Hit 5000 heavy landings on my logbook this month - is that a badge of honor or a red flag?

I just crossed 5,000 heavy landings in my logbook from C-130 ramp work over the last 4 years. Some of the older guys say that number means I'm thrashing the gear and need to slow down, but my shop chief says it shows I'm getting the real experience. What's your take - do you track your hard landings for bragging rights or do you try to keep them low?

2 comments

2 Comments

riverowens1d ago

Man, that's a solid number and I gotta say it's a badge of honor in my book. Look around at the world, people are obsessed with keeping things "perfect" and never scuffing them up, but that's not real life. Think about it like a worn in pair of boots or a beat up truck with a ton of miles - sure, it's not showroom fresh, but it's proven it can take the hits and keep going. The old guys might be scared of wear and tear, but your chief gets it: those heavy landings are where you learn the limits of the machine and yourself. I'd rather have 5,000 honest heavy landings than a logbook full of perfect, boring ones that never taught you anything real. Keep stacking them up, you're building experience that no classroom can give.

lindahunt1d ago

@riverowens nailed it. What worked for me was just owning the landings and learning from each one instead of stressing about the count. Ever track your own numbers just for the hell of it?