Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 123
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Airport; Weather
Runway 28L has a significant downslope in the touchdown zone that is not addressed in the 10-7 documentation or on the associated approach charts. The documentation notes that when landing Runway 10R the upslope at the far end of the runway can give the illusion of being high. There is no mention of the illusion when landing Runway 28L. The downslope is almost entirely within the 28L landing zone; where the runway drops 55 feet. The effect on the flare at 5-10 feet is not unlike a ski jump hill; where the ground continually falls away as the aircraft attempts to settle; extending the glide prior to touchdown. Additionally the winds were robust and gusting out of the northwest on this particular day. This added the additional difficulty as the wind burbled over the airport structures then blew up the slope on the north side of the landing zone; further exacerbating the floating tendency. There should be a note on all Jepp pages associated with Runway 28L that the runway has a significant downslope in the touchdown zone which can lead to significant float. Additionally; upslope winds from either side of the runway due to its elevated nature can cause updrafts in the landing area when crosswinds are present. On my landing we crossed the threshold at 50 feet and I was just able to touch down prior to the end of the touchdown zone. We watched a B737 landing behind us float a significant distance 5 feet above the downslope and that aircraft executed a missed approach. I personally had never previously landed on Runway 28L and was not aware of any issue with the runway. The documentation is inadequate to the hazard that is present.
Air carrier Captain reported the aircraft floated during landing due to wind conditions and a significant runway downslope at FLL airport that is not documented in the associated charts.