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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 · 18 stages, 16 scored
Events
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Events
Events
Events
Two stabilised approach gates, each with six checks at 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,545 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,545 m of the 2,310 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 378 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
Departing from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, the Airbus A321 began its journey by taxiing from the parking area to the runway, a process that took approximately 9 minutes and covered a distance of 2 nautical miles. As the aircraft lined up on runway 18L, the local weather conditions were characterized by a temperature of 35 °C and a wind speed of 15 knots from a direction of 180°, resulting in a 15-knot headwind. The takeoff roll commenced, and the aircraft lifted off the ground at a speed of 175 knots, utilizing 55% of the available runway length of 2,259 meters.
As the aircraft transitioned into the enroute climb phase, it began to ascend from an initial altitude of 1,635 feet above sea level to a cruising altitude of 35,355 feet, a vertical increase of 33,720 feet. This climb phase, which lasted 13 minutes and covered a distance of 139 nautical miles, was initiated 1 mile south of the departure airport. Following the climb, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, during which it maintained a steady altitude and airspeed for 31 minutes, covering a distance of 772 nautical miles. The cruise phase concluded 1 mile west of the Portlock Airfield, and the aircraft subsequently began its enroute descent phase.
As the aircraft descended from a cruising altitude of 36,027 feet to an initial approach altitude of 1,559 feet, it covered a distance of 123 nautical miles in 17 minutes. The final approach to runway 27 at San Diego International Airport was conducted from the east, with the aircraft aligning with the runway at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,527 feet above ground level. The landing was executed with a threshold speed of 141 knots and a touchdown distance of 379 meters, which represented 63% of the available runway length. The aircraft utilized a total of 7,327 kilograms of fuel to complete the 1,044-nautical-mile journey, which lasted 72 minutes.
The aircraft touched down on runway 27 at KSAN San Diego International Airport with a good threshold height, allowing for a smooth transition from the approach to the touchdown phase. The threshold speed of 141 kt was well within the acceptable range, indicating a well-executed approach. The aircraft's descent was controlled, resulting in a touchdown distance of 379 m, which was within the expected parameters.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft's speed of 135 kt was slightly above the ideal range, but the touchdown rate of -193 fpm was good, indicating a controlled deceleration. The runway touchdown alignment was perfect, with the aircraft centered on the runway. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of 22 °C and a gentle headwind of 4 kt, contributed to a stable and predictable approach.
The aircraft's rollout was characterized by very good alignment, with the aircraft remaining centered on the runway. The total landing distance of 1,461 m, which accounted for 63% of the runway length, was within the acceptable range. Overall, the landing was executed with high precision, resulting in a score of 99.4%. The approach quality, touchdown characteristics, and rollout performance all contributed to a successful landing.
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