Events
Events
Events
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Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern downwind leg
The 45-degrees-behind-the-wing cue assumes you can turn your head and use peripheral vision. Downwind spacing cues like "put the wingtip halfway up the strut" assume a fixed, known eyepoint. Neither survives a monitor unmodified. If you fly on a fixed monitor, stop pretending and fly a numbers-based circuit.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 13 stages, 12 scored
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 for a circuit: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. 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 2,114 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 322 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
This flight was conducted in a GA-8 Airvan Commuter aircraft, registered as N13AV. The aircraft taxied from the parking area to the runway in less than a minute, covering a distance of less than one nautical mile. The departure roll took place on runway 25 at EGNT Newcastle Airport, with a takeoff distance of 517 meters, which accounted for 24% of the runway's length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 84 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 2 knots from a direction of 270 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 1 knot and a headwind of 2 knots. The aircraft entered the left-hand pattern from runway 25, covering a distance of less than one nautical mile in 32 seconds. The subsequent left-hand pattern crosswind leg was completed in 20 seconds, with a distance of less than one nautical mile.
The aircraft then proceeded to the pattern downwind turn, which covered a distance of one nautical mile at an angle of 81.1 degrees to the runway. The downwind leg itself was 2 nautical miles long and took 64 seconds to complete. The base leg turn was another one nautical mile, with an angle of 13.2 degrees to the runway. The final approach to runway 25 was made from the north-east, with a heading of 244.0 degrees at an altitude of 222 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 25 was successful, with a threshold height that was considered good. The threshold speed was also good at 69 knots, and the touchdown distance was 320 meters. The touchdown speed was 48 knots, and the touchdown rate was smooth at -105 feet per minute. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 3 knots from a direction of 225 degrees, resulting in a crosswind of 1 knot and a headwind of 2 knots.
The total flight distance was 5 nautical miles, and the flight took 4 minutes to complete. Notably, the aircraft used zero kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The GA-8 Airvan Commuter N13AV successfully landed at EGNT Newcastle Airport, showcasing exceptional piloting skills and adherence to standard operating procedures. The aircraft approached the runway from the north east, aligning itself with the heading of 244.0° at a distance of 0 nm and an altitude of 222 ft above ground level (agl).
As the aircraft began its final approach, it demonstrated a high level of proficiency, with a smooth and controlled descent. The threshold height was well-maintained, and the threshold speed of 69 kt was achieved, indicating a well-executed approach. The touchdown distance of 320 m was also within acceptable limits, further emphasizing the pilot's skill and control.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft maintained a smooth rate of descent, with a rate of -105 fpm, which is considered ideal for a safe and controlled landing. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, indicating that the pilot had successfully aligned the aircraft with the runway centerline. This level of precision is crucial for a safe landing, as it minimizes the risk of veering off the runway or experiencing a loss of control.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 20 °C and a gentle wind of 3 kt at 225°. The crosswind component was minimal at 1 kt, and the headwind component was 2 kt, which is relatively light and would not have presented a significant challenge to the pilot. Overall, the landing of the GA-8 Airvan Commuter N13AV at EGNT Newcastle Airport was a textbook example of safe and controlled flight operations.
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