Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern base leg
Bank angle in the pattern is conventionally kept to 20 to 30 degrees, and the base-to-final turn is where that convention earns its keep. Stall speed rises with bank because the wing must produce more lift in a turn. Roughly 7 per cent higher at 30 degrees, about 19 per cent at 45, and around 40 per cent at 60. At 65 kt on base you don't have much margin to spend steepening a turn to salvage an overshoot.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 15 stages, 14 scored
Events
Events
Events
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: six checks at the point nearest 500 ft above the runway after the base turn. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,814 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 199 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a quick taxi from the parking area to the runway, taking less than a minute and covering a distance of less than a nautical mile. The aircraft, a DA40-NG, then departed from runway 23 at EGPE Inverness Airport, with a takeoff distance of 417 meters, which was 23% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 69 knots, and the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from 270 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and headwind.
As the aircraft entered the left-hand pattern from runway 23, it covered a distance of less than a nautical mile in 18 seconds. The subsequent left-hand pattern crosswind leg took 23 seconds to complete, also covering a distance of less than a nautical mile. The pattern downwind turn was made at an angle of 71.5 degrees to the runway, with a distance of 1 nautical mile. The downwind leg itself was 2 nautical miles long and took 79 seconds to complete.
The pattern base leg turn was made at an angle of 36.0 degrees to the runway, with a distance of 1 nautical mile. The base leg itself was less than a nautical mile long and took 27 seconds to complete. The final turn was made in just 10 seconds, covering a distance of less than a nautical mile. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 23 from the north-east, heading 228.0 degrees at an altitude of 233 feet above ground level and a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing on runway 23 was smooth and controlled, with a touchdown distance of 198 meters and a touchdown speed of 58 knots. The touchdown rate was -142 feet per minute, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The runway touchdown alignment was very good, and the local weather conditions remained the same, with a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from 270 degrees.
The total flight distance was 6 nautical miles, and the flight took 5 minutes to complete. The aircraft used 1 kilogram of fuel during the flight. Overall, the flight was characterized by smooth and controlled operations, with good adherence to standard procedures and a safe and efficient completion of the flight.
The DA40-NG aircraft successfully landed at EGPE Inverness Airport, showcasing exceptional piloting skills and adherence to standard operating procedures. The final approach to runway 23 was initiated from the north east, with the aircraft heading 228.0° at a distance of 1 nautical mile and an altitude of 233 feet above ground level (agl).
The landing was executed with precision, with the aircraft touching down on the runway at a speed of 58 knots, which is well within the acceptable threshold speed of 69 knots. The touchdown distance of 198 meters was also satisfactory, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown rate of -142 feet per minute (fpm) was particularly noteworthy, as it demonstrated a gentle and stable landing.
The runway touchdown alignment was very good, indicating that the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway centerline at the moment of touchdown. This is a critical aspect of safe landing, as it helps to prevent the aircraft from veering off the runway or experiencing a loss of directional control.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 1 knot from 270°. This resulted in a negligible crosswind and headwind component, making the landing even more challenging and impressive. The pilots' ability to navigate the aircraft safely and smoothly in these conditions is a testament to their skill and experience.
Overall, the DA40-NG aircraft's landing at EGPE Inverness Airport was a textbook example of safe and controlled flight operations. The pilots' attention to detail, adherence to standard procedures, and exceptional piloting skills all contributed to a successful and incident-free landing.
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