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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Maintain the centreline
A small uncorrected heading error at 40 knots becomes a metre of offset per second by 100 knots, noticed only at rotation, producing a crabbed liftoff. Root cause is nearly always eyes on the tape instead of the far end of the runway. Small heading changes displace a distant point visibly long before the nearby centreline stripes look wrong.
Read more in Improve Your Take-OffsStart to finish · 20 stages, 18 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 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 1,771 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
Touched down 508 m past the threshold — beyond the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The flight in question was operated by FWB EasyJet, a commercial airliner, and took off from Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (YSSY) on runway 16R. The aircraft taxied for 17 minutes and covered a distance of 4 nautical miles before reaching the runway. The takeoff roll was completed in 1,343 meters, which is 35% of the runway length. The aircraft lifted off at a speed of 150 knots.
As the aircraft climbed to its cruising altitude, it encountered local weather conditions of 18°C temperature and a wind speed of 1 knot from 269 degrees. The crosswind was minimal, with a headwind of 0 knots. The enroute climb started over Kyeemagh, a location in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and continued for 18 minutes, covering a distance of 120 nautical miles. The aircraft climbed from an altitude of 1,023 feet above sea level to 37,697 feet above sea level, an increase of 36,674 feet.
After reaching its cruising altitude, the aircraft entered a level cruise phase, which lasted for 91 minutes and covered a distance of 782 nautical miles. The aircraft was cruising at a location 91 miles southeast of the FC03 Sydney Static Carrier - CVN78, another location in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
As the aircraft began its descent, it encountered a change in weather conditions, with a temperature of 16°C and a wind speed of 16 knots from 160 degrees. The crosswind was 15 knots, and the headwind was 2 knots. The descent started at a location with latitude -43.9693397 and longitude 165.6866371, and the aircraft descended from an altitude of 37,353 feet above sea level to 21,333 feet above sea level, a decrease of 16,020 feet, in 7 minutes and covering a distance of 59 nautical miles.
The aircraft then entered another level cruise phase, which lasted for 3 minutes and covered a distance of 26 nautical miles. This phase started 43 miles west of the T004 Quintin Lodge Airstrip, a location in Southland, New Zealand.
As the aircraft continued its descent, it encountered a change in weather conditions, with a temperature of 16°C and a wind speed of 16 knots from 160 degrees. The crosswind was 15 knots, and the headwind was 2 knots. The descent started 16 miles west of the T004 Quintin Lodge Airstrip, and the aircraft descended from an altitude of 21,336 feet above sea level to 10,291 feet above sea level, a decrease of 11,045 feet, in 9 minutes and covering a distance of 50 nautical miles.
The aircraft then entered a climb phase, which started 7 miles west of the RB26 Wakatipu Lake Queenstown, a location in Otago, New Zealand. The aircraft climbed from an altitude of 10,294 feet above sea level to 11,006 feet above sea level, an increase of 712 feet, in 2 minutes and covering a distance of 5 nautical miles.
As the aircraft continued its descent, it encountered a change in weather conditions, with a temperature of 16°C and a wind speed of 16 knots from 160 degrees. The crosswind was 15 knots, and the headwind was 2 knots. The descent started 10 miles south of the NZGY Glenorchy Airport Glenorchy, a location in Otago, New Zealand, and the aircraft descended from an altitude of 10,845 feet above sea level to 1,650 feet above sea level, a decrease of 9,195 feet, in 10 minutes and covering a distance of 17 nautical miles.
The final approach to runway
The aircraft, identified as FWB EasyJet, successfully landed at Queenstown International Airport (NZQN) on runway 05. The final approach was initiated from the west, heading 72.0° at 1 nautical mile and 467 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot demonstrated good control and adherence to standard operating procedures, achieving a threshold speed of 132 knots.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft landed 93 meters beyond the designated touchdown zone, with a touchdown speed of 123 knots. This speed was within the acceptable range, indicating a smooth and controlled descent. The touchdown rate of -140 feet per minute (fpm) was also satisfactory, suggesting a gentle and stable landing.
However, there were some notable deviations from optimal performance. The runway touchdown position was significantly misaligned by 19.6 meters from the centerline, which may have been due to factors such as crosswind or pilot error. The local weather conditions, with a temperature of 16°C and wind speeds of 16 knots at 160°, may have contributed to this misalignment.
The crosswind component of 15 knots and headwind component of 2 knots were relatively moderate, but still required the pilot to make adjustments to maintain control. The total landing distance of 1,112 meters was 63% of the available runway length, which is within the acceptable range. Nevertheless, the runway rollout alignment was also misaligned by 24.0 meters from the centerline, indicating a potential issue with the pilot's ability to maintain directional control during the rollout phase.
Overall, the landing was satisfactory, but there were some areas for improvement, particularly in terms of maintaining alignment with the runway centerline. Further analysis and training may be necessary to address these issues and ensure optimal performance in similar conditions.
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