Floating is Fun (over a runway)

Floating is Fun (over a runway)When there’s a crosswind – at BHX at least – landing planes often seem to “float” above the runway much longer than normal. The KLM pilot in the last shot in this video told ATC they went around because they just couldn’t push the plane down onto the runway!

The undulations in the BHX runway accentuate these floats: if a plane just misses touchdown on the crest of a bump it can glide down the slope on far side like a ski jumper.