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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 · 15 stages, 13 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 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,771 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 598 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 area to the runway, which took 6 minutes and covered less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft, an Airbus A321, then departed from runway 34 at Wellington International Airport (NZWN). The takeoff distance was 989 meters, which accounted for 55% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 137 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of departure were characterized by a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 12 knots at a direction of 10 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 2 knots and a headwind of 12 knots. The aircraft successfully took off and began its enroute climb, which started overhead SB14 Wellington. The climb involved an increase in altitude from 1,012 feet above sea level to 36,514 feet above sea level, a total increase of 35,502 feet, over a distance of 124 nautical miles, and took 22 minutes to complete.
Following the enroute climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, which started 14 miles south of Cheviot in Canterbury, New Zealand. This phase lasted for 18 minutes and covered a distance of 146 nautical miles. The aircraft then began its enroute descent, which started 15 miles southeast of Pukaki Airport in Canterbury, New Zealand. The descent involved a decrease in altitude from 36,360 feet above sea level to 1,488 feet above sea level, a total decrease of 34,872 feet, over a distance of 83 nautical miles, and took 23 minutes to complete.
The final approach to runway 05 at Queenstown International Airport (NZQN) was made from the west, with a heading of 78.0 degrees at 1 nautical mile and 312 feet above ground level. The landing was successful, with a touchdown point 184 meters beyond the touchdown zone. The touchdown speed was 139 knots, which was a little fast, but the touchdown rate was perfect at -36 feet per minute. The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 4.4 meters from the centerline.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 19 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 17 knots at a direction of 20 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 14 knots and a headwind of 9 knots. The total landing distance was 1,366 meters, which accounted for 77% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was very good, and the aircraft was able to taxi to the parking area in less than 1 minute, covering less than 1 nautical mile.
The total flight distance was 357 nautical miles, and the flight took 71 minutes to complete. The aircraft used 3,302 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The Airbus A321 aircraft successfully landed at Queenstown International Airport (NZQN) with a score of 95.2%. The final approach was conducted from the west, heading 78.0° at 1 nautical mile and 312 feet above ground level (agl). The aircraft touched down on runway 05, which has a length of 1,771 meters.
The threshold height was satisfactory, and the threshold speed was well above the target at 148 knots. However, the touchdown point was 184 meters beyond the touchdown zone, indicating that the aircraft landed slightly further down the runway than intended. The touchdown speed of 139 knots was a little fast, but the touchdown rate of -36 feet per minute (fpm) was perfect, indicating a smooth and controlled descent.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 4.4 meters from the centerline, which may have been due to the crosswind component of 14 knots. The local weather conditions were moderate, with a temperature of 19°C, wind speed of 17 knots at 20°, and a crosswind of 14 knots and headwind of 9 knots.
The total landing distance was 1,366 meters, which is 77% of the runway length. This indicates that the aircraft had sufficient runway remaining for a safe stop. The runway rollout alignment was very good, suggesting that the pilot maintained control of the aircraft during the rollout phase.
Overall, the landing was satisfactory, with some minor deviations from the ideal touchdown point and speed. However, the pilot's skills and the aircraft's performance ensured a safe and controlled landing.
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