Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
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 · 13 stages, 11 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
Events
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 5,000 ft of the approach.
Plan view — the first 5,000 ft of the 9,456 ft runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 921 ft 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 05 at KSFZ North Central State Airport. The aircraft, a PA34T Seneca V, accelerated down the runway and lifted off at a speed of 94 knots. The takeoff distance was 1,259 feet, which is 25% of the runway length. The local weather conditions at the time of departure were a temperature of 20°F and a wind speed of 14 knots from a direction of 310°, resulting in a 14-knot crosswind and a 2-knot headwind.
As the aircraft climbed away from the airport, it began its enroute climb, which started overhead KSFZ North Central State Airport in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The climb took the aircraft from an altitude of 1,390 feet above sea level to 3,543 feet above sea level, an increase of 2,153 feet in just 2 minutes, covering a distance of 5 nautical miles.
The enroute level cruise phase of the flight began 1 mile east of Valley Falls, Rhode Island, and lasted for 11 minutes, during which the aircraft covered a distance of 32 nautical miles. Following this, the enroute descent phase started 1 mile northwest of Onset, Massachusetts, and took the aircraft from an altitude of 3,109 feet above sea level to 216 feet above sea level, a decrease of 2,893 feet in just 4 minutes, covering a distance of 8 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway 14 at KFMH Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station was made from the northwest, heading 127.0° at an altitude of 87 feet above ground level. The landing was made on the runway, which had a length of 9,456 feet. The threshold height was good, and the threshold speed was slightly above the target speed of 98 knots. The touchdown distance was good at 921 feet, and the touchdown speed was 85 knots, which was slightly fast. The touchdown rate was good at -164 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was perfect.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were a temperature of 21°F and a wind speed of 6 knots from a direction of 320°, resulting in a 1-knot crosswind and a 5-knot tailwind. The total landing distance was 2,231 feet, which is 24% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was very good. The total flight distance was 46 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 19 minutes. The aircraft used 51 pounds of fuel during the flight.
The PA34T Seneca V aircraft successfully landed at KFMH Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station, achieving a score of 97.4%. The final approach was conducted from the north-west, heading 127.0° at an altitude of 87 feet above ground level (agl) and 0 nautical miles from the runway. The aircraft was on a precise course for a smooth landing on runway 14, which has a length of 9,456 feet.
The threshold height was good, indicating that the aircraft was at the correct altitude as it approached the runway. However, the threshold speed was slightly above the target speed of 98 knots, which may have been due to the aircraft's descent rate or the pilot's decision to maintain a higher speed for a more stable approach. The touchdown distance of 921 feet was within acceptable limits, demonstrating the pilot's ability to control the aircraft's descent and maintain a stable approach.
Despite the slightly high threshold speed, the touchdown speed of 85 knots was faster than the target speed, which may have resulted in a slightly longer rollout distance. However, the touchdown rate of -164 feet per minute (fpm) was good, indicating that the aircraft was able to touch down smoothly and maintain control. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, demonstrating the pilot's skill and attention to detail.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were characterized by a temperature of 21°F and a wind speed of 6 knots from 320°. The crosswind component was minimal at 1 knot, while the tailwind component was 5 knots. These conditions were favorable for the landing, and the pilot was able to maintain control of the aircraft throughout the approach and touchdown.
The total landing distance of 2,231 feet was 24% of the runway length, which is within acceptable limits. The runway rollout alignment was very good, indicating that the pilot was able to maintain control of the aircraft during the rollout and bring it to a stop safely. Overall, the landing was successful, and the pilot demonstrated a high level of skill and proficiency in conducting a safe and controlled landing.
Scroll or drag the slider to zoom · double-click to reset · hover for values