Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Workload
Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
During a visual approach to Runway 26; I performed a hand flown approach. The visual was backed up with the ILS approach for guidance while on the arrival. We were vectored off of the arrival for traffic avoidance and then vectored toward the field for a visual approach. We were about seven miles away from the field on a base leg a 5;000 FT AGL. When we were cleared for the visual approach to Runway 26. I thought we were a little high and close and in retrospect should have widened the approach out a little and configured more slowly and flown the approach profile closer to a 3.0 degree approach than was possible from our current position. I maintained altitude while disengaging the autopilot and auto-throttles and configured the plane for landing in an effort to increase drag and manage our descent more effectively for a landing. The approach maintained a steady rate of descent and configuration; but could not be considered a stabilized approach per the FOM. The approach was performed with the thrust levers at flight idle in order to reach the field in the touch down zone. While in the flare to land over the runway; normal configuration; I was attempting to effect a soft touch down; as well as landing in the touch down zone and in the process of the flare the stick shaker was activated as we touched the runway. The first officer called out a low speed warning as we touched down and the shaker was activated. Other than the slow speed and stick shaker event the touch down was uneventful. We exited the runway and taxied to the gate as normal. Fly the approach on profile per the SOP. I tried to compensate for the poor vectors to final when I should have asked to widen out the approach.
After fully configuring the aircraft for landing; we descended to the runway above the glideslope. As we approached the runway; I noticed that the airspeed was about 10 knots below Vapp and called out the deviation. By this time; we were already in the flare and the stick-shaker was momentarily activated as we touched down. Other than the momentary stick-shaker event; the approach was uneventful.In hindsight; I should have suggested getting vectored off of the approach or called for a go-around because of the un-stabilized condition of the approach.
An ERJ-175 Captain flew an un-stabilized visual approach following an ATC vector which left them high on final with idle thrust and a stick shaker in the landing flare.