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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Keep the approach speed on target
Every knot above Vref is stored kinetic energy, and energy stored at the threshold must be dissipated in ground effect before the aeroplane will stop flying. Because kinetic energy scales with the square of speed, the excess you must dissipate grows fast. At a 45-knot approach, five knots hot is over a tenth more speed and roughly a quarter more energy to get rid of in ground effect. This is why the fix is never in the flare. It was decided three miles earlier, on final, at the airspeed indicator.
Read more in Bush Flying 101Start to finish · 21 stages, 20 scored
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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 1,119 m of the approach.
Plan view — the full 1,119 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 630 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight began at Perth Jandakot Airport, where the aircraft, a Beechcraft Baron G58, departed from runway 06L. The aircraft started its takeoff roll, covering 403 meters, or 36% of the runway's length, before lifting off at a speed of 94 knots. The temperature was 15°C, and a gentle tailwind of 5 knots and a crosswind of 3 knots aided the takeoff.
As the aircraft gained altitude, it started its enroute climb, rising from 1,106 feet to 2,988 feet in just 2 minutes, a vertical increase of 1,883 feet. This ascent covered a distance of 5 nautical miles. The climb was followed by a level cruise, which lasted for 8 minutes and covered 4 nautical miles, taking the aircraft 1 mile northeast of Haynes.
The aircraft then began its enroute descent, dropping from 2,856 feet to 1,153 feet in just 3 minutes, a decrease of 1,703 feet. This descent covered 8 nautical miles and took the aircraft over Piara Waters. The aircraft then started another climb, this time from 1,149 feet to 3,022 feet in 3 minutes, covering a distance of 7 nautical miles and taking the aircraft over Kewdale.
The aircraft continued to alternate between climbs and level cruises, with a brief descent over Bickley and another climb from 3,048 feet to 3,617 feet, covering 2 nautical miles. It then entered a level cruise over Bickley, lasting 5 minutes and covering less than 1 nautical mile. The aircraft then started another climb from 3,886 feet to 4,505 feet, covering 4 nautical miles and taking the aircraft over Lesmurdie.
After a 25-minute level cruise over Lesmurdie, the aircraft began its final descent, dropping from 3,985 feet to 1,278 feet in just 3 minutes, a decrease of 2,707 feet. This descent covered a distance of 10 nautical miles and took the aircraft 14 miles west of Rottnest Island.
The final approach to runway 09 at Rottnest Island Airport was made from the west, with the aircraft heading 92.0° at 4 nautical miles and 1,250 feet above ground level. However, the landing was not without issues, as the touchdown point was very long, covering more than 50% of the available runway. The touchdown speed was also excessively fast at 107 knots, and the runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 5.4 meters from the centerline.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were a temperature of 16°C and a gentle tailwind of 6 knots. The total flight distance was 91 nautical miles, taking 53 minutes to complete and using 50 kilograms of fuel.
The Beechcraft Baron G58 aircraft successfully landed on runway 09 at YRTI Rottnest Island Airport, but the landing was not without its issues. The final approach was initiated from the west, heading 92.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,250 feet above ground level. The aircraft touched down on the runway, but the touchdown point was located very far down the runway, using more than 50% of the available length.
The threshold speed was excessively high at 122 knots, which is a concern as it may have put additional stress on the aircraft's landing gear and brakes. Furthermore, the touchdown speed of 107 knots was also excessively fast, which can lead to a higher risk of overrunning the runway or experiencing a bounced landing. The touchdown rate of -265 feet per minute was fair, but it could have been improved with a more controlled descent.
The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned by 5.4 meters from the centerline, which may have been due to a slight deviation in the aircraft's approach path or a miscalculation of the runway alignment. The local weather conditions were favorable, with a temperature of 16°C and a gentle tailwind of 6 knots from the west. The crosswind component was negligible, which reduced the risk of a crosswind landing.
Overall, the landing was not perfect, but it was still successful. However, the excessively high threshold speed and touchdown speed are areas that need to be addressed to improve the aircraft's landing performance. Additionally, the slight misalignment of the runway touchdown position should be investigated to determine the cause and prevent it from happening in the future.
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