MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft; Procedure
RADAR Vector Right base to Runway XX; ZZZ at 4;000 FT MSL. No autoland followed by CONFIG warning and siren CA RA amber INOP flag. CA RA input to CONFIG monitoring system lost causing warning. Exact failure not known to crew at the time; obvious corrective action was taken and the landing gear was extended early. The warning ceased. Captain advised Tower of problem and placed a request to keep the approach and landing area sterile. Note the airport is tightly timed for takeoffs and landings on the crossing runways. Captain viewed this as good CRM using all resources: human; information; and hardware to insure a successful completion of the flight with a minimum amount of possible complications. Tower asked us to call via telephone after arrival.
Air Carrier experiencing equipment difficulties requested ATC to keep approach/landing area sterile most likely prompting ATC to initiate emergency handling