RAPID DESCENT

• ANNOUNCE DESCENT
• SELECT LOWER ALTITUDE ON MCP
• SELECT LVL CHG
• CLOSE THRUST LEVER AND EXTEND SPEEDBRAKES
• DESCEND STRAIGHT AHEAD OR INITIATE TURN WITH HDG SEL
• ADJUST SPEED AND LEVEL OFF ALTITUDE
• TARGET SPEED MMO/VMO
• NOTIFY ATC AND REQUEST ALTIMETER SETTING
• CALL OUT ALTITUDES
• LEVEL OFF AT LOWEST SAFE ALTITUDE OR 10000 FT,
WHICHEVER IS HIGHER
• SPEEDBRAKES IN DOWN DETENT
 RAPID DESCENT
• LRC SPEED OR 300 KNOTS
• IF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE EXISTS OR IS SUSPECTED, LIMIT
AIRSPEED TO CURRENT SPEED OR LESS (AVOID HIGH MANEUVERING LOADS)
• PERFORM THE PROCEDURE DELIBERATELY AND
METHODICALLY
• DON’T BE DISTRACTED FROM FLYING THE AIRPLANE
• THE PM CHECKS THE LOWEST SAFE ALTITUDE, NOTIFIES ATC,
AND OBTAINS AN ALTIMETER SETTING
• BOTH PILOTS VERIFY RECALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN DONE AND
CALL FOR ANY ITEMS NOT COMPLETED
• THE PM CALL OUT 2000 FT AND 1000 FT ABOVE THE LEVEL OFF
ALTITDE
 EMERGENCY DESCENT
• EMERGENCY DESCENT_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ANNOUNCE PF
The pilot flying will advise the cabin crew, on the PA system, of impending
rapid descent. Pilot monitoring will advise ATC and obtain the area altimeter setting.
• ENGINE START SWITCHES_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _CONT PM
• THRUST LEVERS_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ CLOSE PF
Reduce thrust to minimum or as needed for anti-ice
• SPEED BRAKE_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ FLIGHT DETENT PF
• DESCENT_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ INITIATE PF
• TARGET SPEED_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Mmo/Vmo PF
If structural integrity is in doubt, limit speed as much as possible and avoid
high maneuvering loads.
• LEVEL-OFF ALTITUDE_ _ _ LOWEST SAFE ALTITUDE PF
OR 10,000 FT whichever is higher
RAPID DESCENT