Hi ,

I love to fly the America West Boeing 737  in FS2002 .  Has great wing views and flies great !!  I am wondering what " real Pilots " use for speeds on the ILS around the OM ( I have used approx. 160 kts. ) and what speed over the threshold ?  I also would imagine one waits until the nosewheel is on the runway before activating reverse thrust ?????  It would seem to me that it might slam the nosewheel down if applied prior to allowing the NWheel to touch the ground ??  I am just a private pilot .   I also wonder about what the initial ROC is for a 737 approx.
Thanks ,
Jamie ( James )

Having flown three times    in the jump seat of a 737-800 over the weekend (perks of the job) all approaches where made at 140 kts flaps 40 when the aircraft was full and once a 125 kts flaps 40 when it was about 1/3 full or 2/3 empty depending on your view.
As for thrust reverse, normally the pilot will wait until the aircraft has all three gears on the ground. The throttle is generally retarded to idle at about the 10 feet call out and the aircraft then uses residual momentum for that last couple of seconds. The 737 does however have a trick up it's sleeve.
If the rad alt senses that the aircraft is off the ground, but at less than 10 feet of altitude, the pilot can, if he wants to activate the thrust reverse whilst still in the air.
How much thrust reverse is used depends on all up weight, length of runway and runway surface conditions. The pilot may choose to use anything from thrust reverse at idle power to slamming the anchors on. Regardless of what he uses, it is of very little use below 90 kts and always stowed at no less than 60 kts. One last thing about thrust reverse, it will not stop the aircraft quicker or in a shorter distance than the brakes. Its main use is to lengthen the life of the aircraft brakes by relieving the amount of work they have to do in the initial slowing phase. They are very expensive and, trust me, very, very heavy.


Matt