My first flight in the 747-400 was a revenue flight to the big island of Hawaii. As you may know, most airlines train in a simulator right up to and thru the check ride. Then the newly rated pilot gets 25 hours with a training check airman, all on revenue flights. Thus the landing at Kona was my first real landing in the 747-400, also known as the Aluminum Overcast. Little did the unsuspecting passengers in the back know they were Ginny Pigs.
On any over water flight we carry quite a bit of extra fuel which means when we land we are going to be heavy and our approach and touchdown speeds will be higher requiring greater stopping distance. Now on this particular day Kona was landing down hill with a tail wind, all of which makes for increased stopping distance. All this is going through my mind as I plan out my approach. Since I don’t have a clue how good this big airplane will stop I resolve not to go sailing off the end of the runway on my first landing ever in the 747-400.
I aim to touch down right on the end of the runway, get on the brakes, and go into full reverse with the engines as soon as possible after touch down. This I did to a tee. After a very solid (hard landing) touch down, I applied full braking and reverse and came to a screeching halt, my concentration focused on stopping. Looking around I see a taxiway exit and proceed to take it. About this time the tower at Kona says “gee not many of you guys make that turn off”. I have managed to stop this big puppy in less than 2500 feet on a down hill runway with a tail wind. Had I not have done it personally I would not have believed it. The passengers deplaned, somewhat silently, having survived what can only be described as the closest thing to a cable arrested carrier landing in a 747-400. I never again worried about landing and stopping the 747-400.
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