Yep, I meant to try and find another “FlightAware” log for another 777 on approach to SFO, but I didn’t get the time...thanks for the analysis! It will be interesting to see the flight data recorder data and the pilot interviews! They fixed the “fuel slushy” problem that got the 777 in London a few years back didn’t they?
The flight aware.com profile for the day before flight, Asiana 214-5Jul RKSI to KSFO, shows what a perfect descent profile looks like. You could also look at a United B-777 which landed on 28L or 28R just 15 minutes ahead of the accident Asiana. That example would be United 852-6Jul RJAA to KSFO - another perfect profile. In both these examples, the speeds and descent rates are fairly constant below 1500’ to touchdown.
The B777 is a pilot-directed, computer-flown aircraft. The black boxes have recorded in digital format everything the pilots asked for and every response the aircraft provided. Pretty much everything is recorded, aircraft location, performance, pilot inputs, flight control and engine status and response,etc. And there is of course a cockpit voice recorder which will reveal what was, or was not, said.
Asiana B777-200s use Pratt&Whitney 4090 engines. The P&W 4000 series is an aviation design champion and has been around for 20 to 30 years. The notorious engines involved in the London British Airways B777 crash are Rolls-Royce Trent. An altogether different animal. Whether they’ve fixed the RR Trent fuel icing problem, time will tell.
“Fuel slushy” problem was with Rolls Royce engines, not Pratt and Whitney engines. This plane had PW engines.