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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 · 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.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,442 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 633 m 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 3 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, a TBM 850, then departed from runway 07 at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, with a takeoff distance of 621 meters, which was 51% of the runway length. The liftoff speed was 109 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 29 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 13 knots at a direction of 60 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 0 knots and a headwind of 13 knots. The aircraft then began its enroute climb, starting 2 miles northeast of the airport, and climbed from an altitude of 1,008 feet above sea level to 8,272 feet above sea level, an increase of 7,264 feet, in 5 minutes and covering 13 nautical miles.
The enroute level cruise started 6 miles north of Cruz Bay, Saint John Island, and lasted 12 minutes, covering 49 nautical miles. The aircraft then began its enroute descent, starting 1 mile north of Fajardo Harbor Seaplane Base, and descended from 8,255 feet above sea level to 1,336 feet above sea level, a decrease of 6,918 feet, in 8 minutes and covering 29 nautical miles. The enroute level cruise started again 1 mile east of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and lasted 2 minutes, covering 4 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 10 at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport was made from the west, heading 90 degrees, at 4 nautical miles and 1,090 feet above ground level. The landing on runway 10 was characterized by a threshold height that was slightly above the target, and a threshold speed that was too high at 83 knots. The touchdown point was 197 meters beyond the touchdown zone, with a touchdown speed of 72 knots, which was fast, and a touchdown rate of -182 feet per minute, which was good.
The runway touchdown position was misaligned by 9.9 meters from the centreline, and the runway rollout alignment was slightly misaligned by 8.6 meters from the centreline. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 9 knots at a direction of 120 degrees, resulting in a crosswind of 4 knots and a headwind of 7 knots.
The total landing distance was 758 meters, which was 31% of the runway length. The taxiing period from the runway to the parking took 4 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The total flight distance was 102 nautical miles, taking 39 minutes, and the aircraft used 99 kilograms of fuel.
The TBM 850 aircraft successfully landed at TJSJ Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, but with some notable deviations from the ideal landing parameters. The final approach was initiated from the west, heading 90.0° at 4 nautical miles and 1,090 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft touched down on runway 10, which has a length of 2,442 meters.
The threshold height at 57 feet agl was slightly above the target, indicating that the aircraft may have been slightly high on its approach. Additionally, the threshold speed was too high at 83 knots, suggesting that the pilot may have been unable to slow the aircraft down sufficiently before touchdown. The touchdown point was 197 meters beyond the touchdown zone, which is a significant deviation from the ideal landing spot.
The touchdown speed of 72 knots was also faster than the ideal speed, which could have contributed to the aircraft's distance from the touchdown zone. However, the touchdown rate of -182 feet per minute (fpm) was good, indicating that the aircraft was able to slow down quickly and safely after touchdown.
The runway touchdown position was misaligned by 9.9 meters from the centerline, which could have made the landing more challenging for the pilot. The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 28°C and a wind speed of 9 knots at 120°. The crosswind component was 4 knots, while the headwind component was 7 knots.
The total landing distance of 758 meters was 31% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance. However, the runway rollout alignment was slightly misaligned by 8.6 meters from the centerline, which could have made the landing more challenging for the pilot.
Overall, while the TBM 850 aircraft successfully landed at TJSJ Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, there were several deviations from the ideal landing parameters. The pilot may have been able to improve the landing by slowing the aircraft down more quickly before touchdown and aligning the aircraft more closely with the centerline of the runway.
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