Events
Events
Events
Events
MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the pattern downwind leg
The 45-degrees-behind-the-wing cue assumes you can turn your head and use peripheral vision. Downwind spacing cues like "put the wingtip halfway up the strut" assume a fixed, known eyepoint. Neither survives a monitor unmodified. If you fly on a fixed monitor, stop pretending and fly a numbers-based circuit.
Read more in Pattern WorkStart to finish · 17 stages, 16 scored
Events
Events
Events
Events
One stabilised approach gate for a circuit: five checks where the approach path is 500 ft above the runway. The 1,000 ft gate is an instrument-approach check and does not apply.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,737 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 314 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began with the aircraft, a GA-8 Airvan CAP Commuter, taxiing from the parking area to the runway at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport. This process took less than a minute and covered a distance of less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft then departed from runway 30, with a takeoff distance of 380 meters, which is 14% of the runway's total length. The liftoff speed was 78 knots.
The local weather conditions at the time of takeoff were characterized by a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 3 knots from a direction of 270°. This resulted in a crosswind of 2 knots and a headwind of 3 knots. The aircraft entered a right-hand pattern from runway 30, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 21 seconds. The pattern crosswind from runway 30 was also a right-hand turn, which was completed in less than 1 nautical mile in 8 seconds.
The aircraft then proceeded to the downwind turn, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile and making an angle of 121.8° to the runway. The downwind leg itself was 2 nautical miles long and took 83 seconds to complete. The base leg turn was another right-hand turn, covering a distance of 2 nautical miles and making an angle of 28.4° to the runway. The base leg was less than 1 nautical mile long and took 11 seconds to complete.
The final turn was a right-hand turn, covering a distance of less than 1 nautical mile in 32 seconds. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 30 from the south-east, heading 305.0° at an altitude of 501 feet above ground level and a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway.
The landing on runway 30 was successful, with a touchdown distance of 312 meters and a touchdown speed of 57 knots. The touchdown rate was perfect at -47 feet per minute, and the runway touchdown alignment was very good. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 20°C and a wind speed of 3 knots from a direction of 230°, resulting in a crosswind of 3 knots and a headwind of 1 knot.
The total landing distance was 771 meters, which is 28% of the runway's total length. The runway rollout alignment was also very good. The total flight distance was 6 nautical miles, and the flight took 12 minutes to complete. Notably, the aircraft used 0 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The GA-8 Airvan CAP Commuter successfully landed at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport, achieving a high score of 95.3%. The aircraft approached the runway from the south east, heading 305.0° at 1 nautical mile and 501 feet above ground level (agl). This indicates a precise and controlled approach, setting the stage for a smooth landing.
Upon landing, the aircraft touched down on runway 30, which has a length of 2,737 meters. The threshold height was good, suggesting that the aircraft was at the correct altitude as it approached the runway. The threshold speed of 69 knots was also met, demonstrating the pilot's ability to manage the aircraft's speed during the landing phase.
The touchdown distance of 312 meters was considered good, indicating that the aircraft was able to slow down effectively and maintain control during the landing process. The touchdown speed of 57 knots was also within the acceptable range, further emphasizing the pilot's skill in managing the aircraft's speed. The touchdown rate of -47 feet per minute (fpm) was perfect, suggesting that the aircraft was able to touch down smoothly and without any significant deceleration.
The runway touchdown alignment was very good, indicating that the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway as it touched down. This is an important aspect of landing, as it helps to ensure that the aircraft remains stable and under control during the rollout phase.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were favorable, with a temperature of 20°C and a wind speed of 3 knots from 230°. The crosswind component was 3 knots, while the headwind component was 1 knot. These conditions were well within the acceptable range for a safe landing, and the pilot was able to manage the aircraft effectively despite the presence of some wind.
The total landing distance of 771 meters was 28% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance. This suggests that the aircraft was able to slow down effectively and maintain control during the landing process. The runway rollout alignment was also very good, indicating that the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway as it rolled out after touchdown.
Overall, the landing of the GA-8 Airvan CAP Commuter at EGPK Glasgow Prestwick Airport was a success, with the aircraft achieving a high score of 95.3%. The pilot's skill and experience were evident throughout the landing process, and the aircraft was able to touch down smoothly and maintain control during the rollout phase.
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