Strange Airport lights - PAPI's 

As an old Air Force pilot, we used to have a saying, "Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing, any landing you can walk away from and use the aeroplane again is a great landing" great video.

I was landing at an unfamiliar airport and I was on what felt like a normal approach, but the papis were reading high. I start descending and descending and by the time I see 3 whites, I'm definitely too low. Maintained that altitude until I got back onto my normal approach and landed where I was supposed to. I notify the tower and they look into it, and a few days later I fly back to that airport and find out that a groundskeeper ran into it with lawnmower and knocked it out of alignment. Definitely an interesting thing to watch out for.

Very instructive on how to not overemphasize PAPI lights on the sim. Thank you very much

My FI wouldn't let me go solo until I hit the touchdown marker on every supervised landing. He gave me the exact same advice about the PAPIs. Nice video!

I thought my entire life, that the PAPIS are controlled automatically... but it's just the viewangle which changes the lightd

Very good explanation ! I even remember that my flight instructor years ago always told me "now passing 200, disregard those lights, aim the touchdown point." Quite a good method to avoid the the problem explained in the video. I'm not a pro pilot and far from flying often. But I loved these last 200 feet because it was true manual visual landing. The real pilot thing. Thanks for your videos ! They're good !

Watched this during my approach in the sim... You took all my attention, so had to perform go around

Lol the ending was awesome. Loved the small facts of the 737. Good way to end the episode!

Thank you for this video. I hold an approval to flight test these systems and your summary from an airline captain perspective was very informative. Especially the part about placing less emphasis on the final 200'. If I am stable at that stage I continue the approach visually to the aim point mark and do a final assessment of the 50' eye height above threshold. Assuming the approach has been stable, even in a light twin, you can usually assess the touch down point as being within acceptable limits of the runway marking. As an aside, not many runways I check have ILS and only a GNSS RNP or other NPA. A check is made at the FAF that the on slope indication at the published altitude is correct.

I absolutely love your videos. A great pilot Always learns, a dead pilot knew Everything...(An old saying by my instructor) I have been so blessed to know awesome pilots who share with me.

My Uncle was a Bush-pilot in Alaska, He always said on landings " White-White - You'll be up all night" , "Red-over-white - We're Just right", "RED-RED - You're DEAD" ... a little uncooth but it helped me remember, and i was only 10yrs old the last time i flew with him... :)

Thanks for the information result quiz on 737-800 on the cupholders at the end of the video. Great Videos, Thanks

Yet another great video! I love the little details or these tiny chunks of knowledge you put in your videos like the mentioned effect of overemphasizing the PAPI on final. Would have never even thought of it from that pov... (as a simulator pilot)

With all your videos I have developed an even bigger respect for air flight, moreso for the hard work pilots have to do. It truly is incredible ALL the details needed to perform your job 👏👏 Petter, ever considered lecturing at Universities or Flight Schools? Your explanations and detail is so well executed 🙌🙌

Thanks for another wonderful video!!! Have a nice day!😊😊

Youve come a long way in 5 years! Its cool to see.

thank you very much for all his excellent lessons and information that you offer with an excellent pedagogy I was looking for explanations on how the PAPI works and you brought them. thank you again for the work you do and the quality of the information you provide. Thanks Captain.

Thank you for this. I see you haven’t had a comment for a while now. With the release of MS2020 videos like this are so helpful. I respect your intelligence and skill. Thank you.

Over the years as a passenger I'd often flown, before security crackdowns, as a pilot's guest in the cockpit on commercial airlines. The issue that has always confused me has been the apparent lack of forward visibility from the cockpit. The instrument binnacle is so high that one wonders just how much can be seen; particularly when landing.

Great video captain. Really helpful for aviation students like me who are planning on becoming an airline pilot soon

Woooww!!! a great lesson indeed,, soo below 200 feet I shouldn't be focusing on the PAPIS but rather the Centre line? Thanks mentour,, through this channel you've made my Flying training a lot easier!!! Still doing my PPL!!

Captain ur videos are too good and explains very easily

Thanks. As I try to make runways in Minecraft as realistic as possible, I usually try to include the PAPI system. It's not at all easy, but it works. :)

Great education as always!

I thought of the airports in my area use VASI lights. Touching on the differences could be an interesting video.

Like the way mentour says the PAPI lights

You're cool. Love your channel. Professional

that was really helpful - the part about ignoring the PAPI’s at the final 300 ft

Oh, great! A whole video about fathers! For any non-Spanish-speaking person: _Papi_ in Spanish is like _Daddy_ in English (with both meanings)

I didn't know that there was a way NOT to use them. I thought it was just 2 white, 2 red and aim the plane at spot on the runway that the lights are marking. EDIT: Nice thumbnail by the way.

Thank you Mentour for yet another very informative podcast. However, I understand from this explanation that you shouldn't bother too much about the PAPI when you are still at approx. 1000 ft and also not if you are already at approx. 200 ft. In addition you state that the PAPI should not be over-emphasized, but that you should focus on your target in the landing zone (as you would also do if there are no PAPI). Now, what this all comes down to is that somewhere between 1000 ft and 200 ft you may expect to see 2 whites and 2 reds, but if not, you should ignore it. What is then the value of the PAPI in the first place? Thank you in advance for your valued reply.

Brilliant explanation

Wow 6 cup holders isn't really what I expected :p Very good video mentour (as always!)

I am not into flying, but your videos are super cool, easy to understand, well done!

I like when this guy stands on the runway..so cool.

I had a passenger sitting on the co-pilot seat asking what are those lights and why they are two white two red. I told her that means the runway is only 50% charged and she freaked out asking if that's still safe to land 🤣

All modern transport aircraft provide two REMOVABLE coffee holders. One occupies the left seat and is called "Captain". The second coffee holder occupies the right seat and is called "Hey, you!"

I am loving these videos,I am learning a lot.

Thank you for your very useful information Capt. Happy New year !!! cheers

I learned something to day. I was aware of the lights, but not where they was. I will have a look next time.

Fantastic video, this is what I was waiting for....keepup .

Great explanation!!

Cool video, always wondered how those worked and why they existed, keep it up😀

I love your channel Mentour ❤️ By the way, we’re on final approach for 100,000 subscribers! Could you also make another video about all other airport lights like taxiway or ramp lights and such?

Thank you for advice!

Mentour, you need to make a video (or videos) explaining everything in the cockpit and what each and every nob, switch, and button does!

Super! I like this info. Thank you 🤗

Awesome, it did not occure to me they worked like that. I though it was some radar controlled thing. This is so clever!

Great video Mentour, have a happy new year mate

Very clear and to the point. Subbed.

Poppy lights :)

Very professional. Thanks for your videos. Iam not a pilot but like planes. Tschuss!!!

As always... great video. Thanks

I have a recording of a comedian talk about them and said that if you see green you are very low because it is shining through the grass! LOL!

Fascinating information. Experienced the lights on a 737 flight simulator

Nice one Captain

Good one :) always wanted to know in detail about Papi lights :) thanks

The coffee holders were designed with redundancy in mind so in the event 5 failed there would still be one coffee holder for the entire crew.

Hey Captain! It's sad to see the last video uploaded 2 months ago. End of February came and went. Hope you get back with your wings on and seat belts fastened soon. Cheers. -The one who got to sit in AirBerlin only once :(

Great video :D I think you are right, that many people are aiming for the papi lights in the last couple of houndred feet instead of actually focusing on the touchdown zone. Did you take that picture with the papis in dense fog by yourself? It is really nice :D Kinda want this as a wallpaper :D

Argh...so many coffee holders :-) I have been at the jumpseat so many times and only seen the one I had :-) Together with my own oxygen mask and audiopanel :-)

Excellent exp.

Please do a Boeing unboxing video.

Thank you

6 cup holders!!! I didn’t imagine that many... it would seem you guys like your coffee ;)

What a great explanation!

The error you describe sounds similar to "chasing the ball" if you're doing a dynamic carrier landing (as opposed to a vertical one), you start oscillating across the glideslope and risk a ramp strike or wasting your landing gear some point after the arresting cables.

Good video

what an absolutely fantastic channel!!!!!!!!

PAPI: Precision Approach Path Indicator -- not to be confused with VASIS: Visual Approach Slope Indicator System, which can also be configured as a T-VASIS -- the same system, but configured as a "T". Perhaps you can do another video on VASIS. :)

Merry Christmas Captain. Another video idea, explain the traveling white strobe lights just before the runway. Not sure if it is the same on planes as ship but the cabin crew get early departure (5 minutes before docking) if they deliver bad coffee :)

the first time I saw you on this runway, I thought you were in a bluescreen studio :D

I didn't even knew about those lights

Ha! I just saw the vid last night with the question and gave my answer, I was right in there somewhere.

ahh, I said five, happy new and thanks for another great video.

Maybe it is a good idea to explain all glide path indicate light in AIM

Can you explain EGT? Perhaps you already have but I missed it.

4 whites, you're too close to heaven; 4 reds, you're too close to devil! I clearly remember my first time with a PAPI: it became a game changer for me, everything looked so easier!

Mentour, will you ever upload any videos of you flying planes like Cessnas?

Amazing thanku so much i really needed this ❤️

great tutorial and nice filming location! :-)

Great info!

Great Video !!!

Mentour Pilot, There is a similar system is also use on aircraft carriers.

You are just amazing.

hope you had a good xmas captain

Americans love cupholders, including on their planes haha. I'm disappointed that none of them were extra large.

I remember these being called VASI lights. Visual Approach Slope Indicators

And I hope you doing absolutely fantastic :D I love that :)

An excellent explanation as always. Didn't the British come up with something similar for aircraft carriers ?

Can you make video on what is hot brake and braking system of aircraft

This is an excellent video and thank you for doing these videos. I noticed the lights are in a row. Have you also dealt with two rows of lights like "red on white" approach lights? I also heard of these lights called VASI lights. Are there any differences between PAPI and VASI lights?

I remember there being two rows of VASI lights. If both rows showed green you were in the glide slope. If the far row turned red you were to high and if the near row turned red you were to low. When and why did they change to PAPI? I have asked other pilots on RU-vid and have gotten no response. I found the VASI lights as workable as the PAPI.

Regarding the coffee holders. I work in electronic environments and no liquids of any type are allowed due to possible spills. Surprised they allow these in a cockpit.

Hello there. I really recommend making your own website, for example, Captain joe/ FO Joe.

Four greens = PAPIs shining through the grass, which is really really not good.

ur awesome, love ur videos!

You can get caffeine poisoning with that many coffee cup holders :P

from what distance can the PAPI lights are visable considering weather conditions are clear?

Cool! Are you standing on real runway or green screen background?