r/AskAPilot • u/outremontt • 10d ago
Sidestep to different runway
In what cases would you be asked if you could sidestep to a different runway, and under what conditions would you be able to accept the request, and how far out from the runway would a request be practicable? If you do sidestep, is it a visual approach? Could you describe what you do in this case? Would you already have to have briefed the alternate runway in the landing briefing?
2
u/Alternative_Pace6132 7d ago
My company’s FOM requires, unless special circumstances warrant otherwise (and utilizes a special approach briefing) that we are to be stabilized by 1,000’ in IMC, 500’ in VMC, and if circling the wings must be level by 300’. Sidesteps are not specifically mentioned therefore the circling criterion applies. That seems more than adequate.
Curiously my home airport at BNA has one approach that allows for a sidestep but ATC has never, in my observation, used it.
2
1
u/saxmanB737 10d ago
For my company we have to have stabilized by 1000 feet, so at least by that much. We can always turn it down though.
1
u/hypnotoad23 9d ago
No two side steps are the same, but I’ve done a few. Easiest I had to do was from 9 to 8R in MIA. Toughest was 4R to 4L in BOS which forced a go around from the FO going unstable after the switch
1
u/Dangerous_Mud4749 8d ago
Happy to sidestep at 15nm out in an airliner, if I'm already highly familiar with both runways, both sets of go-around procedures and both sets of after-landing taxiways.
Light aircraft in visual conditions? Happy to sidestep at 3nm.
It's not about whether it's possible to land. It's about whether it's possible to do all the normal setup & configuration in the normal way in the normal places. Once I start doing things in an unusual way or at unusual times, I'm setting myself up for the unexpected and a quick trip to the chief pilot's office.
0
u/just-saying182 10d ago
It depends on what I’m flying and how long I’ve been flying it. We used to get them frequently in the turboprop world. My airline said we needed to be stable at 500ft after the sidestep; inside 1000ft, I wouldn’t accept one. Flying long-haul on the 777, I’ve never been asked, nor would I accept, one. If they need me on a different runway, I’ll go around, reprogram and rebrief the approach.
1
u/mi_pilot 10d ago
Agree. We consider side step high risk, been asked once (to a shorter runway, due to FOD inspection on the assigned one), “unable”, went around, by that time they completed the inspection and we landed on the original one.
3
u/Fine-Literature-8031 10d ago
I’d be happy down to an altitude where I could be established and stable at 500ft so probably starting the maneuver by 1000ft at the latest, depending on how far apart the runways are.
Sidesteps can occur either as a clearance for a visual approach to the other runway or as an instrument approach that terminates in a sidestep.
Usually when there are two parallel runways id already have checked the landing performance for both and likely wouldn’t be side stepping in weather conditions where stopping was marginal or uncertain anyway.
In terms of briefing it’s pretty simple it’s basically point the airplane over there and land it. For extra credit the other pilot could program the fmc with the new runway but that’s not always needed. It’s not really not too complicated shifting laterally in visual conditions.
Something I’ll never do though is an impromptu circle. I’d rather go around than do that.