Interesting landing at MEL
Posted: 11 May 2012, 04:19Flying into Melbourne last night from Sydney I noticed, well watched in somewhat fear, our landing.
I was sat by the window in 1A on the Embraer 190, DJ876. As the cabin crew settled down for landing the cabin lights were turned off, and with it being a clear night, it meant there was excellent visibility.
As we were making our approach onto the East-West runway I could see southwards to the city and another aircraft's lights. I watched and watched and the other aircraft was indeed descending. As we went lower so did they. I suddenly thought it must be a private jet landing at Essendon airport and relaxed. But alarmingly the lights kept blinking and coming increasingly closer to the other runway.
Anyway we touched down and my sight lines were lost due to the terminal builings. But as we braked and intersected the south-north runway the other aircraft had landed and was decelerating.
I have heard of simultaneous landings on parallel runways but not on intersecting ones. What if the other aircraft had to pull up, didn't brake quickly etc? I was surprised to say the least.
Anyone else have experience of this type of event.
I was sat by the window in 1A on the Embraer 190, DJ876. As the cabin crew settled down for landing the cabin lights were turned off, and with it being a clear night, it meant there was excellent visibility.
As we were making our approach onto the East-West runway I could see southwards to the city and another aircraft's lights. I watched and watched and the other aircraft was indeed descending. As we went lower so did they. I suddenly thought it must be a private jet landing at Essendon airport and relaxed. But alarmingly the lights kept blinking and coming increasingly closer to the other runway.
Anyway we touched down and my sight lines were lost due to the terminal builings. But as we braked and intersected the south-north runway the other aircraft had landed and was decelerating.
I have heard of simultaneous landings on parallel runways but not on intersecting ones. What if the other aircraft had to pull up, didn't brake quickly etc? I was surprised to say the least.
Anyone else have experience of this type of event.