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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Fixing the bounce
Fast at the threshold, normal flare, and the runway seems to refuse the aircraft. The instinctive fix - pushing it on - causes the next one. A fast aircraft forced onto the runway touches nosewheel-first or nearly so. The tell is a touchdown that feels soft followed by a bounce that steepens. Pilots fix the bounce recovery; the cause was the 10 knots at the threshold.
Read more in VRef ExplainedStart to finish · 16 stages, 14 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 five checks, where the approach path is 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
At the 1,000 ft gate: sink rate above what the glideslope needed, off the runway's 3° glideslope and off the centreline.
At the 500 ft gate: off the runway's 3° glideslope and off the centreline.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,524 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 325 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the aircraft, a Cessna Skyhawk, being taxiied from its parking spot to the runway, which took only 1 minute and covered less than a nautical mile. It then departed from runway 20 at LGKC Kithira Airport, located on the island of Kithira. The takeoff distance required was 638 meters, which is 44% of the total length of the runway. The Cessna lifted off at a speed of 68 knots.
Under the local weather conditions at the time, with a temperature of 16 °C and winds of 2 knots at 269 °, the aircraft climbed steadily. Climbing to an altitude of 3,279 feet above sea level, an increase of 1,727 feet from the initial altitude of 1,552 feet asl, the aircraft covered 5 nautical miles while taking 3 minutes. After this initial climb, the aircraft then began to cruise at a steady altitude.
Enroute cruise started after the climb, at a point 6 miles west of the departure airport. The flight remained in level cruise mode for 8618 minutes, which is equivalent to nearly a day and a half. During this time, the aircraft covered an impressive 250 nautical miles.
However, the flight did not remain at a steady state. Enroute descent began 90 miles south east of Monasterace in Calabria, Italy, where the aircraft started to descend from its cruising altitude of 3,131 feet asl to a lower altitude of 1,722 feet asl. This descent took only 2 minutes and covered a short distance of 2 nautical miles.
As the aircraft continued its descent, it entered the final approach phase, where it prepared for landing. This final approach began 86 miles south east of Monasterace and occurred within a relatively small distance of 1 nautical mile.
During the final approach, the aircraft was at an altitude of 1,706 feet above ground level, before starting its descent to 44 feet agl. This small descent took only 10 seconds and brought the aircraft into the landing configuration. Eventually, the aircraft touched down safely at 86 miles south east of Monasterace, landing at a speed of 50 knots. The touchdown was also reported to be smooth, with a rate of -140 feet per minute.
The total flight duration was 171 minutes, covering a distance of 261 nautical miles. To fuel the aircraft and power its systems throughout the flight, it used 117 kilograms of fuel.
The given report details a successful landing operation of the Cessna Skyhawk aircraft in challenging conditions. The final approach took place 86 miles southeast of Monasterace in Calabria, Italy, with the aircraft descending from an altitude of 1,706 feet above ground level (agl) to make a safe touchdown.
The pilots demonstrated exceptional skill in controlling the aircraft's rate of descent, decreasing from 1,706 ft agl to just 44 ft agl in a very short period, specifically within 10 seconds. This rapid descent indicates a high level of proficiency in managing the aircraft's altitude, which is essential for a smooth landing. Furthermore, the touchdown speed of 50 knots was reported to be good, suggesting that the pilots maintained control of the aircraft throughout the descent and maintained an optimal airspeed for touchdown.
In addition to the pilots' skillful handling of the aircraft, the local weather conditions played a significant role in the successful landing. The temperature was a relatively cool 15 °C, while the wind was reported to be very light at 2 knots, coming from 270 °. However, it's essential to note that there was a slight crosswind component of 1 kt, while the wind was also providing a moderate headwind of 2 kt. Despite these challenging wind conditions, the pilots were able to navigate the aircraft through the landing safely, achieving a smooth touchdown rate of -140 feet per minute (fpm).
The reported touchdown point was slightly beyond the expected touchdown zone, with a distance of 261 meters being recorded. While this is not ideal, it did not appear to cause any issues during the landing operation. Overall, this landing operation demonstrates the expertise of the pilots and their ability to handle the Cessna Skyhawk in a variety of conditions.
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