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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Maintain the centreline
A small uncorrected heading error at 40 knots becomes a metre of offset per second by 100 knots, noticed only at rotation, producing a crabbed liftoff. Root cause is nearly always eyes on the tape instead of the far end of the runway. Small heading changes displace a distant point visibly long before the nearby centreline stripes look wrong.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 19 stages, 17 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 1,320 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,320 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 238 m touchdown sits inside 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 28 minutes and covered a distance of 3 nautical miles. The aircraft, a PA28 Warrior II, was then cleared for departure roll from runway 30 at KSMX Santa Maria Public Airport, also known as Captain G Allan Hancock Field. The takeoff distance was 387 meters, which accounted for 16% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 70 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 7 degrees Celsius, with a wind speed of 7 knots blowing from 180 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 5 knots and a tailwind of 5 knots. After a successful takeoff, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, which started overhead KSMX Santa Maria Public Airport. This phase lasted for 17 minutes and covered a distance of 3 nautical miles.
The enroute climb phase began 1 mile south east of Santa Maria, California, and involved a climb from 1,652 feet above sea level to 6,627 feet above sea level, an increase of 4,974 feet in 11 minutes. This climb covered a distance of 17 nautical miles. Following the climb, the aircraft entered another level cruise phase, which started 16 miles south of KLOS Lost Hills Airport. This phase lasted for 52 minutes and covered a distance of 38 nautical miles.
As the aircraft approached its destination, it began its descent phase, which started 4 miles east of L62 Elk Hills-Buttonwillow Airport. The descent involved a decrease from 7,337 feet above sea level to 684 feet above sea level, a decrease of 6,654 feet in 13 minutes. This descent covered a distance of 18 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 30L at KBFL Meadows Field was made from the south east, with a heading of 321.0 degrees at 1 nautical mile and 195 feet above ground level. However, a go-around was initiated at 56 feet above ground level. The aircraft then landed successfully on runway 30L, with a runway length of 1,320 meters. The threshold height was good, and the threshold speed was 63 knots.
The touchdown distance was 235 meters, and the touchdown speed was 56 knots, both of which were considered good. The touchdown rate was also good at -153 feet per minute. However, the runway touchdown position was misaligned by 13.9 meters from the centerline. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 13 degrees Celsius, with a wind speed of 5 knots blowing from 319 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 0 knots and a headwind of 5 knots.
The total landing distance was 305 meters, which accounted for 23% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was slightly misaligned by 13.9 meters from the centerline. After landing, the aircraft taxied to the parking, which took 5 minutes and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 83 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 68 minutes. The aircraft used 18 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The PA28 Warrior II aircraft successfully landed at KBFL Meadows Field, achieving a score of 89.6%. The final approach was conducted from the south east, heading 321.0° at 1 nm and 195 ft above ground level (agl). The aircraft touched down on runway 30L, which has a length of 1,320 meters.
The pilot demonstrated good control during the landing, achieving a threshold height and speed that met the required standards. The threshold speed was maintained at 63 knots, and the touchdown distance was within the acceptable range at 235 meters. The touchdown speed of 56 knots was also satisfactory, and the touchdown rate of -153 feet per minute (fpm) was within the desired parameters.
However, there were some minor issues during the landing. The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centreline by 13.9 meters, which may have been due to a slight deviation in the pilot's alignment during the approach. Additionally, the runway rollout alignment was also slightly misaligned from the centreline by the same distance.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were relatively calm, with a temperature of 13°C and a wind speed of 5 knots from 319°. This resulted in a negligible crosswind component and a headwind of 5 knots, which may have contributed to the slight misalignment during the rollout.
Overall, the pilot demonstrated good control and technique during the landing, but there is room for improvement in terms of alignment and precision. With some adjustments to the approach and rollout, the pilot can aim to achieve a higher score and improve the overall quality of the landing.
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