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MY FS FLIGHTS
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Shorten the long landing
Ground effect becomes significant below about one wingspan of height. A Cessna 172, with a 36 ft span, enters ground effect at flare height - the float it feels in the hold-off is ground effect arriving on cue. An A320, with a span around 117 ft, has been in ground effect since before the threshold and there is no sudden cushion to feel, only a gradual reduction in induced drag that lengthens any float you allow.
Read more in Flare TimingStart to finish · 14 stages, 13 scored
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The threshold, the flare and the hold-off. The approach that led to it is the stabilisation gates below.
Two stabilised approach gates, each with seven checks, where the approach path is 1,000 ft and 500 ft above the runway.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,524 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,524 m of the 2,484 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 442 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
Taxiing from the parking area to the runway at Zürich Airport took approximately 6 minutes, covering a distance of 1 nautical mile. The Airbus A321 then began its departure roll on runway 32, accelerating to a liftoff speed of 150 knots. The takeoff distance of 1,214 meters accounted for 39% of the runway length. Local weather conditions at the time of departure featured a temperature of 9°C, with a gentle headwind of 3 knots at 329°.
As the aircraft climbed to cruising altitude, it passed overhead Oberglatt, Switzerland, where the enroute climb commenced. The aircraft ascended from an initial altitude of 2,354 feet above sea level to 6,706 feet, a vertical increase of 4,352 feet, in just 4 minutes and covering a distance of 17 nautical miles. The climb was followed by a descent from 6,865 feet to 2,760 feet, a decrease of 4,105 feet, in 6 minutes and covering 19 nautical miles. The aircraft then began its final approach to runway 28 at Zürich Airport, descending from an altitude of 1,352 feet above ground level at a distance of 4 nautical miles from the runway threshold.
The Airbus A321 touched down on runway 28, with a touchdown distance of 443 meters, slightly above the target. The touchdown speed of 128 knots was a little fast, while the touchdown rate of -226 feet per minute was fair. The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centerline by 5.6 meters. Local weather conditions at the time of landing featured a temperature of 8°C, with a gentle headwind of 2 knots at 329°. The total flight distance was 42 nautical miles, taking approximately 17 minutes, and the aircraft used 720 kilograms of fuel during the flight.
The aircraft, an Airbus A321, began its final approach to runway 28 at LSZH Zürich Airport from the east, aligning with the heading of 276.0° at a distance of 4 nautical miles and an altitude of 1,352 feet above ground level. The approach quality was satisfactory, with a good threshold height allowing the crew to maintain a stable and controlled descent. However, the threshold speed was slightly above the target, reaching 134 knots.
As the aircraft touched down on the 2,484-meter runway, the touchdown distance was good at 443 meters, indicating a well-executed landing. However, the touchdown speed of 128 knots was a little fast, and the touchdown rate of -226 feet per minute was fair. The runway touchdown position was slightly misaligned from the centreline by 5.6 meters, which may have been due to a slight deviation in the approach or a minor issue with the aircraft's directional control. Local weather conditions, with a temperature of 8°C and a light wind of 3 knots from 329°, contributed to a relatively calm and stable environment for the landing.
The overall performance of the crew and the aircraft was impressive, with a final score of 99.2%. The landing was executed with precision and control, despite a few minor deviations from the ideal. The crew's ability to maintain a stable approach and touchdown, despite the slightly fast touchdown speed, was a testament to their skill and experience. The aircraft's performance was also noteworthy, with a good touchdown distance and a fair touchdown rate.
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