Pilot's view: Airbus A380 approach and landing at SFO

[cairns]

Question about the approach- initially they're coming up from the South (at least that's what it looks like to me). Then they fly past the golden gate then they land on 28R. What approach does all that?? If they're arriving from Frankfurt why not straight in?

[LeeH]

Does the entire landing checklist for that beast really only consist of "Three green, flaps full?"

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by cairns

Question about the approach- initially they're coming up from the South (at least that's what it looks like to me). Then they fly past the golden gate then they land on 28R. What approach does all that?? If they're arriving from Frankfurt why not straight in?

Initially they're coming from the north. Polar route from Frankfurt. They then pass the Golden Gate and city, hang a left somewhere south of Daly City and approach SFO from the south on final.

[cairns]

thanks that explains it....

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by LeeH

Does the entire landing checklist for that beast really only consist of "Three green, flaps full?"

I believe that the landing checklists are way simpler and shorter than they used to be which implies that increased vigilance is necessary at a critical stage of flight.
Any Airbus pilots out there?

[BE911SC]

Originally Posted by Dottore

Initially they're coming from the north. Polar route from Frankfurt. They then pass the Golden Gate and city, hang a left somewhere south of Daly City and approach SFO from the south on final.

Golden Gate Arrival via the PYE (Point Reyes) VOR. I (airline pilot) frequently see Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France flights coming down southwest-bound across northern California direct to PYE. At PYE the arrival turns aircraft eastbound (looks like south) over Stinson Beach, past the GGB, and then descent comes over/abeam SFO. Down the bay (north side for 28R) or down the coastal hills (south side) for 28L is the typical pattern and they make a 180 U-turn back to land west at SFO. I think the 380s land/depart on 28R for span clearance reasons with traffic on taxiway Foxtrot, parallel to 28L. Also, when the Lufthansa 380 needs to taxi out to 28R for takeoff the ground controller needs to de-conflict/clear the way so that there isn't a clearance problem with the 380 wings and other traffic.

That captain is a common type. They wait years (simmering) to finally get over in the left seat, finally in command, and then he takes his pound of flesh out of everyone--except the check captains who evaluate him. (He's all laughs and back-slaps with his evaluators.) Granted, the First Officer biffed up that radio exchange with NorCal Approach but it didn't require Napoleon (Goering?) in the left seat to be dickish about it. Note how the F.O diplomatically corrects the captain and helps him not f-up. Generally, captains like him never make mistakes, the F.O.s or stews or tug drivers, etc., are to blame. Any positive credit belongs solely to the captain. It can be a tiring day sitting there next to a guy like that!