Originally Posted by
nroam
We were told very strictly that we could not changes seats as it would upset the balance of the plane.....
At the time I was told it was due to weight restrictions for the very reason that there is the large offset on the runway due to the immediate steep rise of the terrain and consequent relatively steep glide slope when landing from the east.
This is a nonsense. Runway 27 at San Diego (the usual landing runway) has a quite straightforward 3.5 degree approach angle. The runway is physically 9,400 feet long, the full length can be used for departures but the landing touchdown point is 1,800 feet down this runway, giving a landing distance of 7,600 feet, still well beyond what is used at many other airports. This "Displaced Threshhold" is what is experienced at some other airports round the world as well, for a whole variety of reasons. You can be assured that anyone who cannot handle a Displaced Threshhold accurately would never even get as far as their Private Pilots Licence, let alone be commercial aircrew.
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSAN
Furthermore there is no need to get concerned about variations in seating, which are readily handled, like everywhere else, by the standard trim controls on the aircraft.
I really cannot understand this paranoia about the standard procedures and facilities at San Diego, other than some uninformed hype that has been allowed to spread to a ridiculous extent.
The reduction of load on the BA flight at Phoenix, as described, was the normal commercial experience, and was what led to the demise of the original flight.
If you want a steep approach, come into London City at 5.5 degrees !