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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Avoid steep turns at low altitude
Below a thousand feet the aeroplane is slow, heavy and close to the ground. A steep turn loses lift, raises the stall speed and flattens the climb just when the gradient matters most. A normal turn on course is a rate one — fifteen degrees or so, twenty-five at the outside, this penalty is to acknowledge when a turn has stopped being a turn and become a manoeuvre.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 23 stages, 21 scored
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
One stabilised approach gate: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate was not assessed, because the approach did not join final that far out.
Side view — the last 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 8,690 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 2,062 ft past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the aircraft taxiing from the parking area to the runway, a process that took 3 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, then departed from runway 19 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA). The takeoff distance was 3,980 feet, which is 55% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 147 knots.
As the aircraft climbed to its cruising altitude, it encountered local weather conditions of 51°F temperature and a wind speed of 0 knots at 0 degrees. The aircraft climbed from 1,003 feet above sea level to 37,999 feet above sea level, an increase of 36,996 feet, in 20 minutes and covering 103 nautical miles. The climb started 1 mile north of Alexandria, Virginia, and the aircraft then leveled off for a short period before continuing its ascent.
The aircraft then began its descent from 37,977 feet above sea level to 27,004 feet above sea level, a decrease of 10,973 feet, in 11 minutes and covering 49 nautical miles. This descent started overhead W24 Falwell Airport Lynchburg, Virginia. The aircraft then leveled off again for a short period before continuing its descent.
The aircraft continued to descend from 26,572 feet above sea level to 6,310 feet above sea level, a decrease of 20,262 feet, in 21 minutes and covering 56 nautical miles. This descent started 2 miles south of VA12 Gravely Airport Martinsville, Virginia. The aircraft then leveled off again for a short period before continuing its descent.
The aircraft continued to descend from 6,003 feet above sea level to 2,657 feet above sea level, a decrease of 3,346 feet, in 9 minutes and covering 19 nautical miles. This descent started 1 mile southwest of KRUQ Mid-Carolina Regional Airport Salisbury, North Carolina. The aircraft then leveled off again for a short period before continuing its descent.
The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 18L at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT) from the north, heading 176.0 degrees at 4 nautical miles and 1,278 feet above ground level. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were 57°F temperature and a wind speed of 0 knots at 0 degrees.
The aircraft landed on runway 18L, which is 8,690 feet long. The touchdown point was 668 feet beyond the touchdown zone, and the touchdown speed was 122 knots, which was good. The touchdown rate was firm at -301 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was very good. The total landing distance was 3,526 feet, which is 41% of the runway length.
After landing, the aircraft taxied to the parking area, a process that took 3 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 292 nautical miles, and the flight took 89 minutes. The aircraft used 7,081 pounds of fuel during the flight.
The Airbus A320 successfully landed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT) on runway 18L, achieving a high score of 94.4%. The aircraft approached the runway from the north, heading 176.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,278 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot maintained a good threshold height, which is a critical aspect of a safe landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's threshold speed was recorded at 134 knots, which is within the acceptable range. The touchdown point was located 668 feet beyond the designated touchdown zone, but this is not considered a significant deviation. The touchdown speed of 122 knots was also within the acceptable range, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown rate of -301 feet per minute (fpm) was firm, suggesting a controlled and stable landing.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were favorable, with a temperature of 57°F and no wind. This made the landing process even smoother, as the aircraft was not affected by any crosswinds or headwinds. The total landing distance of 3,526 feet was 41% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance considering the aircraft's size and weight.
However, there was a slight deviation in the runway rollout alignment, with the aircraft being 28 feet off-centerline. While this is not a significant issue, it does indicate that the pilot may have needed to make some adjustments during the rollout phase to maintain alignment with the runway centerline. Overall, the landing was considered good, with the aircraft touching down safely and rolling out without any major issues.
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