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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Shorten the long landing
Ground effect becomes significant below about one wingspan of height. A Cessna 172, with a 36 ft span, enters ground effect at flare height - the float it feels in the hold-off is ground effect arriving on cue. An A320, with a span around 117 ft, has been in ground effect since before the threshold and there is no sudden cushion to feel, only a gradual reduction in induced drag that lengthens any float you allow.
Read more in Flare TimingStart to finish · 18 stages, 16 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 1,671 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,671 m of the 2,560 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 933 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight in the Airbus A320 began with a 5-minute taxi from the parking area to runway 13C at KMDW Chicago Midway International Airport, covering a distance of 1 nm. The average taxi speed was 12 knots. The departure roll from the runway covered 73% of the runway's length, with a takeoff distance of 1,200 meters at a liftoff speed of 132 knots. The local weather at departure was 17°C with a wind speed of 1 knot at 269°, resulting in minimal crosswind and tailwind conditions.
During the departure climb, the aircraft ascended to 50 ft, 400 ft, and then 1,000 ft above the ground level. The enroute climb started over West Lawn (Illinois, United States), reaching a maximum altitude of 36,792 ft from an initial altitude of 1,721 ft, covering a distance of 136 nm in 20 minutes.
The level cruise phase commenced 1 mile northwest of Hillsdale (Michigan, United States) and lasted 53 minutes, covering a distance of 399 nm. The descent started over Yatesville (Pennsylvania, United States), descending from 37,016 ft to 684 ft over 21 minutes, covering 100 nm.
The final approach to runway 04R at KJFK John F Kennedy International Airport occurred from the southwest, with the aircraft at a height of 674 ft and an approaching speed of 31.0°. The touchdown on runway 04R had a good threshold height, speed, and rate, with a slight misalignment of 6.3 m from the centerline. The local weather at landing was 15°C with a wind speed of 1 knot at 270°, resulting in minimal crosswind and tailwind conditions.
The total landing distance covered was 1,584 m, equivalent to 62% of the runway length, with a very good runway rollout alignment after touchdown. The taxi from the runway to the parking area took 5 minutes, covering less than 1 nm. The total flight distance was 642 nm, taking 105 minutes and consuming 4,140 kg of fuel.
Overall, the aircraft landing score of 88.0% indicates a fairly successful landing, but there are areas that could be improved upon to achieve an even higher score.
Starting with the Approach Phase, it is commendable that the glideslope alignment was excellent and that the threshold speed of 132 knots was good. This shows a good level of control and precision during the final approach to the runway.
Moving on to the Landing Phase, while the threshold height was good, it is noted that there was a very poor landing flare. The landing flare is crucial in ensuring a smooth touchdown and minimizing the impact on the aircraft. Improving this aspect of the landing technique could lead to a much smoother touchdown.
In the Touchdown Phase, it is positive to see that the touchdown rate was good at -167 ft/m and that the touchdown speed of 118 knots was also good. However, it is concerning that the touchdown point was 511 meters beyond the touchdown zone. Additionally, the slight misalignment of the runway touchdown position by 6.3 meters from the centerline is something that should be addressed to ensure the aircraft lands accurately on the runway.
To improve the overall landing score, focus on refining the landing flare technique to ensure a smoother touchdown, and work on better alignment and positioning during the touchdown phase to land squarely within the designated touchdown zone. With continued practice and attention to these areas, you can strive for a more precise and controlled landing in the future. Keep up the good work and aim for incremental improvements to achieve a higher landing score in your future flights.
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