Boeing 737 - 400 Speeds

John, just trying to answer your follow up:

your
fastest,
No this would be the maximum speed I would use operationally if I had to
catch up time. "normal" cruise speed is calculated by the FMS on modern A/C
using a so called "cost index" which takes into consideration aircraft life
vs. fuel cost.


the
only
That
No, not talking about gusts but just about maximum speed. Exceeding max.
speed will sound a overspeed warning and - again on modern A/C - the
exceedance is registered in ADAS. Depending on the configuration and amount
of overspeed some maintenance checks will become necessary.

time
MCT (max. continuous thrust) is an engine limit. It is below max. takeoff
thrust, which is normally limited to 5 min (under single engine conditions
10 min.) and you would use it e.g. for an single engines climb out whenever
all primary emergency procedures are handled. Under normal conditions MCT is
never operationally used as a limit. However I must admit that I have no
knowledge about the smaller engines e.g. in biz jets. They have sometimes
other definitions and handling parameters.

15) or
on
Usually in heavy transports there is a "recommended" flap setting and an
"alternative" flap setting. "Recommended" is always full flaps. Alternative
in this context means that you can choose this one when you deem necessary
for good reasons, one being as described gusty conditions and another indeed
if the taxiway is at the far end. Partial flap settings are never used in
big jets in normal operation.

Yep, and another one here in Europe is 160 KTS to 4 NM final at London
Heathrow!

fly at
long as
approach
Well, it's kind of a balance act between ATC requirements and company
procedures. e.g. 160 KTS to 4 miles final (1200 ft AGL) can sometimes
collide with the company procedure to be established at 1000 ft AGL. But
there's always a solution to that ;-)

I hope I could clarify some more things.......

--
Oskar
(retired captain)
"remember, in the great scheme of things, we're all small potatoes!"

<snip>

....


Thanks Oskar for all your help. Due to time I can't pursue further questions
now. Might repost in the future (soon??) with a summary from what you've taught
me and so reopen the issue,

John Bentley

Hello everebody
I know, no one like spum, but... just let this topic stay here for a couple of days. This will not harm you or enyone else, but, indeed, will help me a lot.
Thank you wery much.











And... do you really think that forum spum is so awful?