Harsh turns on Final Approach with Smooth Landing *HD*

[@whenisaywhoaimeanwhoa3419]

I’ve flown this approach many times into Phoenix. At the beginning of the video the flight crew is on a 180° heading. First turn is left to 135° to enter the pattern (At 0:44 you can see the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airpot in the bottom right corner). The next turn is a continuous right turn to 225° to intercept the localizer. Once the localizer was captured, they were above the glide slope so they performed a couple S-turns to lose altitude to capture the glide slope. Once captured, you will notice the crew pulls the flaps in one notch. Then they are stabilized for the 2-mile final of the approach. Hand flown, no autopilot. Excellent job.

[@darrenmushkin3049]

Thank you! It was really helpful to hear the sequence of events captured from a pilot experienced with this approach!

[@Andrew-13579]

Why not use the speed brakes and point the nose down more? I’m not saying you’re wrong, just asking. ...and it didn’t look harsh to me, just a couple extra turns. Fun. :) Nice, steady, clear video, though.

[@mikeab93]

@@Andrew-13579 wouldn't it be cool if they could do a tactical approach. When Alaska used to fly the DC9 into Tucson they would do something similar, speed brakes and point it down. I enjoy that.

[@janicesullivan8942]

Lived in Arizona. Flew many times into SkyHarbor the same way, not scary, flying into OKC is HARSH with a high wind. Beautiful airport in Phoenix. Love Oklahoma, but miss Arizona.

[@whenisaywhoaimeanwhoa3419]

@@Andrew-13579 That’s a great question. On the B737, the speed brakes/spoilers are on the top of the wing. When deployed, they create drag along with some loss of lift on the wings which at lower speeds is not good. When you are needing to descend quickly from a higher altitude, speed brakes work well because of the higher speed you can afford to lose some lift and be okay. If you are on final at a slower speed, slats/flaps are deployed to create additional lift at the slower speed. If you also deployed the speed brake, you will be countering the action of the additional lift. In fact Boeing recommends speed brakes not be deployed below 1,000 ft. Another secondary consideration is passenger comfort. Speed brakes cause buffeting which can make some passengers uneasy. If will also cause a slight negative G situation when you push the nose over, which will also make some passengers uncomfortable. Not to mention the noise created above areas with noise abatement rules. Hope that helps.

[@keghinian]

This is not a harsh turn, this was a maneuver to get aligned in the glideslop for "smooth landing" this pilot flew this plane flawlessly in my opinion.

[@mikehunter1483]

Negative. Those are called S- turns. Pilots will use this tactic to lengthen their approach so traffic may vacate the runway before they get to it so they won’t have to go around. It was a hand flown approach they’re not concerned about the glide slope in this situation

[@roberthollander4522]

Definitely S turns to accommodate traffic ahead or departures . . . and those were definitely hand-flown.

[@frhwebmaster]

As they always are. This is the only time really that pilots get to fly with full control. The pilot is having fun in his holding pattern. 👍

[@roberthollander4522]

@@frhwebmaster Try flying a Learjet routinely into a high-volume flight training airport . . . you get REALLY good at flying S-Turns and approaching at Vref . . . :-)

[@sonnyburnett8725]

OH Geez! You guys are something.

[@mikecowen6507]

That was a last minute runway change. They were cleared for the north side, but their gates are on the south side. ATC was able to get them on the south side making their life easier and greatly reducing taxi time. Happens pretty often here.

[@jayw.5308]

Flying into PHX is always fun. The times I have anyway, always some turns and some small bumps, beautiful scenery. Nice video!

[@tsf5-productions]

I have flown on Southwest several times and felt that they, along with literally all major airlines, have done pretty good in their skill of landing the passenger planes. I have a brother-in-law that was a pilot with them for 20 years...always a professional in any of the planes he has flown of various types in some 50 years of flying. Phoenix is one of my favorite places to visit with several relatives living around there. I like the Sky Harbor Airport.

[@tomgates316]

Remember flying in there on business trips. Go a block west to the car rental. Get a car and drive back to the lot in front of the main door. About a 150ft walk to get inside. And get my Haagen Dass ice cream inside the door while the other couple folks in the group got the bags together. Long before the eastern bldg add on.

[@kenclark9888]

I love how people who don’t know what’s really going on describe things in aviation

[@paulgooding803]

Oh brother ain't it the truth. Not an aviation topic goes un harmed ever especially on YT channels. Don't take anything for granted on YT .... large grains of salt required daily.

[@NealB123]

That's a fascinating little video. It's amazing how much the plane responds to very small movements of the control surfaces. The plane banks left and right but the aileron barely moves at all.

[@Andrew-13579]

I think the “roll spoilers” are doing most of the roll control for banking. They are the rectangular panels ahead of the flaps that raise up. Spoilers have a few uses: alternately on left or right wing for roll control to assist the ailerons; together, in flight to reduce speed and/or altitude; and after landing to provide drag and put downward load on the main wheels to reduce tendency to bounce into the air again and increase braking force without skidding.

[@brandoncenteno1834]

just how aerodynamics work. the faster the plane is flying through the air the less deflection is needed to generate the same force. at slow speeds (near landing), they have to deflect more (hence the spoilers aiding in roll commands).

[@SparkyMcBiff]

Seriously amazing video. Thank you for focusing on the changes in the wing configuration throughout the whole approach!

[@Thunder_Dome45]

Neat my favorite part of what flights I was on was the coming in for a landing back to the ground, where I belong.

[@cwhitman]

That was not a harsh turn in my opinion

[@jwhoward182]

You’re a weenie if you think this is “harsh” - I do not work for SWA, but am a pilot. These are S turns for spacing and you can either do them or go to the back of the line and land 30+ minutes later.

[@darrenmushkin3049]

This video was from 3 years ago before I was a pilot. Today, I am a private pilot and I understand that these are not harsh turns. I was going to change the title but then 90% of the comments wouldn’t make sense

[@jwhoward182]

@@darrenmushkin3049 You can always do: [Edit] 2021-03-08 - I am enlightened and now I know there is much more to being a proficient pilot, yada.

[@darrenmushkin3049]

@@jwhoward182 Will do

[@greenemonger]

Flew out of and back to PHX nearly every Monday and Friday for 10 years!

[@pskully57]

I like when the door opens and it’s like 1000 degrees.

[@karlhungus1569]

Ya, but it’s a dry heat...

[@marcathens2951]

Too hot. They can have it 👎

[@harmanchauhan3574]

Love the HIGH DEFINITION video quality!

[@scottmitcheltree4182]

Appears the flight deck crew was killing a little altitude. The landing (in my experience) was spot on.

[@mehmetokay7073]

That was actually quite beautiful.

[@flatlander47]

Those are pretty normal turns. I don't know how you think this almost turned into a go-around. It was a pretty routine landing.

[@rkgsd]

I'm old enough to remember when airliners didn't have winglets Still trips me out seeing that.

[@Jleed989]

Me too. Flown on DC 8s and 707s

[@dpm-jt8rj]

Looks to me like they were performing S's for spacing. Nice video though.

[@darrenmushkin3049]

dpm1982 I didn’t even think about that until I saw your comment.

[@dpm-jt8rj]

I also believe he/she turned left off Rwy 26 at B7 (the 5:06 mark shows them turning onto Twy C at C7 which is across from B7) and if that is the case, they only used about 5,700 feet of runway. That was an awfully smooth landing guys.

[@darrenmushkin3049]

dpm1982 Another good catch. They were probably instructed by ATC to get off the runway as soon as possible for another incoming arrival.

[@dpm-jt8rj]

AirTravel1583 A few decades ago, on the north side of the field between Twy A and Air Ln was a business that I believe was a restaurant. It is where Embry Riddle is located. They had an upper, outside deck where people could go and watch airplanes land and take off. The times I was there the airport was configured for approaches to Rwys 26 and the 25s. WN (Southwest) were still all in their Desert Gold Livery livery and we would all laugh at the flying hot-dogs.

[@darrenmushkin3049]

It's so hard for me to remember the days of that desert gold livery. Canyon blue has always been one of my favorite liveries and the new heart one I actually have a bit of a disliking for. As for the restaurant, although I have never been there myself, I've heard about it from multiple people and to this day I wish I had been able to go.

[@mikeab93]

If you previously considered these harsh turns, fly into Tucson. They do a lot of s turns when landing to the east. I think they are fun. And if you really want to see what a harsh turn feels like try a Lemon Creek departure out of Juneau.

[@Andy1076]

Smooooooth! Sharp but so smooth the turns, I experienced this too on a return from the Philippines with PAL and it gave me some really fun angles to film. 😀

[@fanussmit9441]

You almost persuaded me in believing this was real. Best flightsim graphics I ever encountered. Well done

[@sjoldtimer]

I have flown into that airport several times over the years. Nothing unusual about this approach. Sometimes, people think they are on the only plane in the sky around a very busy airport like this one.

[@athiesen2]

That is an arrival procedure. The route the pilot inbound is not optional. It gets assigned by ATC and you fly it. There is nothing harsh about the turns or approach. That looks like a stabilized approach. Unless you have x-ray vision you have no way of telling if they were "lined up".

[@patricksnead6546]

Wow! Really peeling off some altitude on those turns!

[@jaimecruz5608]

I flew this weekend to phoenix with frontier and same patter it was cool can’t wait to fly back to phoenix from slc was good turns

[@6699Jackie]

Thanks for sharing, i have been to Sky Harbor a few times from London, UK Scottsdale is a great place

[@onepocketpaddy]

so, 40 degree banks bother you, don't look outside. Bet you the pilot is ex-navy, just remembering how it was to make tight turns onto the boat. Now you all know how that felt. be grateful......no extra charge for the fun ride.....

[@carddealer34]

Nothing like coming in over Scottsdale, then over Tempe.

[@jasonbossert8821]

Those two cities are beautiful

[@rodmalone48]

It’s a beautiful sight coming into Phoenix-Scottsdale into Sky Harbor and see all the swimming pools. Didn’t like the turbulence from the winds over New Mexico though

[@tammiea8552]

It amazes me that something that heavy can fly.

[@cnvi08]

S turns are normal to get on the localizer. Hand flown perfectly done.

[@jamieshaffer6493]

Very smooth landing. Much better than I, myself could do! 😂

[@rkgsd]

Landscape mode. Good work!

[@dub2967]

Did i see a flap 40 to 30 on final app? Exciting!

[@kdkeiser8438]

When do the "harsh turns " happen? Maybe trying to burn off speed. ATC is aware... take it easy.

[@djar63]

It appears he's making S turns to put more distance between him and the airplane in front of him to avoid having to make a go-around. By FAA regulations the plane in front of him has to exit the runway before he can land. I have done the same thing many times.

[@edblevins8764]

Nice video, but I didn’t see any harsh turns, a few S turns for spacing but nothing unusual. Southwest is a good airline to fly with!

[@brantphillips9133]

the always sunny phoenix skies

[@ElAye]

Thank You for posting this bcuz I hv a question for commercial pilots or those in the know. At 1:30, when this 737 begans a right turn followed by a left one, exactly what is making the plane turn other than the rear rudder? I was specifically looking for an aileron ..a flap.. or something that would roll the plane into a right or left turn as the animations always depict. What am I missing?

[@darrenmushkin3049]

It’s sort of hard to see, but the aileron at the end of the wing is very slightly moving up and down. Depending on the rate you are changing the banking angle, the ailerons sometimes don’t have to move very much for the plane to turn. Hope this helps!

[@styxfan4022]

Any landing that you can walk away from is a good landing.

[@SI-lg2vp]

Just another day in the life for a SWA pilot trying to loose altitude to get on profile for landing. Their pilot skills for hand flying are the best in the airline business. They are the best because they preform more takeoffs and landing per miles flown than any other major airline.

[@christopherhadsell9049]

I think they do a number of turns when ATC gives them "vectors," i.e., modifications (traffic, etc) to the STAR (Standard Terminal Arrivals). KPHX is a rather busy airport, so I rather imagine vectors can be pretty common, especially during times of heavy traffic.

[@utah133]

They'll sometimes snake around just to lose altitude before lining up on the approach.. Especially if they were told to stay high for traffic.

[@marktwain3531]

X-Plane 12 be lookin great.

[@Tracks777]

Good video!

[@darrenmushkin3049]

Thanks!

[@darrenmushkin3049]

Sorry I haven’t gotten around to uploading. I have more videos and will be posting them shortly.

[@joelt4416]

at 3:24 he brought flaps back to 30

[@darrenmushkin3049]

Joel T I didn't even notice that until I saw your comment. Great catch!

[@joeyccs]

First time I have ever seen that

[@denflyer832]

Yeah, interesting. I too have never seen that.

[@dpm-jt8rj]

Joel T You're right, I didn't notice that either.

[@delta_5088]

He probably had to slow down, but then due to noise restrictions, ended up having to bring them back up.

[@vzsn]

7:28 Plane Race

[@SPEAKEASYAZ4895]

Coming in from the east,theres Camelback mtn. Glad I moved up north 15 yrs ago.

[@shannoncagle]

Great Video!

[@ffbrnsie]

Normal for Phoenix flown there twice same thing. Kinda fun

[@Jimmypagesgreat]

I wonder why the pilots raised the flaps up a bit during the approach

[@tweetyt1877]

These were not harsh turns. They were standard. The S turns were made for traffic separation.

[@bak2812]

Been there done that flying into Phoenix on SW!

[@jmcfarlandjr]

Great video.

[@hungrydev6519]

Butter landing and smooth af. I luv southwest if u don’t like this company go fly on Ryanair they’ll change your mind ;)

[@Torontotootwo]

Looks like fun to me!

[@robertbierman2482]

Normal approach into PHX! For you non- pilots, you would be surprised to see how much the pilot flying is moving the control wheel to maintain altitude and glideslope. Hard to appreciate without doing it or seeing it!

[@johndifrancisco3642]

This is why I always sit by a window. Thanks.

[@kijotiso4594]

Great landing! Where was the applause?

[@irishus99]

Americans typically don't applaud upon landing.

[@joyvelleenerlan2996]

We landed in PHX once in a dust storm wasn’t this “harsh”

[@markfrancis8978]

All I can focus on is the people coughing.......oh how times have changed, lol.

[@noiseman1986]

beautiful view

[@CraigArndt]

Flaps 40 and then 30 on final.

[@janeordway4841]

Looks like the plane was coming in from the north following the 101 into Sky Harbor. Just wants me to step into 100 plus weather Good times..

[@chuckeberth4370]

Nothing harsh about the turns. Looked like standard 20 and 30 degree S turns.

[@bigdofba]

It looks like the plane is turning much sharper than it really is when you’re looking out the window.

[@jasonbossert8821]

Anyone know the heading route of the flight path? Was east coast to phx or west to east into phx

[@Stafford-d8u]

Even though the turns look steep they were probably less than 25degrees

[@Me37368]

Before watching i already know there will be nothing harsh at all

[@ronwade5433]

Runway 260 degrees is four different runways, four big ones, 3 north of the Salt River and now one south of the Salt. Not unusual to have a runway change.

[@paulgooding803]

Sky harbor has three runways: 8/26 and 7L/25R and 7R/25L. This config has not changed for years.

[@s4dg]

*bank angle* *bank angle*

[@tyrekknowles8249]

My Southwest Airlines flight did the same thing harsh turns but we had to go around a few times

[@rangerdanger8746]

Just saw Papago golf course.

[@PolPotsPieHole]

Shouldnt ailerons be doing something when they turn like that, is that all rudder control when they bank like that

[@TyTanium1294]

If you look at the outer edge of the aileron, you can see it moving a little bit. If you watch the spoilers at 2:39 , you’ll also see them come up a little at various times to assist the up aileron, to help lower the wing. This is done automatically via a device called the spoiler mixer. This prevents over stressing the wing because the aileron has such a long arm (distance from fuselage). No rudder use.

[@PolPotsPieHole]

@@TyTanium1294 wow thanks, interesting, makes more sense to me now, thanks again

[@TyTanium1294]

@@PolPotsPieHole anytime👍. Take care!!

[@CaptainStevenMarkovich]

Nice video great color 👍. Subscribed

[@cmr58]

Awesome great stuff!

[@ChristianT.334]

I could only think of two words while watching the turns. Bank Angle.

[@DPNP-ls7ro]

7:26 You can tell we aint living in 2020 no more. The comment section would be louded with max 8 references 😄

[@eurouc]

Mmmmm .... not to be a spoiler... it looked pretty conventional. Take a look at DCA or LGA if you want to see some real nail biting final turns on approach

[@airbornemusician2999]

Jim Allen The Potomac River visual is one of the most unique approaches I’ve seen. They just follow the river to the airport and make a last-minute turn on short final.

[@mjl1966y]

One of those turns was more than 30 and they were not stable at 1000 ft. Not impressed.

[@invinciblesummer]

Not a "harsh" turn. Normal base to final glide slope. Nothing to see here but click bait.

[@jdhiner1]

Runway change on final

[@mattthompson8487]

S turns for spacing

[@scottpool4777]

Yeah really very nice I am planning on going to I’m America Philippines that’s all I wanna do is go back to the Philippines with my kitty cat great job guys awesome👍👍👍👍

[@extremerecluse2095]

Standard rate turns performed by the auto pilot

[@derekhall2079]

Just call it added fun to the flight.

[@johnh2527]

"FAA Has Not Effectively Overseen Southwest Airlines' Systems for Managing Safety Risks" US Dept. of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General, 2/11/20

[@carolynsteed3649]

SWA has the best pilots, the reason I only fly SWA!!!!!

[@robertsadler1275]

snake in approach for spacing!

[@captianviv3593]

the plane descended so fast

[@demonhalo67]

Never a cloud in sight in Phoenix over the summer.

[@emodrmmr007]

you call this harsh turns??? omg you have got to be kidding! try doin a 5G turn (90 degree bank) right then left, then slowdown enough to make ya feel like you're gonna go thru the glare shield. oh yeah...this is not a fighter jet

[@carpetcowboy58]

7:40 My 2 favorite airlines.

[@JMAC-rs6ey]

Thanks for watching and ur support

[@lewishlyd]

hey. Do you have a business email or just an email because there is something i need to ask :D

[@darrenmushkin3049]

SimBoy I can give you an email or you can ask on here. Up to you :)

[@lewishlyd]

@@darrenmushkin3049 ermm, an email would be great

[@darrenmushkin3049]

SimBoy sounds good. you can email me at: [e-mail]

[@edgu71eg]

That one person coughing 😒 😫

[@piper0428]

Harsh turns???????????????

[@jasonbossert8821]

The coughing is not necessary