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MY FS FLIGHTS
Flight Score
Improve the touchdown
Next time
Keep the back pressure coming through the flare so the sink does not return at 114 fpm.
What happened: The flare arrested the sink, but then the sink returned before touchdown.
Watch for: Watch the VSI in the flare and keep arrested sink from returning before touchdown at 306 fpm.
There are several things that can go wrong during the flare, carrying too much speed over the threshold, starting the flare at the wrong height and inconsistent flight control inputs, all contribute to a poor flare resulting in a hard touchdown or a float down the runway.
Read more in Flare TimingStart to finish · 17 stages, 15 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. They are the approach's score: the checks passed out of the checks that ran.
The approach, gate by gate
Side view — the last 1,612 m of the approach.
Plan view — the first 1,612 m of the 2,690 m runway, to the same scale as the side view.
The 463 m touchdown sits inside the full-score zone. The arrival was smooth.
The rest of the report
The Airbus A320 taxied from the parking area to runway 26L at EGKK London Gatwick Airport, a movement that lasted 5 minutes and covered approximately 1 nm.
During the departure roll on runway 26L, the aircraft accelerated to a liftoff speed of 142 kt and became airborne after a take-off distance of 1,296 m, representing 45 % of the runway length. Ambient conditions were a temperature of 22 °C, wind from 219° at 6 kt with a 4 kt cross-wind component and a 5 kt head-wind component.
The first en-route climb commenced overhead Charlwood, Surrey, with the A320 climbing from 1,225 ft asl to 17,009 ft asl, an altitude gain of 15,784 ft achieved in 8 minutes while covering 42 nm.
A level cruise segment began over Chattenden, Medway, lasting 3 minutes and extending for 24 nm at the cruise altitude.
The second climb segment started 1 mile south of Peldon, Essex, where the aircraft rose from 17,009 ft asl to 33,012 ft asl, gaining 16,003 ft in 12 minutes and traversing 96 nm.
Subsequent cruise commenced 35 miles west of Ter Heijde, Provincie Zuid-Holland, lasting 9 minutes and covering 73 nm at the higher cruise level.
Descent began 1 mile east of Blaricum, Provincie Noord-Holland, with the aircraft descending from 33,014 ft asl to 1,470 ft asl, a loss of 31,544 ft over 19 minutes while covering 104 nm.
The final approach to runway 23L at EDDL Düsseldorf Airport was executed from the north-east, on a heading of 234.0°, at 4 nm distance and 1,326 ft agl.
Landing on runway 23L, which is 2,690 m long, was achieved with a threshold speed of 138 kt. Touchdown occurred 50 m beyond the touchdown zone at a speed of 129 kt, with a firm touchdown rate of minus 375 fpm and perfect runway-alignment. Local weather reported a temperature of 18 °C, wind from 160° at 4 kt, a 4 kt cross-wind component and a 1 kt head-wind component. The total landing distance recorded was 1,534 m, representing 57 % of the runway.
Runway rollout proceeded with perfect alignment, completing the landing phase without deviation.
The aircraft taxied from the runway to the parking area in 2 minutes, covering less than 1 nm.
In total, the flight covered 347 nm, required 60 minutes of elapsed time, and consumed 2,651 kg of fuel.
The final approach to runway 23L at EDDL Düsseldorf was flown from the north-east on a heading of 234.0° at 4 nm and 1,326 ft agl. At the 1,000 ft gate the approach was assessed as stabilised, with gear, flaps, sink rate, glideslope and centreline all within limits, and the aircraft maintained a speed of 138 kt as it crossed the threshold.
During the threshold and flare phase the aircraft entered the runway envelope at the good threshold speed of 138 kt, reduced to a touchdown speed of 129 kt, and executed a firm flare resulting in a descent rate of minus 375 fpm. The touchdown point was recorded 50 m beyond the touchdown zone and runway touchdown alignment was perfect.
Touchdown occurred with the aircraft aligned on centreline, the firm rate of minus 375 fpm and speed of 129 kt producing a total landing distance of 1,534 m, which represents 57 % of the 2,690 m runway. All parameters remained within the expected limits for a safe landing.
Rollout was completed with perfect runway alignment, the aircraft decelerating along the remaining runway length under calm conditions. Local weather was 18 °C, wind 4 kt from 160°, with a 4 kt crosswind component and a 1 kt headwind component.
The 50 m overshoot of the touchdown zone and the firm touchdown rate suggest a slightly longer flare would help place the main gear nearer the designated zone and soften the rate of descent, bringing the already high 97.2 % score even closer to optimal.
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