Ask the Captain: Is scraping the tail while landing a big deal?

Question: I was riding as a passenger on a 737-900ER, according to the safety card, and when we landed, we did a small bounce and had to get airborne again. On our second landing attempt, we apparently struck the tail. How bad is this? The crew member said that this airplane is too long and is prone to experience this. Why is it designed this way?

— Submitted by reader David, Chicago

Answer: There are a number of airplanes with long fuselages where tail strikes are a major concern (A321, B777-300, A340-600 to name a few). The 737-900 is more prone to tail strikes than shorter versions of the 737, but it is very similar to other long-fuselage models. Airspeed control is critical during landing, and careful monitoring of the pitch attitude during takeoff and landing are essential in all long-fuselage airplanes.

I’m sorry to hear about your flight, but long-fuselage airplanes are flown safely every day, proving that, while they have lower pitch attitude limits, they are safe.

Q: Why do most aircraft have tails while others, ranging from hang gliders to B-2 bombers, do not? If tails are not really needed, why do any aircraft have them?

— Robert K., W-Va.

A: The vertical stabilizer and rudder provide control and stability in yaw (the nose moving left and right). As you point out, there are other ways to achieve such stability and control, however the vertical stabilizer and rudder are the most widely used for ease of design and efficiency. Military aircraft seeking to minimize their radar profile use slanted tails (e.g. the SR-71, F-117, and F-22) or use differential aileron deflection (e.g. B-2) to control yaw.

Control of the yaw axis is essential to safe flight. There are several proven means to achieve it, but the vertical stabilizer and rudder are the simplest and most proven.

Q: Why don't planes have winglets on the tail?

— Kelsey, Beaver, Pa.

A: The aerodynamic efficiency improvement is not nearly as great as when the wing has a winglet. Therefore, the economic justification is not achieved.

Q: Why don’t all airlines turn on the lights on the tail when landing like they used to? It’s more difficult to identify the airline now.

— Alberto C., Miami

A: Many airliners do not have lights that illuminate the tail. When the airplane is ordered from the manufacturer, tail lighting is offered as an option.

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