Events
Events
Events
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 · 14 stages, 13 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: six checks at the point nearest 500 ft above the runway after the base turn. 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 2,737 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 651 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
This flight involved a PA28 Arrow III aircraft, which took off from runway 30 at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Taxiing from the parking area to the runway was a quick process, taking less than a minute and covering a short distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The departure roll from runway 30 began with a relatively low takeoff distance, using just 25% of the runway at 689 meters. The liftoff speed was 85 knots.
The local weather conditions during the flight included a temperature of 16°C and a wind speed of 1 knot at 269°. As a result, the aircraft experienced a nearly negligible crosswind and headwind, both at 1 knot. The pilot then proceeded to follow a left-hand pattern, entry to the pattern from runway 30 taking less than 1 nautical mile in 159 seconds. The left-hand pattern crosswind was minimal, allowing the pilot to quickly make the turn, covering the distance in just 23 seconds.
The pilot then entered the downwind leg of the pattern, flying a distance of 3 nautical miles at a 45-degree angle to the runway, corresponding to an angle of 6.1 degrees. The downwind leg itself was short, lasting just 13 seconds and covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile.
After completing the downwind leg, the pilot began the final approach to runway 12, flying from a northwest direction at a heading of 121.0°. The aircraft was at an altitude of 631 feet above ground level when it was 2 nautical miles away from the runway.
The pilot landed the aircraft on runway 12, a runway with a length of 2,737 meters. The touchdown height was slightly above the target of 56 feet above ground level, but the touchdown speed was respectable at 57 knots. The touchdown rate was excellent, at -66 feet per minute. Unfortunately, the runway touchdown position was not perfectly aligned, being 5.7 meters off-center from the centerline.
The local weather conditions during landing included a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 1 knot at 270°, resulting in a very minimal crosswind and a tailwind of 1 knot. As a result, the total landing distance was 1,092 meters, or 40% of the runway's length. The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating a successful landing.
The total flight distance was relatively short, at just 6 nautical miles. The flight duration was 7 minutes, and the aircraft consumed a total of -105 kilograms of fuel, indicating that the flight was likely a training or practice exercise.
The reported aircraft landing was of a PA28 Arrow III with a remarkable score of 95.9%. The final approach to runway 12 at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, EGPK, was initiated from the north-west, heading 121.0° at 2 nautical miles (nm) and 631 feet above ground level (agl).
The landing was completed successfully, with a threshold height of 56 feet agl being slightly above the target. However, the threshold speed was significantly above the target at 82 knots (kt), indicating that the pilot possibly applied an excessive amount of power during the descent. Despite this, the touchdown speed of 57 kt was considered good, and the negative touchdown rate of -66 feet per minute (fpm) was classified as excellent.
During the landing, the touchdown point was located 211 meters beyond the designated touchdown zone, and the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 5.7 meters from the centerline. The local weather conditions at the time were characterized by a temperature of 15°C, with minimal wind at 1 kt from a direction of 270°. The crosswind and tailwind components were both around 1 kt, indicating that the wind had minimal effects on the landing.
The total landing distance covered by the aircraft was 1,092 meters, accounting for approximately 40% of the available runway length of 2,737 meters. Notably, the runway rollout alignment was considered very good, indicating a high degree of pilot control and a safe touchdown.
Overall, the landing was evaluated as being very successful, with the aircraft executing a precise approach and touchdown. Although there were some minor deviations from the target, the pilot's skills and control ensured a safe and smooth landing.
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