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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 · 17 stages, 15 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: seven 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.
At the 500 ft gate: gear still up and speed above the reference speed.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,487 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,487 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 23 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with a departure roll from runway 36R at RJCJ JASDF Chitose Air Base. The Airbus A320 took off with a takeoff distance of 1,214 meters, which accounted for 41% of the runway. The liftoff speed was 167 knots, and the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from 270 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and headwind.
As the aircraft climbed out of Chitose Air Base, it began its enroute climb, reaching an altitude of 6,390 feet above sea level in just 1 minute, covering a distance of 4 nautical miles. The climb was followed by a descent, which started 3 miles north of Chitose, and the aircraft descended from 6,703 feet to 902 feet in 3 minutes, covering 15 nautical miles. This pattern of climb and descent continued as the aircraft flew over various locations in Hokkaido, Japan, including Ebetsu and Ishikari.
The final approach to runway 14 at RJCO Sapporo Okadama Airport was initiated from the north-west, with the aircraft heading 134.0 degrees at 4 nautical miles and 729 feet above ground level. The landing was made on a runway with a length of 1,487 meters, and the threshold height was good. However, the threshold speed was slightly above the target at 141 knots, and the touchdown speed was also fast at 141 knots. The touchdown rate was hard at -467 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 3.2 meters from the centerline.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a wind speed of 1 knot from 269 degrees, resulting in a negligible crosswind and a tailwind of 1 knot. The total landing distance was 793 meters, which accounted for 53% of the runway. The runway rollout alignment was very good, and the total flight distance was 45 nautical miles, taking 12 minutes to complete. The flight used 21 kilograms of fuel.
The Airbus A320 successfully landed at RJCO Sapporo Okadama Airport, achieving a score of 93.3%. The aircraft approached the runway from the northwest, heading 134.0° at 4 nautical miles and 729 feet above ground level (agl). The final approach was executed with good control, and the aircraft landed safely on runway 14, which has a length of 1,487 meters.
The threshold height was satisfactory, but the threshold speed was slightly above the target at 141 knots. This may indicate a slight overcorrection by the pilots, but it did not significantly impact the overall landing performance. The touchdown distance was good, measuring 23 meters, which is within the acceptable range. However, the touchdown speed of 141 knots was slightly faster than desired, resulting in a hard touchdown rate of -467 feet per minute (fpm).
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 3.2 meters, which may be attributed to a minor deviation in the pilots' control inputs. The local weather conditions were favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a negligible wind speed of 1 knot from 269°. This resulted in a minimal crosswind and tailwind effect, which did not significantly impact the landing performance.
The total landing distance was 793 meters, which accounts for 53% of the runway length. This is a relatively short landing distance, indicating that the pilots executed a smooth and controlled approach. The runway rollout alignment was excellent, demonstrating the pilots' ability to maintain control and stability during the landing phase.
Overall, the Airbus A320's landing at RJCO Sapporo Okadama Airport was satisfactory, with a score of 93.3%. While there were minor deviations in the touchdown speed and runway alignment, the pilots' overall performance was commendable, and the aircraft landed safely within the acceptable parameters.
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