ABSTRACT
Very early one summer July morning not long after the sun began to rise in the east, a Boeing 747-100 was beginning its approach to the London Heathrow airport carrying over 400 passengers and crew. It was one of those still mornings with just an occasional whisper of very thinly scattered clouds, the type the British call mist. In the cockpit of this giant bird were three very experienced airmen. The captain possessed an impeccable record and was held in the highest esteem by his fellow crewmembers and managers. They had been on duty now for approximately 71/2 hours and were nearing the end of what should have been another routine North Atlantic crossing from New York. Although the sun was up, their bodies were telling them that they should be fast asleep. The captain looking at his watch noted that it was 0130 back in New York but the local time here in London was 0630. The toughest part of these crossings is always just as the sun rises. Everything was working out in textbook style, however. The first officer was at the controls and had timed the descent perfectly. ATC was cooperating, providing timely clearances upon each request by the crew. The engine power was reduced to idle as the flight left cruising altitude. A long smooth descent coupled with vectors from approach control was placing the huge airplane directly on the localizer. Shortly after intercepting the localizer, the glide slope began to move. Subsequently, the flaps were lowered to the approach position. The first officer nudged the four throttles slightly forward, spinning up the engines to counteract the drag of the flaps. So perfectly was the airplane positioned and the descent timed that the approach speed was exactly what was needed. As a result the engine power was never reduced to idle again. It was one of those perfect silky smooth approaches that we all visualize. Everything was working out just like the three pilots wanted. The airplane was so perfectly trimmed that the first officer felt as though he could almost take his hands off the controls and it would not move. A very relaxed atmosphere permeated the cockpit. The final checklist was called for and completed.
