JohnnyJet

Was talking to one of my former flying partners and she told me that UA in revising the landing preparation procedures in the cabin. Beginning in October, when the double-chime sounds, indicating the aircraft is passing below 18,000 feet, the flight attendants are supposed to prepare the cabin for landing (end service, collect all glasses, seats upright & locked, luggage stowed, etc). That is in contrast to the old way of doing all of those things when the cockpit made the announcement "flight attendants prepare the cabin for landing." The landing announcement will still be made, but it will serve only to let the flight attendants to know they should take their jumpseats.

One question I had, which my friend could not answer, is whether the flight deck will be a little more conservative with the double-chimes now...I've had many occasions in the last year where the chimes are sounded 30 to 35 minutes prior to landing. Not a huge deal on long-haul, but on a SFO-LAX flight, which lasts 50 minutes will this now be an excuse for some unmotivated crews to NOT do any service at all due to "time limitations?"

kenhawk

Interesting...if the system worked for 35 years or so, why change it now? Did something happen?

MatthewLAX

Ugh. Sounds like an excuse to cut service off 20 minutes earlier.

lucky9876coins

Interesting. But how could the flight deck control when the double chime sounds? It's automated as the aircraft passes through 18,000 feet, no?

JohnnyJet

No, they ring it themselves by cycling the "No Smoking Sign"...and while it's supposed to be 18,000ft I've found that crews do it at different times. It also indicates sterile cockpit (safety sensitive period, where FAs can only call cockpit for safety related issues) so when I was still flying I had a lot of crews do it earlier when we were going into a really busy airport where they had a more intense workload.

I'm sure Aluminum Driver can provide more info as to when/how it's supposed to be done.

dcutcher

remember the term for the new, precise landing procedure already in use at least on a trial basis at a few airports? This is the one that's ATC computer-controlled and in effect provides a seamless and continuous descent (from 18K feet?) with the engines essentially at idle, for the entire sequence, conserves fuel and allows most efficient use of separations and airspace.
I'm sure someone will be quick to chide/correct/flame/assist me, but if the procedure is being ever more widely deployed, could it relate to the new cabin prep for landing mentioned above in this thread?
Inquiring minds, etc.

dgwright99

You are allowed to keep your drink if it is in a plastic cup.
In UA F, FAs have always been willing to ptransfer my unfinished drink into plastic when they are collecting glasses, and occasionally when I ask if there's time for another drink after the start of descent announcement, it will be brought for me in plastic without asking.
This is consistent on UA; other airlines it seems to vary more. No UA FA has ever even seemed surprised by this request. On Alaska they are willing to do it, but act like it's the first time anybody has ever asked.

mahasamatman

Are you referring to Continuous Descent Approach (a.k.a. Optimized Profile Descent)?

flyinbob

Be interesting to see if it is announced by UA or just put in service. Or if it is just tested first. Or if it will really happen at all. I'm sure we'll get reports.

Ocn Vw 1K

Skywest on UX flights has been following this cabin locked-up procedure below 18000 for some time now. I've often wondered why it took a much more aggressive posture than UA mainline on it and, like others, wonder why UA mainline is changing.

UnitedSkies

This is also standard procedure for many international airlines - there is no such thing as putting your seatback upright just minutes before departure. While I don't like it, I can see how it may eliminate the need to scramble last minute to get glasses and stuff picked up before the landing occurs.

FriendlySkies

Given UA's track record in releasing things before they are ready to be adapted system wide, I'd be surprised if they did any testing..

PHLGovFlyer

Yes, continuous descent from cruise altitude is being tested as a fuel saving measure. The idea is to operate at cruise altitude and thrust setting until you reach the point where you start descent. Then thrust is set to idle power and the aircraft descends at idle all the way to touchdown.

However, I doubt that this is driving the changes in UA procedures. Continuous descent capability is pretty much experimental right now and not expected to be widely introduced for a long while.

aluminumdriver

Correct, we do it as we are passing through 18,000 normally, although it might change a little based on how busy we are. If we have a little more time, I might delay the chime just a little, since we're not supposed to chat with the folks once we go sterile cockpit. If I've had the seatbelt sign on for a while, and have a chance to get it off for moment before landing, I may turn it on at 17,000, say our good-byes, then double ding. But, that is not the normal SOP, 18,000 feet is.

As for the FA's cleaning up the cabins earlier, I hadn't heard that, but it makes sense I guess. We are supposed to give them the prepare for landing at least 5 min prior to landing, but even then that is them rushing through the cabin to make sure everyone is set for landing. I guess they are trying to give them a little more time to go through the cabin. Not a huge deal since you might be talking 5-10 minutes here.

Yeah, it's nice in theory but no one does it.

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mahasamatman

The benefits are good, and once the FAA figures out how to fold it into the NAS, I expect we'll see more of it (or something similar) in the not too distant future (maybe 5-10 years?). But then again, how long have we been waiting for ADS-B?