Is it possible to fly an aircraft with inoperative slats?

Answer 1

With enough runway, sure. Not legal to takeoff though in any airplane I know of that has slats. Although the Falcon 50 does have high density and high gross weight charts for a slats only takeoff. In other words, slats extended but no flaps. Of course you don't need them in cruise and if they fail prior to landing you can land with more runway. Of course you're landing one way or another eventually right?

Answer 2

It depends on the aircraft.

Commercial aircraft have a document called a Minimum Equipment List (MEL). This spells out what systems can be malfunctioning, inoperative or missing but the aircraft can still fly. Usually only for a certain number of flights or days depending on the criticality of the system. In many cases a certain procedure has to be carried out by the flight crew or maintainence to allow this to happen, for example with inoperative slats a placard may need to be installed and the crew have to used modified performance charts.
In this case stalling speeds with flaps down will be higher, therefore higher take off and landing speeds and therefore more runway required.
To allow all of this to happen the manufacturer of the aircraft will first of all have carried out flight tests to make sure it is safe.

Hope this answers your question

Answer 3

Yes - the aircraft will remain fully controllable and safe with inoperative slats.

Slats are used at lower speeds to augment lift, but are not a critical factor in controlling an aircraft. You may end up with a longer take off roll or a longer landing run, nothing else.

Answer 4

Some commercial transport aircraft dont even have slats. Slats are high-lift devices. They only increase the Coefficent of lift and allow for a slower approach speed at a shallower angle. Once you've gotten airborn slats are typically cleaned out before 3,000ft AGL. They are not re-deployed untill approach.

Answer 5

slats arent majorly important to landing. its mainly the flaps, on the back of the wing that will create the most lift. slats, on the front of the wing, will just give that little bit extra.
no probs landing without

Answer 6

Yeah, considering until the end of WWII, aircraft never even had slats.

Answer 7

Yes, any fool can do it...

I say fool because only a fool would try to fly a plane that has control surfaces and parts that do not work.

What next? Going to try to fly a plane with a rudder that sticks?

There is absolutely no reason to try to fly a plane with controls that do not work. To do so endangers you, your passengers and anyone on the ground where that plane may come down.

DON'T DO IT!

Answer 8

yes they can if in up position, they need a longer runway for take-off and landing due to speed rquired---the A/C would be restricted for weight reasons also
If in the down possiton Yes but now you are talking major drag and the airlines wouldn't fly it to save money.

Answer 9

only in an emergency, it is not normal.