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Careers: Flying & Aviation/No flaps, slats or spoilers

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Expert: - 8/28/2006


Question
Could a fully loaded commercial airplane land without any flaps, slats, or spoilers?

Answer
Hi there,

Thank you for your question.
Yes, it is possible to land without any "high lift" devices. Such landing would not be considered normal but it is possible. The crew will follow an "Abnormal" checklist and after that a landing is possible without much trouble.
The main thing to be aware of is that the speed is going to be quite high (~200 miles/hours) vs. a normal speed of ~145 miles per hour. This is to ensure enough air is flowing over the wing to produce enough lift!

I hope this helps,

H2

Careers: Flying & Aviation

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Volunteer

Heiko Hanusch

Expertise

Aerodynamic`s on fixed wing airplanes as well as fluid dynamics.
Weather related to flying including reading wx charts.
Propulsion systems related to aircraft.
ATC system from a pilot`s perspective.
Navigation, all forms related to flying (incl. long range).
Physiology and Psychology related to flying as well as aeromedical factors.
Basic Construction of fixed wing aircraft (stress analysis).

Experience

ATP, Flight Instructor basic and advanced.
Airline Pilot and Check Airman for a major U.S. airline

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