AV-8B VERTICAL Landing profile
Profile types:
• LIGHT: <24500 [lbs]
• HEAVY: 24500 to 26500 [lbs]
Above 26500 = Burn fuel, use LIGHT or HEAVY as your final Landing weight mandates.
Approach:
From Ground Ops directed heading parallel and offset to landing runway.
Land airbase point, in order from most suitable, 1, to least suitable, 3, conditions allowing:
1. Helipad, nose to take-off runway heading
2. Vacant tarmac cleared in 200 feet radius, nose to take-off runway heading
3. Revetment
4. Grass/dirt pad inside airbase closed perimeter
Runways are not to be used for vertical take-off/landing points = in case of mishap, runway is
not disabled.
Profile “LIGHT”
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Approach Phase
• Check NAV lights + Strobe + Formation lights ON
• Parking brakes OFF
• AUTO Flaps switch to “STOL”
• Radar Altimeter ON
• Ground OPS chief landing clearance
• Cleared approach heading
• AGL = 500 feet
• Speed = 240 KCAS
• Gear DOWN
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Phase
• Half mile from landing area; Nozzles 120% & Buster throttle 100%
• Manage speed down to ~140 KCAS with angle of attack, nose high as required,
Velocity Vector approx. horizon line
• Manage forward speed LOW and Nozzle down progressively in 10% increments to
90%
• Expect erroneous HUD symbology and audible warnings, disregard KCAS reading,
use visual speed judgement
• Start Throttling DOWN to a slow descent, prevent further climb once in HOVER
• Control your HOVER until satisfied with throttle stable position
• If still descending, but not in perfect HOVER, but going backwards or sideways or
forwards: compensate each direction with pitch forward, sideways, or down
◦ going BACKWARDS = compensate pitch DOWN
◦ going FORWARD = compensate pitch UP
◦ going SIDEWAYS = rudder to point to direction of motion and pitch UP
- At this point if downward speed higher than 50 feet per second = EJECT EJECT EJECT
• Manage your position in slow inputs in all directions, maintain safe AGL >100 feet
• Once confident of landing position, COMMIT
• Control your descent with throttle slow increments, expect throttle LAG time
• Once under 10 feet and stable slow descent = IDLE throttle
• Apply full wheel brakes and Re-apply Parking Brakes
• When secure = Nozzle 0%; Proceed to Taxi or Shutdown checklist as appropriate
Profile “HEAVY”
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Approach Phase
• Check NAV lights + Strobe + Formation lights ON
• Parking brakes OFF
• AUTO Flaps switch to “STOL”
• Radar Altimeter ON
• Ground OPS chief landing clearance
• Cleared approach heading
• AGL = 900 feet
• Speed = 240 KCAS
• Gear DOWN
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Power Phase
• Half mile from landing area; Nozzles 120% & Buster throttle 100%
• Manage speed down to ~140 KCAS with angle of attack, nose high as required,
Velocity Vector approx. horizon line
• Manage forward speed LOW and Nozzle down progressively in 10% increments to
90%
• Expect erroneous HUD symbology and audible warnings, disregard KCAS reading,
use visual speed judgement
• Start Throttling DOWN to a slow descent, prevent further climb once in HOVER
• Control your HOVER until satisfied with throttle stable position
• If still descending, but not in perfect HOVER, but going backwards or sideways or
forwards: compensate each direction with pitch forward, sideways, or down
◦ going BACKWARDS = compensate pitch DOWN
◦ going FORWARD = compensate pitch UP
◦ going SIDEWAYS = rudder to point to direction of motion and pitch UP
- At this point if downward speed higher than 50 feet per second = EJECT EJECT EJECT
• Manage your position in slow inputs in all directions, maintain safe AGL >100 feet
• Once confident of landing position, COMMIT
• Control your descent with throttle slow increments, expect throttle LAG time
• Once under 10 feet and stable slow descent = IDLE throttle
• Apply full wheel brakes and Re-apply Parking Brakes
• When secure = Nozzle 0%; Proceed to Taxi or Shutdown checklist as appropriate
