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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Arrival
Keep the back pressure coming through the flare so the sink does not return at 110 fpm.
What happened: The flare arrested the sink, but then the sink returned before touchdown.
Watch for: Watch the VSI in the flare and keep arrested sink from returning before touchdown at 276 fpm.
See Arrival Landing
Arrive slow and the sink rate at the threshold is already above schedule, the flare is short because there is no energy to extend it, and the touchdown is hard in a way that feels exactly like a late flare. Diagnosing a slow arrival as a late flare is the catastrophic misread: you respond by flaring earlier, which bleeds more speed, which makes the next one worse. The tiebreaker is threshold speed against VRef, not feel. Never diagnose a flare without it.
Read more in Flare TimingStart to finish · 20 stages, 18 scored
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
Two stabilised approach gates, each with seven checks, where the approach path is 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 5,651 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,651 ft of the 10,212 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 2,546 ft past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
This flight was operated by a Boeing 737-700 aircraft, beginning with a taxiing process that took 7 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile (nm) from the parking area to the runway. The aircraft departed from runway 25R at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (KPHX), utilizing 5,035 feet of the runway, or approximately 49% of its length, at a liftoff speed of 149 knots (kt).
The initial flight conditions were hot, with a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit, and a tailwind of 2 kt at 290°. The crosswind and headwind components were relatively minor, at 1 kt each. The enroute climb began 1 mile southeast of Central City, Arizona, and reached an altitude of 38,980 feet above sea level (asl) after ascending 36,836 feet in 21 minutes, covering a distance of 129 nm.
Following the climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase that started 1 mile east of Rio Rico, Arizona, and lasted 80 minutes. During this segment, the aircraft covered a distance of 610 nm, maintaining a steady altitude. The descent from the cruise altitude was initiated 16 miles southwest of Teacapán Naval Air Station Teacapán in Mexico, resulting in a decrease of 33,385 feet in altitude in just 13 minutes and covering a distance of 82 nm.
A brief final cruise segment occurred 1 mile northwest of Penita De Jaltemba, lasting 2 minutes and covering 8 nm. The subsequent descent phase started 6 miles east of Rincon de Guayabitos and reduced the aircraft's altitude from 5,427 feet asl to 1,358 feet asl, a decrease of 4,069 feet in 7 minutes and covering 15 nm.
The final approach to runway 22 at Puerto Vallarta International Airport (MMPR) was made from the northeast, heading 227.0°, at a distance of 4 nm and an altitude of 1,330 feet above ground level (agl). Despite the significant height of the threshold (81 feet agl), the touchdown was slightly above target speed, at 133 kt. The touchdown point was 1,190 feet beyond the touchdown zone, with a touchdown speed of 125 kt, which was a little fast. The subsequent touchdown rate was fair at -244 feet per minute (fpm). The runway touchdown alignment was perfect.
The landing distance covered approximately 53% of the runway length, which is 10,212 feet. The aircraft rolled out perfectly, with the last 5 minutes of taxiing taking 5 minutes and covering less than 1 nm from the runway to the parking area. The total distance of this flight was 851 nm, using 11,083 pounds of fuel and taking 135 minutes to complete.
The Boeing 737-700's final approach to runway 22 at MMPR Puerto Vallarta International Airport resulted in an overall score of 87.4%. This score, while commendable, reveals several areas of opportunity for improvement during subsequent landings.
Initiating the final approach from the northeast at a heading of 227.0° at 4 nautical miles and 1,330 feet above ground level, the aircraft demonstrated good positioning for the approach. However, the threshold height at a significant 81 feet above ground level was notably higher than the intended target, suggesting there may be a need for adjustments in the pre-flight or in-flight setup to improve vertical navigation.
In terms of groundspeed, the aircraft touched down at a speed of approximately 133 knots, which was only slightly above the target speed. While this is not considered excessive, it still represents a potential area for optimization to minimize wear and tear on the aircraft's landing gear and to reduce the risk of overrunning the runway.
On a positive note, the aircraft achieved a runway touchdown alignment that was perfectly aligned with the runway. Furthermore, the runway rollout alignment following the touchdown was also flawless, reflecting the pilot's skill and attention to detail.
However, the touchdown point itself was situated approximately 1,190 feet beyond the designated touchdown zone. This overshoot may be indicative of a slightly more aggressive descent or an unexpected deceleration factor in the landing, which could be addressed through adjustments to the landing configuration or further fine-tuning of the aircraft's flight profile.
Another important metric in this analysis is the touchdown speed of 125 knots, which is considered a touch too fast for ideal performance. As such, the pilot may consider making adjustments to the landing technique to facilitate a smoother and more controlled touchdown, particularly in relation to speed management.
Lastly, the local weather conditions during the landing, with a temperature of 82°F, likely played a factor in the aircraft's performance, but it appears that other factors such as navigation setup and landing technique contributed more to the outcome of the landing.
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