Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Know your rotation speed
A typical trainer rotates in the mid-50s of knots - a 172 at around 55 KIAS, climbing out at a Vy in the low 70s, though check your own POH rather than memorising Cessna's numbers - and the transferable rule is that Vr sits just above the stall speed in takeoff configuration. Rotate early because "it felt ready" and the aircraft lifts off inside ground effect, where induced drag is reduced, then climbs out of it into more drag. On a marginal-performance day the result is an aircraft that lifts off and then refuses to climb, sagging back towards the runway.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 18 stages, 16 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
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 8,497 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 1,961 ft past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a taxiing period from the parking to the runway, which took 30 minutes and covered a distance of 4 nautical miles. The aircraft, a TBM 930, then departed from runway 32R at KMWH Grant County International Airport. The takeoff distance was 2,217 meters, which accounted for 54% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 163 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 1 °C, with a wind speed of 4 knots at a direction of 130°. This resulted in a crosswind of 2 knots and a tailwind of 3 knots. The aircraft then began its enroute climb, starting 2 miles north of KMWH Grant County International Airport. The climb took place from an altitude of 2,218 feet above sea level to 7,592 feet above sea level, an increase of 5,374 feet in 8 minutes, covering a distance of 25 nautical miles.
Following the enroute climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, which started 9 miles east of Rock Island, Washington. This phase lasted for 24 minutes and covered a distance of 91 nautical miles. The enroute descent then began 1 mile south-east of Lea Hill, Washington, and took the aircraft from an altitude of 6,273 feet above sea level to 1,971 feet above sea level, a decrease of 4,302 feet in 7 minutes, covering a distance of 8 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 34L at KSEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport was made from the south, with a heading of 9.0° at an altitude of 1,548 feet above ground level, 4 nautical miles from the runway. The landing was made on runway 34L, which had a length of 2,590 meters. The threshold height was good, and the threshold speed was a little below the target at 74 knots.
The touchdown point was 161 meters beyond the touchdown zone, with a touchdown speed of 68 knots, which was considered good. The touchdown rate was firm at -370 feet per minute. However, the runway touchdown position was misaligned by 15.2 meters from the centreline. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 6 °C, with a wind speed of 9 knots at a direction of 140°. This resulted in a crosswind of 6 knots and a tailwind of 7 knots.
The total landing distance was 1,184 meters, which accounted for 46% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was also misaligned by 18.1 meters from the centreline. The taxiing period from the runway to the parking took 13 minutes and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 136 nautical miles, taking a total of 54 minutes, and the aircraft used 211 kilograms of fuel.
The TBM 930 aircraft successfully landed on runway 34L at KSEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, achieving an overall score of 83.3%. The final approach was initiated from the south, heading 9.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,548 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft maintained a good threshold height, which is a crucial aspect of a safe landing.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's speed was slightly below the target threshold speed of 74 knots, registering at 74 kn. The touchdown point was located 161 meters beyond the designated touchdown zone, which indicates a slight deviation from the intended landing spot. However, the touchdown speed of 68 kn was within the acceptable range, and the touchdown rate of -370 feet per minute (fpm) was firm, indicating a controlled descent.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 6°C and wind speeds of 9 knots at 140°. The crosswind component was 6 kn, while the tailwind component was 7 kn. These conditions did not appear to significantly impact the landing, as the aircraft maintained control throughout the approach and touchdown.
The total landing distance of 1,184 meters was 46% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance considering the aircraft's size and weight. However, the runway rollout alignment was misaligned by 18.1 meters from the centerline, indicating a slight deviation from the intended path. This misalignment may have been caused by the aircraft's initial touchdown point being beyond the designated touchdown zone.
Overall, the landing was successful, and the aircraft's performance was satisfactory given the weather conditions and the runway characteristics. However, there is room for improvement in terms of maintaining a more accurate touchdown point and aligning the runway rollout with the centerline.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values